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Isotta Fraschini

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Isotta Fraschini
Company typePrivate
IndustryAutomotive, marine engines, aviation engines
FoundedJanuary 27, 1900; 126 years ago (1900-01-27) in Milan, Italy
FounderCesare Isotta, Vincenzo Fraschini, Antonio Fraschini, Oreste Fraschini
FateMerged with Breda Motori in 1955 to form F.A. Isotta Fraschini e Motori Breda
SuccessorF.A. Isotta Fraschini e Motori Breda
Headquarters
Milan
,
Italy
Area served
Worldwide
ProductsLuxury automobiles, trucks, marine engines, aviation engines
OwnerFincantieri (for Isotta Fraschini Motori S.p.A.)
ParentFincantieri (for Isotta Fraschini Motori S.p.A.)
Websitewww.isottafraschinimotori.it

Isotta Fraschini (Italian pronunciation: [iˈzɔtta fraˈskiːni]) is an Italian manufacturer known for luxury automobiles, as well as trucks and engines designed for marine and aviation applications. Established in Milan, Italy, in 1900 by Cesare Isotta alongside the Fraschini brothers—Vincenzo, Antonio, and Oreste—the company merged in 1955 with engine producer Breda Motori, adopting the name F.A. Isotta Fraschini e Motori Breda.

History

The enterprise took its name from founders Cesare Isotta and Vincenzo Fraschini, who had been engaged in importing Mors and Renault vehicles, along with Aster engines, since 1899. On 27 January 1900, they launched Società Milanese Automobili Isotta, Fraschini & C. with the primary objective of "Importing, selling, and repairing automobiles." Before producing their own models starting in 1904, Isotta and Fraschini assembled cars closely resembling Renaults but equipped with Aster engines. A distinguishing feature was their more refined underslung front radiator configuration compared to authentic Renaults.

The first car to bear the Isotta Fraschini badge was powered by a four-cylinder engine delivering approximately 24 horsepower (18 kW). This vehicle, piloted by Vincenzo Fraschini, competed in multiple races. In 1905, the company gained prominence at the Coppa Florio by entering a Tipo D equipped with a 17.2-litre (1,050 cu in) engine producing 100 horsepower (75 kW). Briefly in 1907, Isotta Fraschini merged with the French automaker Lorraine-Dietrich. They built racing cars utilizing this 100 horsepower (75 kW) engine, which solidified their reputation and enhanced brand prestige. Notably, they were pioneers in offering automobiles equipped with four-wheel brakes, shortly after their invention by Scotland's Arrol-Johnston in 1909. Additionally, Isotta Fraschini was among the early adopters of overhead cam (OHC) technology through an engine developed by Giustino Cattaneo. Their contemporaries in OHC innovation included Austro-Daimler's Prinz Heinrich designed by Ferdinand Porsche, as well as designs by W. O. Bentley (1919) and Sunbeam (1921–1923). The introduction of the Tipo 8 at the 1919 Paris Salon marked the debut of the first production car powered by a straight-eight engine, with deliveries commencing in 1920.

During the 1920s, as North America's affluent middle class expanded, Isotta Fraschini targeted this emerging elite with luxurious limousines. Early cinema icons such as Clara Bow and Rudolph Valentino were known to drive these vehicles. A 1929 Tipo 8A Castagna Transformable appeared prominently in the 1950 film Sunset Boulevard. Another model featured in the 1934 movie Death Takes a Holiday starring Fredric March. The brand also appeared on screen in the 1946 film Without Reservations alongside John Wayne and Claudette Colbert. Furthermore, an Isotta Fraschini served as gigolo Lindsay Marriott’s car in Raymond Chandler’s novel Farewell, My Lovely (1940), adapted into the film Murder, My Sweet (1944) starring Dick Powell and Claire Trevor; its distinctive grille bearing a lightning bolt insignia is visible just before Marriott’s character meets his fate. In literature, an imposing Isotta Fraschini was favored by Dick and Nicole Diver in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s 1933 novel Tender is the Night.

The economic downturn of the 1930s coupled with World War II disruptions severely impacted Isotta Fraschini’s operations, leading to cessation of automobile production after 1949. Only five units of their final model, the Monterosa, were completed before manufacturing shifted toward marine engines.

Remaining registered as a company, it merged in 1955 with Breda Motori to form F.A. Isotta Fraschini e Motori Breda. Production of trolleybuses resumed under this entity, and during the 1960s a new diesel engine facility was established in Bari. The firm was renamed Isotta Fraschini Motori SpA during the 1980s and became part of the Fincantieri group; administrative functions were housed within its original Bari factory.

Efforts to revive automotive production occurred during the 1990s with concept vehicles such as the coupe and roadster Isotta Fraschini T8 introduced in 1996 and the roadster T12 unveiled in 1998. However, these projects never progressed to mass production and ultimately led to bankruptcy in 1999.

Today

The brand was brought back to life in 2022 with the development of an entirely new vehicle intended for sports car racing. Its initial target was the 100th anniversary edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, competing under the ACO Hypercar regulations. The model, ultimately named the Tipo 6 LMH-C, was created by Michelotto Engineering [it], a long-time collaborator with Ferrari in motorsport, while aerodynamic design support was provided by Williams Advanced Engineering.

World Endurance Championship

Originally, Isotta Fraschini planned to debut the Tipo 6 LMH-C during the FIA World Endurance Championship at the 6 Hours of Spa, partnering with the UK-based team Vector Sport. However, delays in production postponed this debut first to the 8 Hours of Bahrain, and eventually to the 2024 Qatar 1812 km. By this time, Vector Sport had withdrawn from the partnership citing alleged contract violations by Isotta Fraschini, who attributed the split to "economic factors." The car's entry at Qatar was managed by Duqueine Team instead.

File:2024 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps Isotta Fraschini Isotta Fraschini Tipo 6 LMH Competizione No.11 (DSC02256).jpg
The Tipo 6 LMH-C pictured at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps during the 2024 FIA World Endurance Championship

The Tipo 6 LMH Pista variant was unveiled at Paul Ricard and participated in laps during the GT1 Sports Club session over the course of the 1000 km of Paul Ricard event. Both Competizione and Pista versions showcased demonstration runs at the 2023 6 Hours of Monza weekend, where it was also confirmed that they would not compete at Bahrain that year.

In its first World Endurance Championship season, driving duties were shared by Carl Bennett, Antonio Serravalle, and 2013 24 Hours of Le Mans Pro-Am champion Jean-Karl Vernay.

Competing in five events throughout the season, the team completed only three races before withdrawing from the 2024 WEC campaign ahead of the 2024 Lone Star Le Mans, following disagreements with Duqueine Team. Their best result came at Le Mans, finishing fourteenth overall, but no championship points were earned during their tenure. Michelotto emphasized that the Hypercar project remained active and expressed confidence in fielding two cars for the 2025 season, though these plans never came to fruition.

Currently Operating Economic Entities

  • Intrepida Fides, known as The Isotta Fraschini Foundation, a name created by Gabriele D'Annunzio, headquartered in Milan.
  • Isotta Fraschini Milano s.r.l., based in Milan, engaged in vehicle manufacturing alongside the creation and distribution of luxury products.
  • Isotta Fraschini Motori S.p.A., located in Bari, is an engineering company focusing on diesel engines, especially for marine, industrial, and rail traction uses. It also offers products and services for both civilian and military engineering sectors. This firm is a subsidiary of the Fincantieri group. Their propulsion and power generation systems are utilized in US Navy littoral fast attack surface vessels and yachts. Models such as the L1306 T3, V 1312 T3, VL 1716 T2 T3, and GE COLZA V 1312 T3 deliver power outputs ranging from 200 kW to 3,000 kW. The most powerful generators are installed on the Freedom class Littoral Combat Ships.

Aero Engines

Passenger automobiles

Competition vehicles

Commercial trucks and buses

  • D80 1934–1955
  • D65 1940–1955

Electric trolleybuses

See also

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References

Further reading

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External links

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