Isotta Fraschini Tipo 8

Isotta Fraschini Tipo 8
Overview
Manufacturer	Isotta Fraschini
Production	1919 - 1924 1,380 produced (all Tipo 8 variants)[1]
Body and chassis
Class	Luxury car
Layout	FR layout
Powertrain
Engine	ohv 5,902 cc (360.2 cu in) straight-8
Transmission	3-speed manual 4-speed manual in late models[2]
Chronology
Successor	Isotta Fraschini Tipo 8A

The Isotta Fraschini Tipo 8 is an Italian luxury car made between 1919 and 1924.

1920 Isotta Fraschini Tipo 8 Chassis Pic from French Owner's Manual

1923 Isotta Fraschini Tipo 8 American ad

1923 Isotta Fraschini Tipo 8 Italian ad

History

The Isotta Fraschini Tipo 8 is an automobile introduced in 1919 by Isotta Fraschini, a company which underwent a complete change after World War I. Until that time building a wide variety of models, the company adopted a single-series policy. Like many high end vehicles of the day, the car came from Isotta Fraschini as a chassis only. Bodies were typically from Italy’s top-tier coachbuilders, Carrozzeria Castagna and Cesare Sala, but other European and American coachbuilding firms lent their hands to the task of supplying bodies. It was the first serial produced car in the world to be equipped with a straight-8 engine.^[3] With this car the company gained great name and success as luxury car manufacturer. The main rival of the car was Rolls-Royce.^[1] The Tipo 8 was offered only with bare chassis and engine for the coachbuilders.^[4]

Drivetrain

The Tipo 8's 5.9-liter overhead valve, overhead cam, was the first inline 8 engine offered in a production car. Initially producing 80 bhp (60 kW) and soon raised to 90 bhp (67 kW).^[1] There was no exterior intake manifold, instead the twin carburetors attached directly to the block. Transmissions were three-speed manual. The car had top speed of around 85 mph (137 km/h) to 90 mph (140 km/h).

Legacy

The Tipo 8 and its revolutionary straight-8 engine were the basis for its successors, the Tipo 8A and Tipo 8B.

Notes