Itala 28/40 Alessio

The Itala 28/40 HP was a large-displacement touring chassis produced in the early 1910s by Itala of Turin, a firm recognized for its advanced engineering and participation in competitive motoring events. The designation “28/40” referred to the car’s fiscal and actual horsepower figures, in accordance with contemporary Italian rating practices. The model was intended for luxury applications, including formal bodywork by prominent coachbuilders such as Carrozzeria Alessio. The engine was a four-cylinder side-valve unit with an estimated displacement of approximately 7.4 litres. It operated on a low-compression design typical of the period, employing magneto ignition and a gravity-fed fuel system. Power output was approximately 40 brake horsepower. The engine was coupled to a four-speed manual gearbox with a cone or multi-plate clutch, delivering power to the rear wheels via a live axle. The chassis featured semi-elliptical leaf spring suspension front and rear and was equipped with mechanical brakes acting on the rear wheels only. Carrozzeria Alessio, also based in Turin, was responsible for producing formal, chauffeur-driven bodywork for a small number of these chassis. The Limousine de Ville configuration typically included a fully enclosed rear passenger compartment, a separate open driver’s section, and elevated rooflines to accommodate standing entry. Coachwork was constructed in wood and metal over a steel ladder chassis and often finished to high specification, including complex window treatments, fitted luggage compartments, and leather or mohair interior trims. Exact production figures for the Itala 28/40 HP are unverified. Surviving documentation suggests output remained in the low hundreds, with only a fraction bodied by external firms such as Alessio. Among these, one example is known to have been delivered to Queen Margherita of Savoy. No surviving chassis number or further ownership record has been confirmed for this vehicle. The 28/40 HP represents the upper segment of Itala’s pre-war production and illustrates the firm’s integration of large-capacity engines with custom coachwork. Its association with Carrozzeria Alessio and known use in aristocratic circles reflect prevailing trends in early 20th-century Italian automotive culture, wherein mechanical capability and bespoke construction were combined in limited production for elite clientele.