Isotta Fraschini Tipo 8A Coupé de Ville

The Isotta Fraschini Tipo 8A Coupé de Ville, chassis number 1312, was a bespoke formal automobile constructed in 1927 on the Milanese marque’s premier luxury chassis. The body was executed by Carrozzeria Cesare Sala, a coachbuilder closely associated with Isotta Fraschini during the interwar period. This example represents a unique, one-off commission within the broader production of the Tipo 8A series, which was manufactured from 1924 to 1931. The Tipo 8A chassis was an evolution of the earlier Tipo 8, and featured a straight-eight engine of 7,370 cc displacement. Designed by Giustino Cattaneo, the engine was of cast iron construction, with side valves and a detachable cylinder head. Power output varied between 115 and 160 horsepower, depending on specification. The engine was coupled to a three-speed manual gearbox with synchromesh on the upper gears in later examples. Drive was sent to the rear wheels. Suspension consisted of semi-elliptic leaf springs front and rear, and braking was hydraulic on all four wheels, a notable feature for its time. Chassis 1312 carried a formal Coupé de Ville body designed for chauffeur-driven use. The configuration included an enclosed passenger compartment at the rear and an exposed or lightly covered driver’s position at the front. The body was constructed of steel over a wooden frame, in accordance with standard practice of the period. Design elements included upright proportions, flat roofline, restrained ornamentation, and full fenders integrated with side-mounted spare wheels. The interior was configured for comfort and discretion, typically featuring cloth upholstery, fixed division window, and minimal instrumentation for the passengers. Approximately 950 examples of the Tipo 8A chassis were produced. The Sala-bodied Coupé de Ville on chassis 1312 is believed to be the only one of its specific configuration. No exact production records survive regarding the number of Coupé de Ville bodies produced by Sala, but extant examples are extremely limited. Ownership history of chassis 1312 is only partially documented; early provenance is unrecorded, though the car re-emerged in the 21st century within private collections.