Italian industrialist Carlo Pesenti inherited the family cement company Italcementi in 1946. Pesenti was also a car enthusiast and took over the Lancia company from the Lancia family in June 1956 whilst the Aurelia was in production.

 

A new generation of engineers came with the Pesenti era which sidelined the great Vittorio Jano. Pesenti tasked Antonio Fessia with the replacement for the Aurelia to be named Flaminia. The new car was a refinement of the Aurelia concept retaining the V6 engine layout and rear-mounted transaxle/transmission, although the famous sliding-pillar suspension arrangement was discontinued and replaced by coil springs and wishbones.

 

The production Flaminia saloon was designed by Pininfarina and was launched at the 1957 Geneva Motor Show. Initially the new model was equipped with drum brakes and optional discs but soon disc brakes would be standardised.

 

In addition to the four-door Berlina the Flaminia spawned a Pininfarina two-door coupe (based on Pininfarina’s exquisite Florida II prototype) and a coupe and two-seat convertible by Touring. The most sporting model was the Flaminia Sport by Zagato.

 

To allow future increases in capacity a new all-alloy engine block was cast. The new engine initially had a 2.5 litre capacity, later growing to 2.8 litres. In 1961 the Sport Zagato was available with triple-Weber 35DCNL carburettors and was known as the 3C. The power of the 2.5 litre V6 engine increased to 140 bhp with the three Weber carburettor set-up.

 

Chassis no. 824.13.3182 is a Flaminia Sport Zagato 2.5 litre 3C, one of only 174 believed to have been built and also features the signature Zagato double-bubble roof and Borrani bi-metal wheels.

 

In 1969 the car was registered in the UK to one Basil Browne of Henley-on-Thames. In December 1970 it was registered to Michael Hentall of Southampton before being purchased by Barry Clayton of Brierley Hill, West Midlands in 1973 who kept the car at St. Pauls Garage, Birmingham.

 

The Lancia was still in use at this point as evidenced by then current MOT certificates Lancia Motor Club historian Paul Mayo’s photographs of the car taken on the 1st and 2nd of July 1978 at Loughborough and Donington.

 

The Sport Zagato was then acquired by the current owners who purchased it from St. Pauls Garage on the 5th December 1981. The car was then placed into long-term storage and has not run for some time.

 

The car is a largely complete and has what is believed to be its original engine, however it is missing its three-carburettor set-up.

 

This rare and desirable Lancia Flaminia Sport Zagato is now available for purchase.

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