Fantasy Junction

Description

1963 Lancia Flaminia 3C 2.8Special Coupe by Pininfarina
s/n 826.138.001167
Pearl White with Black and Teal Interior

Famous for their incredible craftsmanship, brilliant engineering solutions, and complete disregard for cost accounting with respect to those engineering solutions, pre-Fiat Lancias are, in many ways, in a class of their own. Few cars are as thoughtfully engineered or built, which helps to explain why Lancia encountered a great deal of financial trouble. The Flaminia was the flagship during these years, with elegant styling and sophisticated engineering features. Disc brakes, inboard at the rear, were standard, as was an all aluminum V6, descendant of one of the first V6 engines built, Lancia’s Aurelia engine. Rear suspension was of the de Dion type and a fully synchronized rear-mounted transaxle was also part of the specification. The car is full of fascinating engineering details showing that at Lancia during this period, it was engineers, not accountants who made decisions. A quick look in the engine compartment reveals an external oil cooler, as well as a neat set of thermostatically actuated mechanical blinds over the radiator.

At the 1963 Turin Motorshow, Pininfarina displayed a beautifully proportioned and supremely elegant one-off Lancia coupe. Employing the most desirable configuration of Lancia’s flagship Flaminia model, the short chassis 2.8 liter triple carbureted variant, the car was extremely elegant and beautifully detailed. Bearing serial number 1167, this car was the second to last serial number produced (the last one was 1168), and was unveiled at the Turin show in October of 1963. Finished in pearl white with black upholstery and teal carpeting, the car appeared at a few other shows before being repainted in a metallic champagne color for shows the subsequent year. At this time, the hood scoop was removed as well. In addition to Turin in 1963, the car was also exhibited at the 1964 Brussels Motor Show, and 1965 Elegance Shows in Alassio and Cortina d’Ampezzo.

The car was styled by Tom Tjaarda, who worked at Pininfarina at the time. The February 1964 issue of Road & Track (a copy is included with this car) marveled at how “…the Lancia’s contours flowed into each other so seductively that it was a pleasure just to stand and look at it. One charming line led unerringly to another.” Indeed, the car is extraordinarily beautiful in an elegant and restrained manner. The slightly convex line of the extremely thin C-pillar is indescribably elegant and presaged the 2+2 Ferrari 330 that would be unveiled the following year. The rear fender kicks up with a subtle but undeniable coke bottle effect that is a modernized take on a classic and evocative touch, while the detailing such as the unusual but elegant door handles spoke to the quality that defined the Lancias of the period.

After the shows in 1965, the car became the personal transport of Battista Pininfarina. Functional rear lights from a Lancia Flavia were added, and the color changed to silver. Pininfarina SpA retained the car until 1972, when an American anesthesiologist succeeded in negotiating the purchase of the car for $4200, a process which required six months of correspondence (included with the car in an archival binder) between Dr. Buckingham and Pininfarina’s commercial director. Dr. Richard Buckingham was the 63rd member of the American Lancia Club, having joined in 1968, and served as its president for 15 years. The car had covered just 9100km (5,642 miles) when he acquired it, and he lovingly cared for the car, exhibiting it regularly at shows and concours, including Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in 1989 where the car achieved 3rd place in the Italian Coachbuilt 1955-63 class.

Shortly thereafter, the car was sold into the Matsuda Collection in Japan, and while in Japan, the car was returned to its original color of pearl white. In 2003, it was sold on to an owner in British Columbia, Canada, and then to its fourth owner in 2008. The car remains substantially original with just 19,000 km (11,780 miles) from new. The car has been sympathetically maintained, with new chrome to the wheel covers and front bumper, as well as regular servicing to keep the car running well. Included in this was resealing the water pump and new Pirelli Cinturato tires and tubes.

The car is very well preserved and in excellent substantially original condition. The body is extremely solid and displays good panel fit. The paint is very good overall, though close inspection reveals the occasional stress crack, touched up chip, or stain. The chrome is very good on the whole, and having been redone as necessary. There is some light pitting and scratching, but overall, the chrome is very nice considering most of it is nearly 50 years old. The lights and glass are very nice as well. All lighting (other than the decorative lenses on the top of the rear fenders) are shared with contemporary Lancia standard production models, but are in excellent shape and do not need replacement. They are all of the original and type, including the Carello headlamps. The car has lovely details, such as the subtle character lines on the roof (which are echoed on the trunk lid and on the front fenders), brushed rocker panels, and pillarless construction (though the rear windows are fixed).

The interior also has a number of interesting touches. For example, the driver and passenger door panels are different, as Pininfarina was experimenting with different designs. Additionally, the passenger’s door panel still has a section with plastic on it! Another interesting touch is that the driver’s and passenger’s seats are different, with slightly different detailing and a thicker backrest on the driver’s seat. The interior is in excellent original condition. The upholstery is excellent throughout, including on top of the dash, seats, and door panels. The gauges are wonderfully detailed items common to all Flaminias and are in excellent condition, as are the various switches and controls. The carpets are teal, as are the headliner and visors, and are also in excellent condition. Although the combination of teal and black sounds garish, the overall look is far more attractive in person than the verbal description suggests. The door panels and dashboard have wood paneling, which is in very nice condition, though there are a few small cracks and chips to the finish. The steering wheel is a beautiful wood rimmed three-spoke affair and is excellent.

The engine is quite original and is extremely clean and correct. The components, fittings, and markings are all correct and unmolested, and the engine bay is extremely nice considering that the car has not been restored. trunk is nicely carpeted and in good shape, with jack and tools.

The car is an absolute joy to drive, and reminds why Lancia has such a devoted following. Every aspect of the car’s performance embodies the quality feel that is lacking even from more exotic Italian machines from the same period. By comparison, most any other car feels crude. The engine makes great power and noise, and runs very smoothly. The chassis is quiet and composed, and the steering is light and precise. The transaxle shifts beautifully, and the brakes have tremendous bite and are extremely confidence inspiring. The overall feel is of a wonderfully coherent low mileage car that exudes quality.

This is an absolutely stunning and unrepeatable opportunity to acquire a truly unique car. In all respects, the car is top tier. Its history is fascinating, illustrious, and unique, its appearance and condition are wonderful, and it is mechanically superb. It is difficult to overemphasize what a satisfying car this is to drive and behold, and its detailing is yet another reason why this car is so exceptional. It is exhaustively documented with period and recent magazine articles, period photos from Pininfarina and from its show exhibitions, service and owner’s manuals, blueprints, and several binders of correspondence and other documentation associated with the car’s life. With just four sympathetic owners and fewer than 12,000 miles from new, and many significant show appearances, this car has excellent provenance, and is sure to appeal to the seasoned and sophisticated collector looking for something completely unique.

The above vehicle information is complete and accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time it is posted to this website. Corrections or additional information is always appreciated. All advertised prices exclude government fees and taxes, any finance charges, any dealer document preparation charge, and any emission testing charge. Vehicles are subject to prior sale. All advertised to be true but not guaranteed. We assume no liability for errors or omissions.

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Fantasy Junction  •  510-653-7555  •  1145 Park Ave, Emeryville, CA 94608