The mighty 8-cylinder Isotta-Fraschini, which was custom-bodied at Castagna in Milan in 1928, exudes the opulent elegance of the Great Gatsby era and the Roaring Twenties.

In 1898, the lawyer Cesare Isotta and the engineer Vincenzo Fraschini founded a joint company for the import and sale of engines and automobiles in Milan.

In 1900, they founded the Società Milanese d’Automobili Isotta, Fraschini & C. in the same city. In 1904, the company was renamed Fabbrica Automobili Isotta Fraschini.

The upswing began with the appointment of designer Giustino Cattaneo. He was responsible for vehicle development from 1905 to 1933. In 1906, the company produced 300 vehicles, putting it in second place among Italian car manufacturers behind Fiat. By 1914, over 50 different types of car were on offer – during the First World War, the company also began to manufacture aircraft engines. 1919 saw the transition to a one-model policy in car production until the Great Depression. From this time onwards, aircraft engine construction was more lucrative than car production, which was even temporarily discontinued in 1935.

Castagna in Milan produced a customised body in the classic coachbuilding style. All of the equipment details were customised to customer specifications. The highest level of craftsmanship, which is still extremely fascinating today.

The Isotta-Fraschini in ‘The Grand’ at the ICONS has another special feature in its ‘CV’ – in the 1979 James Bond 007 film ‘Moonraker’ with Roger Moore, it is the car of the Bond villain Sir Hugo Drax (played by Michael Lonsdale). ‘1 Drax’ is coming to ICONS 2024 and will also be a crowd-puller on Public Day in Port Andratx. So to speak: 1-Drax in Andratx.

ICONS Mallorca is looking forward to this special vehicle. It is one of 36 selected Concours vehicles in the Concours ‘The Grand’.