Few Classic Era automobiles have the prestige and presence of the eight-cylinder Isotta Fraschini, and its superb, Swiss watch-like engineering is only enhanced by the elaborately detailed and configured coachwork by Castagna found on this example.

A transformable cabriolet with side windows that disappear within hinged inner door panels, it was originally delivered by Ugo d’Annunzio’s Isotta Motors in New York City, reportedly to the son of a prominent newspaperman.

The car was acquired later in the 1930s by Paul Cofrancesco of Connecticut, an early appreciator of Isotta Fraschinis who accumulated four very special examples, which he quietly maintained for decades.

In 1973 the cars were acquired from Mr.

Cofrancesco by the partnership of popular tenor and automobile enthusiast, Sergio Franchi, and Anthony Pascucci.

Mr.

Pascucci dealt chassis number 1585 to Charles LeMaitre of Hardwick, Massachusetts, who sold it to the well-known collector Bernard Berman of Pennsylvania, who wou...