How Turin’s beast reached 212 km/h in 1913

The beginning of the 20th century were wonderful for engineering and mechanics lovers. Taking the first steps in this temporal field, the Wright brothers became famous with the First airplane in history. In 1908, the Ford Model T entered the production chain, Despite disbelief Henry Ford’s own lawyer. And shortly after, Fiat would break the barrier of the 200 km/h.
While in Spain the registered cars arrived with dropper, Fiat had ambitious plans for their cars. Since the automotive began to take off, speed records and the first car races had become an obsession and a way of demonstrating the latest technological advances. They were a perfect sign of what each manufacturer was able to do.

It is considered that First career in history covered the distance between Paris and Rouen. 127 kilometers that should decide who was the best in “The carriage race without horses”. It was July 22, 1894 and that day the Steam cars. Despite this, in The avant -garde They rescue a previous case dated in 1887 but that is not considered competition because, at the time of truth, only a vehicle was presented in the exit line.

And in search of new challenges, Fiat launched the race to become the manufacturer with the fastest car in the world. And he succeeded in December 1913 when he reached 212.87 km/h of peak speed. A record that, however, has remained in the digital file and on paper because it never received the official “fastest car in the world” title.

Fiat S76, Turin’s beast that ran out of crown

On horseback between the nineteenth and twentieth century, in 1899 the Italian Fabbrica Automobili Torino. Fiat grows during the first years of life with the production of cars but quickly diversifies their business entering the railroad market and heavy transport, with their own trucks.

But in the brand they were aware of the importance it had break milestones. With the automotive in embryonic state, getting new records or winning the victory in the few races that then existed were a tremendous opportunity to make known.

Therefore, in 1910 they decided to create a monstrous car for which there were no insurmountable challenges. And they did it in the only way they knew: a gigantic engine.

Fiat’s idea was to create a car that was all gross power. His engine was four -cylinder but his displacement was 28.4 liters. To get a better idea, A modern sport that exceeds eight liters of displacement is already something totally exceptional.

The engine was able to generate up to 290 horsepower at 1900 rpm, had three spark plugs per cylinder and was cooked by water. The problem is that its weight was fired at almost 1,700 kg in what was a rarity for the time. Of course, if we get one, we can drive it without the need to acquire the B+ card that arises in Brussels.

However, you have to contextualize it in your time. Barney Oldfieldaboard a Blitzen Benz He had achieved 212 km/h. If a four -cylinder and 21.5 -liter engine had worked for him, the answer should be to get an even larger engine.

The way to follow was clear and Fiat stepped on with two Fiat S67 units, which is considered to be Turin’s beast. In The Old Motor They collect fragments of Fiat Book by Michael Sedgwickwhere the brand’s story is told and where they explain that Fiat S76 was “one of the most scary creations emanating from any factory.”

Sedgwick explains that, After trying it in TurinThey found that the car had potential. There he reached 185 km/h in second march. It was time to launch for the record. The car was transferred to the Brooklands track(England) for Pietro Bordino to try to achieve what no one had reached until then.

However, Bordino feared for his life and refused to take the car beyond the 90 mph (145 km/h). Next to the sea, in Saltburn Sands, Fiat again achieved speeds of 185 km/h. However, not the author explains that they did not find the right place, because there was not enough distance for the Fiat S76 to display its entire potential.

Discarded Italy and England, Ostend, in Belgium, and Arthur Duray, as a pilot, were the chosen protagonists. It was about reaching the Germans. And there they got it, where they marked a peak speed of 212.87 km/h. However, the organized race was round trip and a fault prevented Fiat S76 from covering the route in the maximum allowed time. Turin’s beast had an informal record.

Unfortunately, World War I passed over the Fiat S76, which had to be dismantled. Despite this, little by little a unit has been recovered and, completely restored, In 2019 it was dropped by Goodwood where he covered the entire circuit of the climb to one of the most famous hills in the motor world. The video puts the hair on end.

In the images you can see how the body is twisted with engine violence. It is impressive to see the flares that come out on the sides of the vehicle. Sedgwick assured that Turin’s beast was going through the city “shooting flames in the faces of innocent pedestrians and deafening them. “We do not doubt it.

Photos | Goodwood and Matthew Lamb

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