Debuting at the 1955 Turin Auto Salon, the Lancia Flaminia series replaced the vaunted Aurelia and carried on Lancia’s post-war reputation as builders of some of the world’s most technically advanced and elegantly designed automobiles. Initially offered only in limousine-esque Berlina configuration, the rave reception of a coupe concept led to the debut of two sport models riding on shortened wheelbases: the Flaminia GT and the Flaminia Sport. Both retained Lancia’s venerated 2.5-liter, double-overhead-camshaft V-6 engine.

The Flaminia GT was designed as a grand tourer with coachwork by Touring, of Milan, while the Flaminia Sport would be bodied by Zagato. Chief Stylist Ercole Spada incorporated numerous Zagato hallmarks into the curvaceous, muscular body including recessed, glass-covered covered headlamps, a central bonnet scoop, and signature “double-bubble” roof.

The Flaminia’s chassis was of unitized construction with a body fashioned entirely of lightweight alloy panels. Zagato’s coachwork endowed the sporty Lancia chassis with improved aerodynamics and distinctive good looks. Just 99 examples of the covered-headlamp Flaminia Sport Zagato were constructed and today are recognized as some of Lancia and Zagato’s finest creations.

Originally delivered through British Motors of San Francisco, California, this stunning Flaminia Zagato Sport Series I wears a concours restoration by a consortium of Lancia specialists. The car was built 1 October 1959 and passed through a series of American owners before being acquired by leading Lancia expert Tony Nicosia in the early 2000s.

Nicosia sold the car in 2009 to a new owner who commissioned the car’s painstaking, three-year rehabilitation. Prior to the acquisition, the previous owner verified this Zagato was complete and retained many original components including the engine, transaxle, body and chassis. An accompanying Lancia Certificato di Origine confirms these findings.

Late in 2009, Automotive Services LTD of Burlingame, California completely disassembled the vehicle, which included removal of the subframe and media blasting the inner structure. The body was stripped to bare aluminum before being refinished in stunning Grigio Newmarket. Over the next two years, The Pit Stop of Brisbane, California thoroughly refurbished all mechanicals including rebuilding the engine, transaxle, suspension, braking, fuel and wiring systems.

Acker Leatherworks of San Francisco, California trimmed the ultra-rare Zagato sport seats in brown leather over grey piping with matching door panels before The Pit Stop completed the final assembly and prepared the car for concours display. Authentic details abound, from the painted steel wheels with Lancia hubcaps (clad in Pirelli Cinturato HS Radial Tubeless 165 HR400 tires) to the extremely rare, correct Series I grille.

In 2012 this Lancia was displayed on the lawn at Pebble Beach Concours d' Elegance in the Postwar Sports Class, placing 3rd in class. In preparation for a return to the Pebble Beach Concours d' Elegance in 2019, over $18,000 was spent detailing the Lancia’s exterior, interior, undercarriage, and engine compartment. The car is accompanied by a Flaminia spare parts catalog, Flaminia instruction manual, Flaminia maintenance booklet, tool kit, restoration photo book, spare tire, Hillsborough Concours d' Elegance entrant plaque, and 11 years of service records.

The first 99 Lancia Flaminia Sport Series Is are widely viewed as the ultimate prizes by discerning collectors and connoisseurs of mid-century sports cars. This numbers-matching engine, gearbox, body, and chassis example, wearing a highly authentic concours-quality restoration, presents a wonderful opportunity to acquire one of Zagato’s most ethereal creations.