Intrepida Fides—A Short History of Isotta Fraschini

Members of Hagerty Classic Insurance’s Driver’s Club were recently asked what car was the most luxurious ever. The answers ranged from Studebakers to Rolls-Royces. No one suggested either Hispano-Suiza or Isotta Fraschini, the world’s truly most luxurious marques. Of those two, Isotta Fraschini is my pick. Gianni Rogliatti wrote an article titled “The Fabulous Isotta Fraschini – Majesty in Motion” in Automobile Quarterly Volume XII, Number 1, First Quarter 1974. In it, he said the marque’s badge, with its block letters “IF,” could appropriately stand for either “Isotta Fraschini” or “Intrepida Fides,” which translates loosely to “Intrepid Faith.” Owners of these automobiles could be fearless in their faith in these cars – they were that good.

Isotta and Fraschini