Description
H&H Classic Auction @ The Imperial War Museum, Duxford/ Cambridgeshire
9th of October , 2024 13:00
1961 Lancia Flaminia GT Convertible
Incredibly elegant Italian Convertible styled by Carozzeria Touring
Estimate
£60, 000 - £70, 000
Registration No: BAS 324
Chassis No: 824. 041. 1328
MOT: Exempt
One of only 847 Flaminia GT Convertibles built
Subject to a full restoration during the 1990s with a high standard of maintenance work continuing through to today
Regarded as the best handling GT car of its time
Offered with a comprehensive history file dating back to the late 1980s, which includes images of restoration works
Introduced at the Turin Auto Show in 1957, Lancia’s Flaminia line was the successor to the ground-breaking Aurelia. The Flaminia inherited the Aurelia’s revolutionary DeVirgilio-designed V6 and rear-mounted transaxle, but the earlier model’s sliding pillar front suspension was replaced by a more modern unequal-length double-wishbone front suspension and the V6's stroke was decreased while the bore sizes increased for higher revving. The Flaminia platform was so excellent that it was subject to a number of coachbuilt designs to complement the factory Pinin Farina offering from the likes of Zagato for the 'Sport', Pinin Farina themselves for the 'Coupé' and 'Speciale' and of course Carozzeria Touring for the 'GT' and 'GTL' models.
The very rakishly designed Carrozzeria Touring 'GT' first appeared in 1959 and was constructed with an attractive Aluminium 'Superleggera' body. Available in both Coupé and Convertible forms, the GT featured ultra modern twin headlights, finned rear wings and a shortened wheelbase to be proportionally more satisfying as a two seater. The early cars were powered by the 2458cc version of the V6 engine fed by a Solex Carburettor, which was considerably 'hotted up' for the GT and produced 117hp - an increase of 16hp over the more pedestrian Berlina.
As expensive as its rival Aston Martin DB4 when launched, the Flaminia GT was out of the league of the 'many' and its stunning looks appealed to major continental stars such as Marcello Mastroianni and Jean-Paul Belmondo. The Flaminia's other party trick, its handling characteristics, appealed to the likes of Juan-Manuel Fangio and Peter Collins, with Enzo Ferrari apparently committing to print that the GT was 'the best handling car available'. Now a hugely under-appreciated Italian thoroughbred that is both incredibly usable and astonishingly pretty, these rare Lancias represent fantastic value for money against its contemporary peers.
According to an email from Massimo Castagnola of the Fiat Group, referencing original Lancia factory records that is on file, chassis 824. 041. 1328 was manufactured on the 17th April 1961 with its body painted in the attractive colour scheme of 'Grey Newmarket' with the interior in 'Red Sky'. Purported to have been in the custodianship of its first owner in Salinas, USA from 1961 to 1989, the first officially documented part of the car's history was from its purchase by a Mr R D Pardilla of San Diego in 1989, by which time it was clothed in a Light Metallic Blue. Mr Padilla would keep the Lancia for 9 years, and having found the Light Metallic Blue rather distasteful opted to have it re-painted Red prior to its sale to a Mr Burbani. Mr Burbani immediately exported the Flaminia from the USA to his son who was resident in Ravenna, Italy, where it was immediately stripped down to begin a comprehensive restoration for which there are many photographs on file. It is understood that Mr Burbani only got the stage of having the colour painted and assembled as a rolling shell with a re-trimmed interior and new Black mohair hood prior to its sale in 2001 to the previous long term keeper, Mr I G Harmond - who was a British resident, who continued with the completion of the restoration. Mr Harmond then imported 1328 to the UK where it was registered as 'BAS 324' and would enjoy his efforts until 2019 when it was purchased by the current keeper through esteemed restorer and sales outfit, Thornley Kelham.
In the vendor's ownership and since restoration, 'BAS 324' has been subject to a comprehensive maintenance schedule - with an extensive file of receipts from specialists such as Tanc Barratt, Thornley Kelham and Omicron on file. The most recent of these invoices was from Tanc Barratt for dynamic balancing of the flywheel, replacement of the propshaft coupling and refitting of the clutch (which had been recently replaced in a previous invoice), due to a small vibration that the vendor had picked up on. The vendor drives his car collection regularly and expects nothing less than mechanical excellence, so when a small fluid leak from the transaxle was picked up on during our inspection he immediately booked the car in for inspection and rectification in this area. As a result, the vendor describes the mechanical condition of the Lancia to be 'very good' to 'excellent' making this a fine drivers' car. Cosmetically, the restoration (which is now the best part of 25 years old) has stood up well to the test of time, however, interested parties should note that some paint rectification will be needed to make the Flaminia a Concours D'Elegance winner. The vendor describes the cosmetic condition as 'good' as a result but advises it will still make a gorgeous show car for the time being.
Having decided that he is simply not spending his time enough with his Lancia due to the ownership of a collection of modern classic Aston Martins, and an impending house move, the vendor has decided that it is now time to find a new, loving home for his prized Italian soft-top and therefore offered at our Duxford Imperial War Museum on October 9th 2024.
