View of a 1905, Fiat Isotta-Fanschini, with its bonnet removed, at the 2021 London Classic Car Show
Current owner Briton Mike Vardy put an Isotta-Fraschini airship engine in the car, which is dated 1917. Obviously, it couldn’t have been the original option, but does it really matter? Just wait until you hear it go. It’s a straight-six with “just” 250 hp and 3,000 lb/ft (4,063 Nm) - yes, that’s not a typo. With wheels the size of those you’ll find on an ice cream cart, it’s easy to see why setting off in this car is something that requires a lot of skill and finesse. Unless, of course, you like to do as Mike and pull a little burnout each time. The car is said to be able to reach 127 mph (204 km/h), but it would take a brave man to actually test those figures. And a brave woman as well, since the car requires two people to operate. It's because of passionate people such as Mr. Vardy that the rest of us get to enjoy rare and wonderful vehicles such as this one. Don’t know about you, but I would give up the opportunity of driving any modern hypercar on any circuit just for a few minutes in this thing on a sunny country road. It would probably be the most painful and demanding car-related experience in my life, but it would be totally worth it. Here’s the clip put together by the people at Goodwood Road & Racing where you get to hear what those witnessing a dogfight back in 1917 would hear. Well, not quite, but close enough.
Size: 5616px × 3744px
Location: Syon Park, Brentford, Middx TW8 8JF
Photo credit: © John Gaffen / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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