Sunset Boulevard

Posted on May 30, 2022 in Antique | Comments Off on Sunset Boulevard

“I am big, it’s the pictures that got small.” – Norma Desmond, Sunset Boulevard

Recently, while spending a rainy day watching old movies, I was reminded of a great automotive icon that is rarely spoken of today. The movie was “Sunset Boulevard” starring Gloria Swanson and William Holden. The icon was an Isotta Fraschini Tipo 8A Landaulet, complete with cane siding and a leopard skin rear compartment.

Then and now…the Sunset Boulevard Isotta Fraschini Tipo 8A

Not much is heard of the marque, which stopped building cars in 1949. It lingered on as a bus and aircraft engine builder until its bankruptcy in 1999, but never returned to building cars despite several attempts. Isotta Fraschini was one of the most prestigious Italian carmakers of the time, renowned for building the most expensive and luxurious cars in the world. For a time, it was a serious rival to marques like Rolls-Royce, Bugatti and Hispano-Suiza.

Isotta Fraschini was the pinnacle of the luxury automobile. Established in 1902 by Cesare Isotta and the brothers Fraschini (Oreste, Vincenzo and Antonio), from 1920 to the 1930’s Isottas were the most sought after cars by the world’s elite. Isotta innovated automotive design by introducing four-wheel brakes in 1909, and the Tipo 8 series, unveiled in 1912 which featured an inline eight-cylinder engine, the first of its type in the world. In the US, the cost of an Isotta would exceed that of a Duesenberg Model J at 9750.00 USD, and coachbuilt models would cost over 20,000.00 USD.

Isottas were owned by the rich and powerful, like the Queen of Romania, King Faisal, the Agha Khan, Pope Pius XI, and William Randolph Hearst. They were the “must have” car of Hollywood, owned by Rudolph Valentino, Jack Dempsey and Mary Pickford and appearing in movies like Giant, Sunset Boulevard, Mulholland Drive, Moonraker, and even in an episode of the Simpsons.

The specific car used in the Sunset Boulevard was a 1929 Isotta Fraschini Tipo 8A Castagna Transformable. It was a gift from Walter Chrysler to his mistress Peggy Joyce Hopkins, a notorious 1920’s socialite. The original car is said to be in a museum in Milan, though others have falsely claimed to being the original movie car.

Part of the confusion is due in part to restorations. Some claim the original body was from a Fleetwood design for a Cadillac, which was mounted on the Isotta chassis by the studio, and some claim the body is original to the car, but modified during later restoration efforts. Either way, the claimed “original” no longer sports the cane siding or leopard skin interior.

In its day, the Isotta Fraschini was one of the most expensive cars in the world, with coachbuilt models sporting refinements like nickel plating, art deco cut glass, fine woods and exotic materials. Today there are few examples left, and those that are seldom trade hands.

Isotta’s last car was the Tipo 8C Monterosa, unveiled in 1947 at the Paris Motor Show. This car was the swan song for the Milanese brand, but never reached production. An estimated 3-6 examples were produced, and featured a four door sedan by Zagato, a two door sedan by Touring, and convertibles by Boneschi. Today, only two examples remain.