Tag Archives: 3C

Lancia

1965 Lancia Flaminia Super Sport 3C

Mention coach builder Zagato and you are likely to get a strong reaction. Their early designs on the Alfa 1750 are legendary, graceful design to make a breathtaking car and clever craftsmanship that made the car both lighter and stronger. Jump ahead several decades to 1989 and the Alfa ES-30/SZ, based on the Alfa Milano chassis, could graciously be called polarizing. One accusation you cannot level at Zagato is doing something halfway. When they released a new car with their latest design philosophy, they went all in. Zagato’s swing for the fences philosophy meant that on occasion they hit a homerun.

Lancia was looking to get back among the upper crust of makes after it had been burned by its F1 efforts in the 1950s and their range topping car in 1957 was the Flaminia. When released, the Flaminia was available as a sedan, a coupe and a convertible with variants on each of the basic platforms and bodies. The top of the Flaminia range was the Sport which later evolved into the Super Sport. The first Sport had a 2.5L SOHC V-6 with 140hp (when fitted with the optional three carburetors), a 4 speed rear transaxle and an aluminum coupe body. In 1964 the engine was enlarged to 2.8L and was rated at 152hp when fitted with the optional 3 carburetors.

Year: 1965
Model: Flaminia Super Sport 3C
Engine: 2.8 liter V6
Transmission: 4-speed manual
Mileage: Unknown
Price: Auction estimate $290,000 - $360,000

CLICK FOR DETAILS:1965 Lancia Flaminia Super Sport 3C

One of only approx. 150 built
1965 Lancia Flaminia Super Sport 2.8-Litre 3C 'Double Bubble' Coupé
Coachwork by Zagato
Chassis no. 826232002060
This striking Zagato-bodied Lancia Flaminia Sport 3C Coupé features the Milanese styling house's renowned 'double bubble' body form in which low overall lines and a rounded streamlined shape are achieved by the simple but ingenious device of convex head-clearance roof bulges above each front seat.

One of the oldest and most respected of automotive design firms, Zagato was quick to exploit the popularity of the new GT racing category after WW2, supplying factory teams and catering for the privateer scene with road-able cars that could be driven competitively on the racetrack come the weekend. The creator of some of the most memorable designs of this, arguably Zagato's most productive period, was Ercole Spada. Favouring soft fluent, aerodynamic lines, Spada introduced the sawn-off tail on the Alfa Romeo Giulia Tubolare Zagato and was also responsible for the Alfa Romeo Giulietta and 2600 SZs. His creations on Lancia chassis included the Zagato Sport/Super Sport variants of the Flavia, Fulvia and Flaminia.

Introduced at the 1956 Turin Motor Show, the Flaminia retained its Aurelia predecessor's mechanical layout, though Lancia's traditional 'sliding pillar' independent front suspension gave way to a more modern double wishbone arrangement. Aurelia carry-overs were the 60-degree, 2,458cc, overhead-valve, V6 engine and De Dion rear transaxle with inboard brakes. The Zagato-bodied Sport and Super Sport models shared a shortened wheelbase with the Touring-styled GT/GTL coupes and the Convertible, and all featured disc brakes and increased power. A 2,775cc engine was introduced for 1963, by which time the sportier Flaminias were capable of around 210km/h (130mph), while a high-performance triple-carburettor '3C' induction set-up was available as an option and is fitted to this car. A limited-slip differential was standard equipment and the Flaminia Super Sport was one of the first cars to benefit from servo-assisted disc brakes all round. Lancia's top-of-the-range Gran Turismo, it came very well equipped and was priced at the same level as a Maserati or Aston Martin. Marcello Mastroianni, Italy's most popular male film star, had his pick of the world's finest cars and he chose a Flaminia Super Sport Zagato. It was a proven design, refined and well equipped, possessing superb performance. It also had sufficient charisma to appeal to an international heartthrob.

This example of the last word in old-style Lancia design is one of only 187 Super Sport Zagatos made. For a long time, Lancias of this period were neglected classics so it is now a very rare car. The Flaminia underwent a full mechanical and cosmetic restoration between 2001 and 2003, which was undertaken by Auto Elite of Modena. Paintwork, upholstery, trim, carpets and chrome were all renewed, while the engine, transmission, brakes and suspension were all rebuilt. The car is elegantly finished in Navy Blue with Bordeaux leather upholstery, its original colour scheme. Since 2004 the Lancia has formed part of an exclusive private collection in the UK where it has seen little use but been kept in good condition by the in-house mechanic. Italian registered, this car is the height of understated elegance.

The Flaminia Super Sport is a very fine GT and the later 3C (three carb) is the most desirable model in the range. The car below is good example of a later Super Sport that was restored between 2001 and 2003 and is being sold by Bonhams in October in Belgium. Bonhams states that this 1965 Flaminia Super Sport is one of 150 made so its rarity and condition make this a very prized car for true connoisseurs that appreciate Lancia for makers of exquisite cars prior to being taken over by Fiat.

-Jim

Lancia

1964 Lancia Flaminia 2.8 3C

In the years following World War II, many cars coming out of Italy were rather diminutive in size and engine capacity, a reflection of the economy in the midst of industrial reorganization. Over at Lancia, however, the Flaminia was unleashed on the public in 1957. This large car wasn't as dramatically styled as some of its contemporaries, but it was handsome in a way only the Italians could do it. Three different coupes were produced, styled by Zagato, Touring and, as we see here, Pininfarina. The Pininfarina coupe was the most sedate looking, appearing very much a two-door version of the Berlina, or four-door variant. With an advanced V6 engine and double wishbone front suspension, however, this car was anything but sedate.

This Flaminia Coupe for sale in the Netherlands needs some TLC, but it is basically all there, which is important with a rare piece like this.

1964 Lancia Flaminia GT 2.8 3C

Lancia Flaminia 3C 2.8 Coupe for restoration. Solid basis. Paint needs work, not rusted. Original leather, starts, runs and moves. Rare 3C!

Unlike a lot of the cars we feature on CICFS, this one isn't finished. But these Flaminia Pininfarina Coupes are rare, especially ones with the larger 2.8 liter V6 engine, of which only a little over 1,000 were built. A concours example will run you somewhere between $60,000 and $70,000 on average. That leaves plenty of room for restoration costs. The paintwork and chrome certainly looks presentable, and with an interior retrim, this would be a cool classic you wouldn't be afraid to use.

-Paul

Lancia

1966 Lancia Flaminia GT 2.5 3C

2 Comments

Lancias from the 1960s are some of my favorite Italian classics. This was the decade that the impossibly gorgeous Fulvia was released to the public. Aside from that small, attractive coupe, Lancia's flagship models were also rather visually arresting. The Flaminia was unique in that three different coupes were offered by three different coach builders, Pininfarina, Zagato, and the Touring version we see here. The Touring was by far my favorite, and had a bit of '60s Americana flair to it. This Flaminia GT 2.5 3C is for sale in Pennsylvania after undergoing an extensive refresh.

1966 Lancia Flaminia GT 2.5 3C

Click to view listing

This Lancia Flaminia GT 2.5 3C Touring bodied coupe being offered is a very well sorted out example of one of the most desirable Flaminia in the model line. It is not a 100 point car, but is a very presentable survivor. The car was repainted in about 1990 and has the original interior, except for new floor mats and carpet. The car has just received extensive mechanical renovation and is ready to use. Please feel free to contact me with any question you may have, Walt Spak - Pittsburgh PA. - 412-720-4334 - b20swalt@gmail.com

I have been very involved with Lancias' since my first ride in an Aurelia Convertible in 1966. Starting in the early '70s, I worked for the American Lancia Club Spares Registrar, importing and supplying parts for Lancias. After nearly ten years of doing this, I left to earn a real living and raise a family. I never left the club though and continued to own a Lancia through out that entire period. I bought my first one, a Flaminia Berlina in 1971 and have not been without at least one since.

In the early 90's I started to restore Lancia engines as a part time endeavor. I have restored 2 Fulvia, 2 Flaminia, 1 Gamma, and over a dozen Aurelia engines. I have also restored a Ferrari 250 GT engine and a couple of Fiat/Siata Otto Vu (8V) engines. Cars that I have restored the engines for have been shown at Pebble Beach, Amelia Island, Meadow Brook, Hilton Head, Elegance at Hershey, and Radnor Hunt Club. My most recent Lancia Aurelia Spider engine restoration is in a car that won 2nd place in class at the 2012 Pebble Beach Concours d'elegance.

I bought this Flaminia GT in a dismantled state. The engine had been apart and partially re-assembled. The subframe was removed and the entire suspension and steering was dismantled, down to ever last nut and bolt. Some work had been completed, primarily cleaning, sand blasting and powder coating. A small amount of the work that I am describing was performed by the previous owner, but rigorously inspected, and corrected if necessary, by myself. For instance, I discovered that the new cylinder liners had not been machined for proper protrusion above the engine deck. This prompted me to completely disassemble the engine and start from scratch. I subsequently discovered that the ring end gap was too large and that the crank shaft was not balanced to the precision that I require.

I have strived to do as an exacting renovation to this Flaminia. I have replaced any part that I found to have wear and rebuilt all of the components to the best of my ability. If you research pricing of these cars, you will see that they typically go for $65,000.00 and are in need of most, if not all of the work I have preformed. I have expended over 950 man hours on this project and spent nearly $40,000.00 on parts in addition to the machine shop charges. If you purchase the $65K car and do all of this work, you can expect to have over $175,000.00 invested. You are invited to come and inspect the car before you buy. I can pick you up at the airport.

This Flaminia is an excellent example of the better to buy one finished theory. Restoration costs will surely outrun what the car is worth. In this condition, this Flaminia should bring somewhere between $50,000 to $75,000.

-Paul