Fiat S74
Encyclopedia
In the early 1900s Fiat was heavily involved in racing to promote the reliability and mechanical fortitude of their brand, It was not uncommon for the early four-cylinder engines to displace over ten liters; many reaching into the 20-liter range. For Fiat, they too found provenance in expanding their engines. Their answer in the 1904 Gordon Bennett Cup
race, an early type of "Grand Prix" racing, was the S74; a 75 horsepower racer which displaced fourteen liters from its four-cylinder engine. It was first raced by Vincenzo Lancia
(the future founder of the Lancia Company) and Fiat's works driver. He drove in the 1903 Paris-Madrid race
, two US Vanderbilt Cup
races, Multiple Grand Prix races, and possibly more. The 1912 French Grand Prix
was arguably the best showing for the S74 then eight years old. Fiat had their S74 racer in the hands of many including David Bruce-Brown who was in the lead for much of the race. He unfortunately was disqualified for refueling away from the pits. Ralph De Palma, also driving a S74, was as well; disqualified from the race due to repairs performed outside of the pits. First place went to Georges Boillot
and his Peugeot
followed by Louis Wagner
in a Fiat S74.
One of these S74 fiats Is owned by George Wingard in Oregon and on a good year it can be seen racing at Laguna Seca's Monterey Historic Races
or the Goodwood Festival of Speed
in Great Britain.
Gordon Bennett Cup in auto racing
As one of three Gordon Bennett Cups established by James Gordon Bennett, Jr., millionaire owner of the New York Herald, the automobile racing award was first given in 1900 in France....
race, an early type of "Grand Prix" racing, was the S74; a 75 horsepower racer which displaced fourteen liters from its four-cylinder engine. It was first raced by Vincenzo Lancia
Vincenzo Lancia
Vincenzo Lancia was an Italian pilot, engineer and founder of Lancia.Vincenzo Lancia was born in the small village of Fobello on 24 August 1881, close to Turin...
(the future founder of the Lancia Company) and Fiat's works driver. He drove in the 1903 Paris-Madrid race
Paris-Madrid race
The Paris–Madrid race of May 1903 was an early experiment in auto racing, organized by the Automobile Club de France and by the Spanish Automobile Club, Automóvil Club Español....
, two US Vanderbilt Cup
Vanderbilt Cup
The Vanderbilt Cup was the first major trophy in American auto racing.-History:An international event, it was founded by William Kissam Vanderbilt II in 1904 and first held at a course set out in Nassau County on Long Island, New York. The announcement that the race was to be held caused...
races, Multiple Grand Prix races, and possibly more. The 1912 French Grand Prix
1912 French Grand Prix
The 1912 French Grand Prix was a Grand Prix motor race held at Dieppe on 25–26 June 1912.-The Race:The race was run over two days with the drivers completing ten laps on each day and their times being aggregated to produce the winner . Coupé cars competed alongside Grand Prix cars. The coupé cars...
was arguably the best showing for the S74 then eight years old. Fiat had their S74 racer in the hands of many including David Bruce-Brown who was in the lead for much of the race. He unfortunately was disqualified for refueling away from the pits. Ralph De Palma, also driving a S74, was as well; disqualified from the race due to repairs performed outside of the pits. First place went to Georges Boillot
Georges Boillot
Georges Louis Frederic Boillot was a French Grand Prix motor racing driver and World War I fighter pilot.-Biography:...
and his Peugeot
Peugeot
Peugeot is a major French car brand, part of PSA Peugeot Citroën, the second largest carmaker based in Europe.The family business that precedes the current Peugeot company was founded in 1810, and manufactured coffee mills and bicycles. On 20 November 1858, Emile Peugeot applied for the lion...
followed by Louis Wagner
Louis Wagner
Louis Wagner was a French race car driver who won the first ever United States and British Grands Prix. Wagner was also a pioneer aviator.Wagner was born in Le Pré-Saint-Gervais, Seine-Saint-Denis...
in a Fiat S74.
One of these S74 fiats Is owned by George Wingard in Oregon and on a good year it can be seen racing at Laguna Seca's Monterey Historic Races
Monterey Historic Automobile Races
The Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion is an annual event held at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, California. Its purpose is to provide an event for historic race cars to compete in. It takes place over the course of one weekend every mid-August. It was first established by Steve Earle in...
or the Goodwood Festival of Speed
Goodwood Festival of Speed
The Goodwood Festival of Speed, commonly abbreviated as FoS and referred within the United Kingdom as simply the Festival of Speed, is an annual hill climb featuring historic motor racing vehicles that is held in the grounds of Goodwood House, West Sussex, England.Typically held in late June or...
in Great Britain.