Carlo Felice Trossi

Count Carlo Felice Trossi di Pian Villar (Biella, 1908 – Milan, 1949) was not only a gentleman driver of rare talent, but also a connoisseur of the automobile as art, engineering, and expression. While many aristocrats dabbled in racing, Trossi immersed himself in it—and just as passionately, he curated a personal collection of cars that reflected his refined taste and love for innovation. Each car he owned was unique, many commissioned as one-offs, crafted by the finest Italian carrozzerie of the era.

His early foray into the motoring world was marked by the stunning 1924 Isotta Fraschini Tipo 8A SS, bodied by Stabilimenti Farina. A majestic creation, this one-off represented the beginning of Trossi’s fascination with grand touring excellence—power and elegance united under a long hood and elegant roofline.

By the early 1930s, Trossi’s garage became a private salon of Italian and European automotive mastery. He commissioned two Fiat 508 Balilla models from Pininfarina, in 1932—light, agile, and aesthetically forward. That same year, he acquired a breathtaking Mercedes-Benz 500 SS Cabriolet, another one-off, also clothed by Pininfarina—a blend of German engineering and Italian elegance that turned heads wherever it appeared.

Trossi’s affection for the grand marques continued with a 1931 Hispano-Suiza H6 Coupé, again styled by Pininfarina, and echoing the sophistication of Parisian motoring. It was followed by a 1930 Isotta Fraschini Tipo 8A Coupé Victoria, chassis #1706, a limited-production masterpiece with stately proportions and Pininfarina’s unmistakable grace.

Though best remembered for his victories in Scuderia Ferrari’s Alfa Romeos and his post-war triumphs with Alfa Corse, Trossi’s private cars revealed another layer of his passion: not just speed, but sculpted speed—motoring as a lifestyle. His collection was as refined and daring as the man himself, and each machine he owned told a story of prestige, design, and the Italian pursuit of perfection.