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1911 Fiat S 76
Inline four-cylinder, 28.353 cm3 (190 mm * 250 mm), consisting of two two-cylinder engines, engine control OHC, upright shaft,4 valves and three spark plugs per cylinder, magneto
ignition, 213 kW (290 HP) at 1900 rpm, water cooled, four-speed, front engine with rear-wheel drive, chain drives to the wheels, body, frame, superstructure, not self-supporting, wheelbase 2,750 mm,
suspension, leaf spring, rigid axles, steering, worm-segment steering, tire designation, 4.00 - 15 (2.5''), foot brake on drive, handbrake on rear drums, cardan shaft, length 3,750 mm, unladen weight from 1,650
kg, top speed up to 225 km/h, 1911, two-seater, open, two cars.
kfz-tech.de/YFi189
They had just reached the stage of producing four-cylinder engines from two twin-cylinder engines working side by side, and they were already trying to push displacement beyond all previously known limits.
Benz took the lead with 21.5 liters in 1909.
So it was logical to try to beat the record of 228.1 km/h set by Bob Burman in 1911. Before the triumph of supercharging, there was no substitute for displacement except for more displacement.
This resulted in a capacity of more than 28 liters. The stroke was so large that you could barely see over the engine, including the overhead camshaft. Torque was said to have been just under 2,712 Nm at
1,400 rpm, figures for a proper truck these days.
The diesel engine also achieves this torque at roughly the same speed. Nevertheless, it remains incomprehensible how it, with its enormous power boost from the transmission and axle drive, failed to tear the
chains to the rear wheels to pieces.
The car was probably given the honorary title 'Beast of Turin' due to the noise of the exhaust system, which was still in place at the time. Flames were shooting out of the cylinder head of the replica. But what
was even more surprising was that the car, with a possible top speed of 225 km/h, lacked any front-wheel brakes.
Yes, look closely at the enlargement of the image above; there's nothing there. Have you ever tried, hopefully at low speed - please don't try - pulling the handbrake? Then you could have gotten a feel for what a
front brake can do.
The driver was none other than the later famous Felice Nazzaro, who reportedly described the car as 'uncontrollable.' Nobody wanted to get behind the giant steering wheel after that. Except for the young
Pietro Bordino (23), who, however, needed two attempts to reach 187 km/h.
This happened at the Brooklands race track near London, which still exists, but is largely a ruin. Apparently, Belgian driver Arthur Duray handled the car better, but unfortunately became a tragic figure.
You may have already guessed, but the Blitzen-Benz held this speed record for 17 years due to World War I. During his record-breaking run in Ostend, Belgium, Duray actually reached 225 km/h, setting the
world record.
And why tragic? Because even back then, the record-breaking distance had to be ridden in both directions to eliminate favorable conditions such as a tailwind. And that's exactly what Duray hadn't done in the
time available, for whatever reason.
And when someone managed 213 km/h with the beast the following year, the Blitzen Benz had already outpaced them at 228 km/h. And that takes us about a hundred years ahead. Apparently, all that
remains of the two cars is a frame and an engine in a museum in Italy, the latter apparently not for sale.
At least Briton Duncan Pittaway managed to take off measurements from it. Other sources claim the matter wasn't entirely according to the rules. With a lot of rework, Pittaway finally managed to delight
spectators at events such as the Goodwood Festival of Speed.
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