Among the rarest and most arresting coachbuilt cars of the Classic Era, this 1929 Isotta Fraschini Tipo 8A Convertible Sedan is a one-of-one creation by the short-lived American coachbuilder Floyd-Derham. Built on the legendary Italian Tipo 8A chassis—famed for its massive straight-eight engine and commanding road presence—this car was bodied entirely in the United States and made its public debut at the 1928 New York Auto Salon.

Its story begins with a split in the Derham coachbuilding family after the passing of founder Joseph Derham in 1928. Joseph’s son Philip Derham, eager to modernize the firm, clashed with his more conservative brothers and left to establish a new venture with the financial support of William Floyd, a prominent European car importer. Though short-lived, the Floyd-Derham partnership produced two show cars: a Minerva cabriolet, and this extraordinary Isotta Fraschini.

Designed by Philip Derham and bodied by Alexander Wolfington & Son Co. of Philadelphia, chassis 1571 was clothed in an elegant convertible sedan body and painted in a vibrant butterscotch with yellow fenders and beltline. It appeared in both period advertisements and on page 42 of Hugo Pfau’s The Custom Body Era. After the show, it passed into private ownership and was eventually acquired by early collector Paul F. Cofrancesco, a Yale-trained artist and friend of Rudolph Valentino, who collected four Isottas during his lifetime.

The car later passed through the hands of legendary collectors including Anthony Pascucci, Sergio Franchi, Bill Lassiter, Sonny Abagnale, and the Imperial Palace Collection before being purchased by its next caretaker, who commissioned a body-off restoration by Reinhold’s Restorations between 2006 and 2008. Every major component—including the engine, transmission, and rear end—was rebuilt. The chrome was replated, the wheels were rebuilt by Dayton, and the body was refinished in a striking green with forest green fenders, red pinstriping, and a tan cloth top. The interior was trimmed in brown leather with ostrich inserts, creating a warm, luxurious cabin with exceptional detailing.

Design elements unique to this car include a custom radiator stone guard in the shape of a rising sun, tubular chrome bumpers, wood accents on the front splash apron, and a distinct beltline that splits at the cowl and reunites at the body’s rear. The result is a convertible sedan with a level of flair and originality rarely seen, even among its elite contemporaries.

Mechanically, the car remains impressive: the 7.3-liter straight-eight produces 110 bhp and is mated to a three-speed manual transmission, supported by servo-assisted mechanical drum brakes and a long 146-inch wheelbase, giving it the smooth, commanding ride typical of the finest prewar tourers.

In 2023, the car was acquired by Tom Maoli, who returned the one-off Floyd-Derham creation to the show field. Its first concours appearance came at the 2023 Greenwich Concours d’Elegance, where it was awarded Best in Class and received Second in Show overall, a testament to its exceptional craftsmanship, presence, and preservation.

Today, it stands as a rolling tribute to transatlantic elegance—an Italian chassis, an American body, and a story that connects some of the most important names in coachbuilding and collecting history. Chassis 1571 remains the only known Floyd-Derham-bodied Isotta Fraschini, and one of the most visually distinctive and historically important examples of the marque anywhere in the world.