Named after the road between Rome and Rimini, Italy, the Lancia Flaminia replaced the Aurelia, which had served the Italian manufacturer dutifully through the 1950s. Carried over were the unitary chassis, V-6 engine, and four-speed gearbox that was mounted in-unit with the rear De Dion axle. The Flaminia was the first Italian car to be equipped with disc brakes, which were an option at first but a standard feature soon after. The Flaminia range initially consisted of the Berlina and Coupe, designed by Pinin Farina, as well as the GT and Convertible built by Touring.

In 1959, the Sport was added to the lineup, which featured a lightweight aluminum body designed and built by Zagato in Milan. The curvaceous lines initially included covered headlights, the prominent Zagato “double bubble” roof, and pop-out door handles. A 2.5-liter V-6 was at first only available in single Solex carburetor, 118 bhp guise and, later, in three-carburetor or 3C specification, good for an estimated 138 bhp. After the first 99 examples were built, road legislation changes in Italy prohibited the production of vehicles with covered headlights, which prompted a second series of the Sport, featuring open headlights and a revised dashboard. Over the years, the Flaminia Sport Zagato was gradually upgraded with a three-carburetor engine setup and, later, a 2.8-liter engine. In 1964, the Super Sport with revised styling replaced the Sport. Production ceased in 1967, by which time 593 Flaminias were clothed by Zagato, making any Zagato-built Flaminia a notable collector’s piece.

The Flaminia Sport offered here, chassis 824.001337, was sold new to Giovanni Tavella S.p.A., a Milan-based company, owned by Enrico Tavella, Luca Zagato’s uncle. According to the original Italian libretto and ACI road registration records, Giovanni Tavella S.p.A. retained the Flaminia until 1983, at which point ownership was transferred directly to Luca Zagato.

Under his ownership, the Lancia was restored, with much of the work reportedly carried out by Zagato’s workshop in Terrazzano di Rho. It is believed that also at this time the original engine was exchanged for the current unit. The Lancia would remain within the Zagato family’s ownership until 2020, when it was sold to the current owner, a connoisseur with a passion for finely engineered sports and GT cars.

In addition to important original registration documents, the original sales documentation, including the receipt of a deposit and the subsequent balance, is also on file, verifying its unique ownership history tied to the Zagato family. The Flaminia is also accompanied by an owner’s manual, tool kit, and jack.

Seldom, if ever, shown publicly, this Flaminia Sport offers an extraordinary opportunity for the discerning collector to add a distinctive Lancia to their collection.