Fiat Mephistopheles

Mephistopheles
Mephistopheles
Overview
Manufacturer	Fiat
Production	1923
Assembly	Arpajon, France
Designer	Ernest Eldridge
Body and chassis
Class	Land speed record
Body style	Open-Wheeler
Layout	Front Engine, RWD
Related	Fiat SB4
Powertrain
Engine	21,706 cubic centimetres (1,324.6 cu in) Fiat A.12 Inline 6
Power output	320 brake horsepower (320 PS; 240 kW) @ 1,800 rpm ; 2,390 newton-metres (1,760 lbf⋅ft)
Transmission	4-speed Manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase	3,683 millimetres (145.0 in)
Length	5,112 millimetres (201.3 in)
Width	1,766 millimetres (69.5 in)
Height	1,666 millimetres (65.6 in)
Kerb weight	7,000 pounds (3,200 kg)
Chronology
Predecessor	Fiat SB4
Successor	Fiat S61

The Fiat Mephistopheles (known in Italian as Mefistofele) is a one-off racing car created by Ernest A.D. Eldridge in 1923 by combining a Fiat racing car chassis and Fiat aeroplane engine. The name is from the demon of the same name. The name alluded to the infernal noise emitted from the unmuffled engine, and it was "baptised" by the Frenchmen.^{[citation needed]}

Eldridge broke the World Land Speed Record on 12 July 1924 with the Mephistopheles,^[1] by driving at 234.98 km/h (146.0 mph) in Arpajon, France. The last car to set a land speed record on a public road.^[2]

The Mephistopheles was created by combining the chassis of the 1908 Fiat SB4 with a 6-cylinder, 21.7 litre (21706 cc) Fiat A.12 aeroplane engine producing 320 PS (235 kW; 316 bhp).^[3]

Mephistopheles was restored over 5 years, with another example of the same engine, and returned in 2011 with a display at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.^[4]^[5]^[6]