1908 Isotta Fraschini FENC

In 1908 at the Grand Prix on the Dieppe circuit, four-cylinder cars with a diameter limited to 65 mm were allowed to race, a formula used by Isotta Fraschini that had left its mark as the first sophisticated Voiturettes destined to revolutionise small car design by coming first among four-cylinder cars. This design by Giuseppe Stefanini anticipated the modern high-performance racing car with a four-cylinder engine, small displacement 1327cc cylinder block, fixed head, overhead valves, overhead camshaft, 4-speed gearbox and pressurised petrol and oil tank weighing only 650kg. This was an unusual innovation for racing cars, as in those years the only winners were cars with large, heavy engines. As numerous records show, Ettore Bugatti was declared a 'COPISTA AND NOT CREATOR OF DESIGN' because he was influenced in 1908 by Isotta Fraschini. This Voiturettes of extraordinary refinement was the origin of a small series for the market, called the Tipo FENC.
Production stopped at 100 examples that were mainly sold in England and the U. S. Today only five cars are recorded: two in Italy, one in the U. S. and two in Australia. Chassis #6007 was the seventh produced and imported into the U. S. by Isotta Import Co. 1620 Broadway New York with Racer trim. On 25 November 1908 it participated in the International Light Sports Car Race in Savannah Georgia driven by Al Poole, finishing 5th. In 1941 it was photographed by Oliver Hemp Smith in Tuxedo Park, New York. Vince Hanlon also from New York bought this car and a bare chassis of the FE model, and in 1978 it was used in the Ford film 'THE MAN AND THE MACHINE'. The car was painted red by Hanlon and driven by him. In 1985 both cars were sold to Bob Rubin who, with the help of Jeffrey Vogel, brought them to Italy to Gigi Bonfanti's atelier in Bassano del Grappa. Consultant for the restoration was Angelo Tito Anselmi, a great connoisseur of the brand. Before the work was finished, unfortunately, Gigi Bonfanti died and the work on #6007 passed to Gianni Torelli of Campagnola nell'Emilia. The restoration was completed in 1997 and the car was then exhibited at the Automobile Museum in Milan. Car complete with US number plates and registration certificate of 1949, Isotta Fraschini Historic Register, ASI, Studio Anselmi maintenance and instruction catalogue, numerous documents, photos and certificates of the time. For further information, viewing and test drive, please contact us at the details below. We accept total and/ or partial exchanges and/ or permutations of cars of lower, equal and/ or higher value of our interest. Possibility of home delivery also abroad, with personalised transport by tow truck/ containerized trolley, guaranteeing quality and privacy.