Fire breathing Fiat to light up Scotland
The Argyll Festival of Performance on June 2-3 at Inveraray Castle has announced this year’s star attraction: the fire breathing Fiat, the ‘Beast of Turin’.
The Beast was built by the Italian motor company, Fiat, before WWI to challenge the land speed record. Its massive 28.5-litre four-cylinder engine, the largest ever purpose-built car engine, was capable of producing an impressive 300 hp and reaching speeds of 116 mph.
It was over a century before the Beast was run again, following intensive and meticulous restoration by owner Duncan Pittaway.
The current Beast is made up of the chassis of one of the two Fiat S76s and the engine of the other.
Event director Bill Telford added: ‘We are incredibly privileged that Duncan will bring the legendary Beast to Scotland for the first time for the Argyll Festival of Performance.
‘Not only will visitors to the festival be able to see this unique car up close, but they will also hear the Beast roar as she will be one of the star cars being demonstrated at the event.
‘We have ambitious plans for the festival and bringing unique and interesting cars to Scotland for the first time is a key factor in our plans.
‘The Beast is a fantastic example of the cars that will be on show and we can’t wait to welcome her to Scotland.’