Lancia: Presidential Flaminia turns 60
IT BEGAN WITH THE TIPO The seat of government of the Italian President was the backdrop for the celebrations marking the 115th anniversary of the Lancia brand. One of the guests of honor was the President's Flaminia limousine.
Lancia was founded in Turin in November 1906 by Vincenzo Lancia and Claudio Fogolin, who had until then been Fiat employees. Lancia was no longer an unknown quantity on the scene, having already celebrated some racing successes with the Fiat brand. The first car Lancia produced from 1908 was the Tipo 12 HP.
First model with front-wheel drive
In 1950, Lancia introduced the Aurelia model, the world's first production car with a V6 engine. Successes of this model in motorsport led to the founding of Scuderia Lancia (gallery left).
From 1956, Lancia also offered luxury class vehicles. Flaminia and Flavia, the first Italian passenger car with front-wheel drive and a boxer engine, became icons of the 1960s.
From 1952 Lancia won the Targa Florio in Sicily three times in a row, and also the Mille Miglia and the Carrera Panamericana in Mexico.
Surprise at the 1985 Geneva Motor Show
Starting in 1970, the Stratos, 037 Rally and various Delta models dominated rallying for over 20 years (gallery at right). Their successes included as many as 15 world championship titles.
In production vehicles, Lancia surprised everyone at the 1985 Geneva Motor Show with the Y10 (center gallery). In Italy, the Ypsilon was the market leader in its segment. With over three million units built, the model is the best-selling Lancia.
Landaulet version for the president
Lancia presented the presidential Flaminia model at the 1957 Geneva Motor Show. The brand's new flagship offered a V6 gasoline engine and a luxurious interior.
Numerous external body designers created their own versions of the Flaminia. In 1961, Carrozzeria Pinin Farina designed a so-called Landaulet for the fleet of the Italian President.
