Itala 14.8-Litre Racing Car History

In 1905 Itala built a series of very large-engined competition cars centred on a 14.8-litre five-cylinder unit. Giovanni Battista Raggio drove one to victory in the 1905 Coppa Florio, completing three 167 km laps in 4 hours 46 minutes.

The following year Alessandro Cagno won the inaugural Targa Florio — a 446 km marathon over Sicily's Grande Circuito — in nine hours and 32 minutes at the wheel of a closely related Itala 35/40 HP. That double in back-to-back seasons over two of Italy's most prestigious events transformed Itala from a well-funded newcomer into a genuine national motorsport force.

These were purpose-built racing machines rather than modified touring cars, reflecting the era's belief that winning outright prestige events was the most effective advertisement for a luxury marque.