Year 1959 - SCA 11801

LANCIA FLAMINIA SPORT ZAGATO “covered headlights” – PRE-SERIES

This car belongs to the Pre-Series and according to our research, it is one of the oldest surviving ones.

By far the most sought-after Zagato variant was the Flaminia Sport Zagato Pre-series, which was produced from mid to late 1959. Only 99 pre-series vehicles were built in total until Lancia officially introduced the Flaminia Sport Zagato 1st series at the end of 1959. The most striking distinguishing feature of the pre-series models were the recessed headlights, which were fitted with a plexiglas cover.

It is assumed that only around 30 Pre-series vehicles survived. The Lancia Flaminia Sport Zagato offered here with chassis number 824.00-1041 is probably one of the oldest “covered-headlights” still in existence. The Certificate of Origin from the Centro Storico FIAT shows the production date as July 29, 1959. The delivery color was “Grigio Inglewood” with a leather interior in “Pelle Chiara”.

Another special feature of this vehicle is that the engine has an original, very rare Nardi carburetor bridge with a 4-barrel 36IF 4C Weber carburetor. These carburetors were also fitted to various Ferrari models of the 1950s. As the standard Lancia 2.5L engine was only equipped with a Solex carburetor, Sport Zagatos prepared for racing were fitted with such a carburetor at this time. The more powerful triple Weber carburetors were not introduced until 1961. Our research has shown that the car was equipped with such a carburetor when the last previous owner acquired the Zagato Sport in the late 1970s.

Another feature of the optimization, especially for racing events, was the use of lightweight Campagnolo magnesium rims, which replaced the rather heavy steel rims. We have a faithful reproduction of these rims in aluminum.

Registered in Switzerland by the first owner Mr. Jaussi in August 1959, the Lancia changed hands to the well-known Swiss private racing driver and Lancia dealer Botteon. In February 1979, Mr. Botteon sold his Zagato to Wolf-Heinrich Kotthoff in Germany. Kotthoff was a passionate Lanica collector, as well as a founding member and long-standing president of the Lancia Club Germany. After his death, we were able to acquire the vehicle from his descendants in 2018.

A genuine barn find in its purest form. Hidden under a tarpaulin, the Zagato had slept peacefully for 40 years before we brought it back to life.

We are delighted with this extremely rare find and very excited to bring the car back to its former glory. A comprehensive concourse restoration has already started by Scuderia Azzurra, Cologne, and it would be a perfect time for every Lancia enthusiast to acquire this rare jewel.

  • 1 of 99 pre-series “covered headlights”
  • The very first 99 examples of this series were streamlined with recessed headlights, covered by Plexiglas.
  • Original colour “Grigio Inglewood” with “Pelle Chiara”
  • Rare Nardi carburetor bridge with 4-barrel Weber carburetor
  • Reproduction magnesium rims true to the original
  • Certificate of Origin from Centro Storico FIAT
  • History completely known
  • Originally delivered to Switzerland
  • 3 owners from new
  • Last owner since 1972 (Founder and first President of Lancia Club of Germany)
  • All customer wishes are still possible

‘You see that car? Is it different from all other? Then it’s a Zagato.’

Dr. Elio Zagato