tomkonrad

And to add to my previous post, I took another look online and found a photo showing the main hall of the show in better quality, and to my surprise, the Isotta Fraschini we are discussing can be seen quite clearly. Also, I added another Automotive Industries page describing some details about the car, plus a cropped image from Hugo Pfau's "The Custom Body Era". Tom

Hi everyone, Here is an ad of the LeBaron-Clayton Isotta Fraschini Tipo-8 Roadster mentioned I have, plus a period publication showing a photo of it at the show. Unfortunately, it is just a part of the front/side. If anyone has more photos of this car, I would love to see them! Also, a article from "Automotive Industries" showing the show in 1923, and an ad for the show. Tom

In the coming days, I will create a dedicated post for this car and the others built in its style. This way I can go into further detail there, as I would like to keep this thread generally focused on the LeBaron boattail convertible coupe's. I appreciate the interest!!! Tom

Hello Craig, I can speak on the IF at the Canadian Automotive Museum in Oshawa because I've conducted research on it for them a few months ago! It is an absolutely incredible example with "Torpedo-Bateau" coachwork by Carrozzeria Cesare Sala. The car has an incredible story. In short, it was shown at Olympia and purchased by Cyril Gleeson from the Republic of Ireland after he traveled to the show to purchase a "small sports car" in his words, and was won over by the Isotta Fraschini when he saw it. Years later it made its way to the USA and then to Canada where it lives now I've tracked down documents including letters written by Cyril describing the car and his purchase and ownership experience. Attached are some photos of the car when on the show stand at Olympia. Note that it looks very different. That is because he had it repainted, re-upholstered, and the woodwork re-done in mahogany. He painted it green, and other than the "new" color it received at some later point in its life that it has now, is all original. Also, I've attached more photos showing the car at Pebble Beach, and from years ago in Toronto, Canada. There are a few examples with similar coachwork. One resides in Italy, and there is another that is currently missing, which had slightly different front fenders. I'm happy to elaborate on the topic if anyone is interested. Please let me know! Tom

Hi Jeff, Glad to hear I could contribute something new! Perhaps someone can chime in on this... I know LeBaron did a lot of design and even body construction for Paul Ostruk. They designed and built "ghost" bodies for them and there would be no identifier of LeBaron on them. This could be just that. Either way, absolutely wonderful! Tom

Hello everyone, Although this is a slightly older topic, I came across is by chance the same day I received an old print in the mail for an Isotta Fraschini from 1923. As it was a cutout from a magazine, it had something on the back. To my surprise, an advert for a Paul-Ostruk Peerless! So I had to share it here. Maybe this can help breath some new life into the topic and more can still be discovered! Tom

Walt, I agree with the focus on post-war cars, but that seems to be the way it's heading for now to the disappointment of all of us pre-war car enthusiasts... Regarding your story on the Bird estate auction, where will it be published when completed? I am very interested in reading it. Thanks! Tom

Incredible! It would have been great if you did have it. Do you recall what the colour scheme of the IF was at that time? Was it in fact a dark blue? And the roof and interior colors? I assume the roof was beige, but perhaps a light grey??? I've been dying to know for a long time and it's proven very difficult to discover these details. Tom

While research on IF #1353 goes on, I wanted to touch on the "sister car", chassis #1474 from 1928/29 A very similar LeBaron design on an 8A S chassis (as opposed to 8A SS on #1353), it had the most notable difference in style in regard to the front fenders being less rounded following the profile of the wheels and instead a "flattened" appearance akin to a Brewster Phantom I York Roadster. The car survives today, although, it has been restored and is no longer in its original color scheme or complete shape. At some point in its life, the windshield was altered, keeping the same angle, however, being considerably lowered and the vertical pillar/trim removed and sporting a different roof without any landau bars as originally. The unaltered 1928 #1353 example being a perfect example to base an eventual restoration on and ensure the design of the roof and windshield are re-created accurately. As for the car's history, it is unclear to me at this point whether it was the second built in LeBaron's Boattail Convertible Coupe style, or perhaps a third as is possible and suggested by Hugo Pfau in his writing on the marque and the positive reception of the 1928 design. In regard to ownership from new, I believe the car to have been originally purchased by George Piperno, who owned several IF's and then became the possession of Wallis C. Bird before being auctioned and exchanging hands on several occasions to this day. Interestingly, assuming George Piperno was the original owner, he is know to have had three bodies on a single IF chassis (presumably this one, #1474) after the original was rolled and then followed an interim Open-Surrey body while a new "proper" body was constructed by LeBaron so the car could still be used. I've attached a photo of the Open-Surrey. If anyone knows about this example and how it may relate to #1474 and the ownership history, I am most intrigued. Lastly, on the topic of color, I am fortunate to have an excellent photo of the cars side profile in period, as well as some photos from the Wallis C. Bird estate sale, plus some from here and there. In all the black and white photos before the colored ones show an altered/restored car, it appears to be black, however it has been said it was in fact a dark blue contrasted by the bare metal bonnet as can be seen in the photos. Learning of the interior color scheme and upholstery material, plus details such as the woodwork and even roof color would be a great discovery! With some simple online photo colorization, please see the photo of the car in its likely "original" color scheme as well as the old photos and some newer ones for reference. Tom

A beautiful car! And incredible that is survives in the condition it is. Here is a page from an article in Autobody from January 1929 covering the New York Auto Salon where the car was presented. I hope to see it in person one day! Tom

Apologies, I'm new to this forum and forgot to quote your posts in my replies. I hope this helps and I'll be sure to do so going forward. Tom

A.Griffin, I appreciate this all the same, and can relate. I was lucky to see it at the Cobble Beach Concours d'Elegance in Canada. It left the most incredible impression on me and I've been determined to learn everything I can about it ever since! The original photos being the pièce de résistance! The caretakers who brought the car to the show were so kind and showed me all around it. Something not everyone does, and it's so nice when you come across generous people like them! Most regrettably, I cannot remember their names, but it was the car's mechanic and his wife. Perhaps the story you are referring to is the somewhat "famous" one about Harry Williams' speeding ticket? In short, he was fined for speeding through town, only to pay double the fine and insist the authorities don't stop him again when he returns on his way back! I love these kinds of stories. They add to the history of these cars, their owners, and the period! Thank you, Tom

Hello Walt, I am glad to hear there may be something in the Crankshaft Magazine coming up. The timing is great since it's about to come out and as I was just going through the CCCA publication archives looking for such material. I went through plenty of your "Coachwork Lines" articles, too. You can imagine my surprise to see you responded to my posting first! Unfortunately, no luck in the CCCA publications or in the other content just yet. I am very intrigued by your upcoming article. I've heard of, and seen the covers of the LeBaron catalogue covers here and there, but never found any material from inside them, so I look forward to it very much! As for other catalogues and adverts, I'm lucky enough to have acquired an original 1928 advert of this very car (photo attached). It is my absolute favorite pre-war car of them all! Thank you for the advice, and if you have the time at any point in the future, anything else you may be able to find on this car is tremendously appreciated! Tom

Hello everyone, I am searching for original photos and information on the 1928 Isotta Fraschini Tipo-8A SS Boattail Convertible Coupe by LeBaron, chassis #1353. The car was purchased originally by Harry Williams & Marguerite Clark. It is now part of Peter Boyle's collection and has been restored by D&D Restorations. (Please note, there is a "sister car", chassis #1474. It has different front fenders, and now, after being altered at some point in its life,has a new, lower roof & windshield design. Any original photos on this car are also welcome because I am researching it as well.) After searching through archives, publications, and all over the internet, I am yet to find the type of photos I seek most. Above all I would like to find original photos from the LeBaron show stand at the 1928 New York Auto Salon held at the Commodore Hotel. This has proven very difficult to find, and I'm hoping such photos are out there somewhere along with others. Please see the photos I have for reference, and don't hesitate to contact me with any questions or material whatsoever via email too. (konrad.tom@outlook.com) Thank you, and I hope to learn more about this magnificent car and hopefully see photos of it in period! (Learning of the original color scheme would be an added bonus as well!) Tom Konrad

Hello everyone, I am searching for original photos and information on the 1928 Isotta Fraschini Tipo-8A SS Boattail Convertible Coupe by LeBaron, chassis #1353. The car was purchased originally by Harry Williams & Marguerite Clark. It is now part of Peter Boyle's collection and has been restored by D&D Restorations. (Please note, there is a "sister car", chassis #1474. It has different front fenders, and now, after being altered at some point in its life,has a new, lower roof & windshield design. Any original photos on this car are also welcome because I am researching it as well.) After searching through archives, publications, and all over the internet, I am yet to find the type of photos I seek most. Above all I would like to find original photos from the LeBaron show stand at the 1928 New York Auto Salon held at the Commodore Hotel. This has proven very difficult to find, and I'm hoping such photos are out there somewhere along with others. Please see the photos I have for reference, and don't hesitate to contact me with any questions or material whatsoever via email too. (konrad.tom@outlook.com) Thank you, and I hope to learn more about this magnificent car and hopefully see photos of it in period! (Learning of the original color scheme would be an added bonus as well!) Tom Konrad