1905 Bonhams Volo-6 Competition Two-Seater by J.A. Ackley
Aug 16, 2024
Photography Courtesy Bonhams
No, that’s no typo. This 1905 Fiat-Isotta-Fraschini Volo-6 Competition comes with a World War I-era 16.6-liter 6-cylinder engine intended for airplanes or airships. It’s rated for about 250 horsepower … and 3000 lb.-ft. of torque.
The frame did not initially come with that massive engine. Instead, it was designed for a 1905-’06 World Land Speed Record attempt, with two 100-horsepower four-cylinder engines mounted in tandem. To put things in perspective, one cylinder on the current power plant displaces 2.7 liters.
The engine seems to show some evidence of use in wartime action, too. According to Bonhams, “the sump has what appear to be two bullet (or shrapnel) holes which have been carefully plugged and peened in repair.”
Furthermore, the engine-chassis combination has more than 20,000 miles of road, race and hillclimb use. It’s been at the Goodwood Revival and Festival of Speed, too.
Find this 1905 Fiat-Isotta-Fraschini Volo-6 Competition Two-Seater for auction at Bonhams, with an estimated value of $1,500,000-$2,500,000.
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Price
Price upon request
Color
Red
