1963 Lancia Flaminia GT 2.5 3C

Registration No: AJM 206A
Chassis No: 824.10.3435
MOT: Exempt

• 2.5 Litre triple-Weber fed 3C variant
• Converted to right-hand drive during the 1990s
• Regarded as the best handling GT car of its time
• Offered with a comprehensive history file dating back to its import to the UK in the 1990s, with much work performed by Omicron Engineering
• Presented with matching engine and chassis numbers

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 2,458cc 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 - however the 3C models fed with triple-Weber carburettors produced some 140hp. Only around 150 examples of the 2.5 3C were ever produced.

The elegant shape of the Flaminia GT is, if anything, enhanced by the deep midnight blue paint of the example we are offering for sale, which has been the beneficiary of considerable expenditure to bring it up to its present standard. A right-hand drive conversion, it arrived in Britain in 1992, but after a period of private ownership it joined the stock of Straight Eight Ltd. on London’s Goldhawk Road, in May, 1995. They sold it in October 1996, to the present owner, who has cherished it ever since.

A condition report undertaken in 1995 by marque specialist Omicron Engineering states that the Flaminia was suffering from ‘many minor defects’, which the vendor has painstakingly spent his last thirty years of ownership rectifying, as he required the car to be both usable and also to quench his thirst for satisfying aesthetics.

Of course, none of this came without great expense, and the car has been a regular visitor to Omicron for maintenance tasks both large and small. The invoices on file well exceed £30,000, with notable work including several brake overhauls (the cylinders, pads and servo were overhauled on different occasions) and a full engine overhaul in the summer of 2005, with new pistons, bearings, oil seals and valve guides. A bespoke built, completely new rear bumper was fitted in 2003, although the most substantial cosmetic work took place in 2018 which included a complete repaint which is said by the vendor to still present ‘excellently’ today.

Subtle touches which evidence the vendor’s individual taste include the fitment of period style sports bucket seats which are said to be fair more supportive than the originals, plus the removal of the bumper overriders which to the vendor’s eye ruin the entire line of the front and rear styling. However, in other areas the vendor’s fastidious approach to using correct period parts was also apparent, including the sourcing and fitting of the correct Cibie and Carello headlamps, the refurbishment of the cockpit instruments and the fitment of period correct speaker gauzes which are said to have been very tough to find.

It is obvious that this elegant GT remains a smart and well-maintained car which has been used and enjoyed across 30 years of ownership and could easily be enjoyed in much the same way for another 30 years. It comes with the current V5C, a large collection of MOT certificates (1995-2017) and invoices (1995-2023), plus an original German-language Flaminia instruction book.

For more information, please contact:
Lucas Gomersall
lucas.gomersall@handh.co.uk
07484 082430