Hear a 28.5-liter land speed record car fire up for the first time in 100 years

From now on, if ever anyone describes their car to me as a beast I'll answer with utter certainty: "No it isn't."

This is the "Beast of Turin," or what's officially known as the Fiat S76. Two examples were built from 1910 to 1911, with horsepower reaching a staggering 300. It was designed to claim the title as "world's fastest car" from the Blitzen-Benz, and it did so by completing a certified out-and-back run of 116 mph.

What's more beastly, however, is that it boasted a highly-advanced 28.5-liter engine — and now, for the first time in roughly 100 years, it's been massaged back to life.

Duncan Pittway of England bought what was remaining of the two S76s and combined them to make one; the first had been bought by Russian Prince Boris Soukhanov in 1911and later sold to a man in Australia. There is was tragically fitted with a Stutz motor and then promptly crashed. The second car was owned by Fiat itself, but even more tragically, it was scrapped in 1920 with the only remaining component being the monster engine.

Pittway placed that motor into a rebuilt version of the first S76, and voila, he had himself a proper land speed record car from 1911. You'll be able to watch the whole video of the restoration come February of next year, but as this teaser shows, the most impressive aspect of it all may simply be the sound emitted when the fire-breathing 28.5-liter engine fires up for the first time.

Yes Ladies and Gentleman, this is what a true beast sounds like. Just imagine cresting 116 mph aboard it back in 1911. Or even 137 mph, which it did but failed to manage a run in the opposite direction to have the speed verified.

The car had planned to make a run at the Goodwood Hillclimb this year, but Pittway didn't have it ready in time. With a bit of luck, we'll get to witness the "Beast of Turin" tackle Lord March's driveway for real next year.