Flame-spitting car with largest engine ever was driven for first time in a century

Some cars just scream ‘Look at me’ and flame-spitting is certainly one way to achieve that.

The Fiat S76, also known as the Beast of Turin, was built before the first World War but wasn’t driven for a century.

Would this car age like a fine wine or like sour milk?

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The backstory of the flame-spitting Fiat S76

The car’s massive 28.5-liter engine enabled to achieve an impressive 300hp, which would propel the car to 116mph.

It achieved a one-mile land speed record in 1911.

Even without its history to take into account, this is an eye-catching car by any standard.

The huge engine takes up a big chunk of the car, and partially blocks the view of the driver.

Shape wise, the vehicle falls somewhere between a bullet and a toucan’s beak.

With the wheels protruding out of each side, it looks closer to a go-kart than a legitimate road vehicle.

But it does run, albeit with a lot of smoke and noise.

The revival of the Beast of Turin

In 2015, the car was driven on the grounds of the Goodwood estate in West Sussex, UK.

It was driven by its owner Duncan Pittaway, alongside Lord March.

As the Beast moves along, there’s a lot of spluttering.

If it weren’t for the flames, you might think you were watching the outtakes of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

The video of the Beast running after a century got a lot of people talking online.

“That car requires no horn,” one person commented.

Another remarked: “Wonderful! Fiat’s legacy is second to none, and this machine is an example of that.”

Machine seems like an apt choice of words here.

But the commenter does make a valid point – Fiat does have a exemplary legacy.

What’s more, they’re adaptable to boot.

This Fiat 500 was modified into a motorcycle to get past German laws around 16 year old drivers.