Knowing the past of the firms helps us to know the importance of these, which has helped them to reach the present with an aura and spirit of their own. Fiat is one of those brands that transcends the borders of time, mixing its past and future in iconic models such as the Fiat 500 e, the first electric car based on the mythical urbanite with a compact silhouette and carefree character. But Italians not only created the people’s car, they also developed unique pieces dating back almost a century of history. The Fiat Mefistofele is one of them, despite not being a model in its production portfolio. You may not know this sports car but, to this day, it holds the record for the fastest vehicle on the road, accelerating to 234.98 km / h in the first kilometer . It was the brainchild of Ernest Eldridge, an English bourgeois who found his passion in automobile technology and his obsession with speed.
Before explaining the reason for the importance of the Fiat Mefistofele, it is relevant to know its ideologue. Born in 1897, Ernest Eldridge dropped out of school to fight in the First World War. On the battlefield, as a London bourgeois, he had contact with automobiles as an ambulance driver and there is even talk of his service in the French Artillery Corps . After the victory, Eldridge returned home to exploit his knowledge and his two passions: aviation and motorsports. Strong emotions form the backbone of his life , forming part of every project he embarks on and which, almost always, had to do with setting a speed record capable of lasting over time.
The Gentelman Drivers
The Gentelman Drivers concept has reached our days is something different. They are pilots, of more or less skill, with enough money to have a team of mechanics, engineers and cars at their disposal. At that time, this figure did not have such support and it was common for drivers to use their own cars to invest in aerodynamic improvement and parts that would add lightness to the whole. The most common thing was to dedicate himself to research with hours of trial and error, achieving innovations that would later become known in the rest of the world.
Eldridge’s obsession was to combine his passion for the automobile and aviation in the same vehicle. With that goal in mind, he introduced a 240 hp aircraft engine into a 1921 car, but found it insufficient. Later, he relied on the technology of the Fiat SB4 , a 1907 racing model to which he added a Fiat A.1 aviation block. The 21,706 cc six-cylinder engine was popular with air pilots, known for its use in bombers such as the Caproni Ca.44.
The Italian racing car
In order to fit an airplane engine into a car, Eldridge had to modify the cylinders, equipping them with four valves with Magneti Marelli spark plugs while, for the bodywork, he used the remains of a crashed London bus . A material that had to withstand the power of 350 hp at 1,800 rpm, which is an impressive figure at such low revs.
The nickname “Mefistofele” earned it for the infernal noise of its exhausts , which gave it an essence as striking as it is interesting for the automotive world. It did not take long for rivals to appear who wanted to beat the Italian beast, such as the Delage firm. This brand, and its driver from the Indianapolis 500 , René Thomas, challenged the Fiat men with their “ La Torpille ” also with 350 hp.
The historical record
The appointment to conclude this duel was: July 1924 on Route Nationale 20, near Arpajon (France). Eldridge didn’t hesitate and picked up the glove. Finally, on July 5, 24, the Fiat Mephistofele reached 230.55 km / h on the dirt track . However, Delage and Thomas claimed that the Italian had no reverse gear, a requirement to homologate the record.
Less than ten days later, and with the help of a local blacksmith, Eldridge presented himself with this modification and reached 234.98 km / h in the first kilometer from a standstill and 234.75 km / h in the first mile , marks that they are still unbeaten.
