The Isotta Fraschini Tipo 8C Monterosa was a prototype car, designed in secret during

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

,HowStuffWorks
Precursor to the 1947-1948 Isotta Fraschini 8C Monterosa , HowStuffWorks
accessdate: 19. July 2018 of which between three and six were manufactured by

Isotta Fraschini Isotta Fraschini () was an Italian luxury car manufacturer, also producing trucks, as well as engines for marine and aviation use. Founded in Milan, Italy, in 1900 by Cesare Isotta and the brothers Vincenzo, Antonio, and Oreste Fraschini, in 19 ...

. The Tipo 8C Monterosa cars were built between 1945 and 1949 with development having begun as early as 1943.drive-my.com
1948 Isotta Fraschini 8C Monterosa , drive-my.com
accessdate: 19. April 2019 The model was intended to be Isotta Fraschini's initial post-war offering once normal industrial activity resumed. The Tipo 8C would be Isotta Fraschini's first new model since production of the Tipo 8B ended in 1934 after which all activities were limited to military rearmament/war production by the National Fascist Party in power.

Design and Development

1949 Isotta Fraschini 8C Monterosa Streamline Brochure

The Tipo 8C Monterosa is equipped with a water-cooled rear mounted 3,400 cc overhead valve V8 engine equipped with cylinder heads featuring

hemispherical combustion chamber A hemispherical combustion chamber is a type of combustion chamber in a reciprocating internal combustion engine with a domed cylinder head notionally in the approximate shape of a hemisphere (in reality usually a spheric section thereof). An en ...

s. A four-speed transaxle is operated via a cable linkage and steering column-mounted shifter. The engine develops an output of and is capable of propelling the car to a top speed of , with an average consumption of . The engine, gearbox, and differential were largely constructed from Elektron light-metal alloy. The chassis is cross-platform and supports the front wheel independent, transverse arms swinging, resilient rubber and hydraulic shock absorbers, while at the rear, independent suspension with hydraulic shock absorbers and longitudinal and transverse elements with elastic rubber. The brakes are four-wheel hydraulic drums. Hydraulic jacks activated from the dashboard were in all four wheel wells.

Unveiling and failure

Official presentation of the 1947–1948 Isotta Fraschini Tipo 8C Monterosa took place in October 1947 at the

Paris Motor Show The Paris Motor Show (french: Mondial de l'Automobile) is a biennial auto show in Paris. Held during October, it is one of the most important auto shows, often with many new production automobile and concept car debuts. The show presently take ...

in the Grand Palais.HowStuffWorks
The 1947-1948 Isotta Fraschini 8C Monterosa Design - 1947-1948 Isotta Fraschini 8C Monterosa Design , HowStuffWorks
accessdate: 19. July 2018 The "Monterosa" represented the swan song of the prestigious Milanese brand and did not reach the production stage. The chassis pre-built series were set up for a 4-door sedan by

Zagato Zagato is an independent coachbuilding company and total design centre located northwest of Milan in Terrazzano, a small village near Rho, Lombardy, Italy. The company's premises occupies an area of 23,000 square metres (250,000 sq ft)- 11,000 ...

, a two-door sedan by Touring and convertibles by Boneschi. All versions had six seats. This attempt to resurrect a model of automotive superiority was a complete failure. Only repeated restructuring of Isotta Fraschini's holding company made it possible to maintain its Italian plants and preserve a pair of prototypes to this day (one black coupe with a sunroof, and one two tone white and dark blue convertible).

References

{{Isotta Fraschini Tipo 8C Monterosa Cars introduced in 1947 Luxury vehicles Rear-engined vehicles