Following the attempt at the land speed record, the ensuing decades of ownership for the second S76 were murky until it was acquired by British car collector Duncan Pittaway in 2003. However, one very important piece of the puzzle was missing: the signature engine. In a remarkable stroke of luck, Duncan was able to locate the engine from the first S76 car, which Fiat had dismantled at some point following World War I. Once the chassis and engine were reunited, a lengthy restoration was undertaken, with the bodywork and mechanicals rebuilt to specifications gleaned from the original Fiat design drawings and a scant few period photographs.
Fortunately for gearheads everywhere, Mr. Pittaway is a man who believes in enjoying his investment as more than just a static exhibit in a dusty museum. Since its restoration, the Beast of Turin has participated in several historic exhibition races, including the prestigious Goodwood Festival of Speed in England.
In a more recent and unexpected twist to the S76’s story, an Italian museum claims that the massive 28.4-liter powerplant was part of the “Antonio Capetti Collection” at the Polytechnic of Turin and was merely loaned, not sold, to the English collector for purposes of examination. According to museum officials, the engine that was eventually returned by the Englishman was a counterfeit that was missing original parts. Whether the claim has a basis in reality or not, it’s a safe bet that Beast of Turin won’t be returning to Italy anytime soon for fear of potentially being confiscated until the matter is settled.
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