The Patterson Collection’s 1924 Isotta-Fraschini Tipo 8A. Photo courtesy of Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.
So luxurious was the 8A that Italian manufacturer Isotta-Fraschini relied upon the work of various coachbuilders to deliver an automobile crafted to a customer’s exact specifications. Jim Patterson’s 1924 Isotta-Fraschini originally wore a different body, but in 1931 Swiss coachbuilder Ramseier and Company designed and built the example it wears today, one stylish enough to deliver the coveted Best in Show award at the 2015 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.
Introduced in 1924, the Isotta-Fraschini Tipo 8A was the successor to the Tipo 8, equipped with a more powerful 7.3-liter inline eight-cylinder engine. Though rated at a mere 110 horsepower, the engine was known for its torque, which proved ample enough to power the two-ton, 22-foot long car to a guaranteed speed of 150 kilometers per hour (93 MPH).
More expensive in the day than a Model J Duesenberg, the Tipo 8A was a favorite of wealthy American customers, particularly those in Hollywood. Rudolph Valentino was said to be a fan of Isotta-Fraschini, as was Clara Bow, and the brand’s automobiles appeared in a number of Hollywood films, including “Sunset Boulevard” and “Death Takes a Holiday.”
The selection of the prewar Patterson Collection Isotta-Fraschini ended speculation that postwar cars would now be the darlings of Pebble Beach judges. A 1954 Ferrari 375 MM Scaglietti coupe took best in show at Pebble Beach in 2014, leading many to believe the era of prewar dominance had come to an end. Clearly that wasn’t the case in 2015.
The Ramseier-bodied 1924 Isotta-Fraschini beat out a trio of worthy candidates for Best in Show honors, including a 1914 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost Kellner Torpedo Phaeton, a 1953 Abarth 1100 Sport Ghia Coupe, and a 1937 Delahaye 145 Franay Cabriolet.
More gadget review in www.mamaktalk.com
