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Temporary UK Import
See UK Registration/Import Status Guide in catalogue.

Surely among the most extraordinary sports cars built in the immediate post-WWII era is the Pegaso Z-102.

The origin of the Pegaso dates to 1946, when the Spanish government established Empresa Nacional de Autocamiones S.A. (ENASA) to manufacture heavy commercial vehicles such as trucks, buses, and tractors. According to legend, General Francisco Franco was determined to demonstrate to the world that Spain could design and build a state-of-the-art product; to that end, he tasked ENASA with building a world-class sports car.

Spanish engineer Wifredo Ricart, formerly the head of engineering at Alfa Romeo, was recruited for the job. The former Hispano-Suiza factory in Barcelona was redesigned and lavishly re-equipped to facilitate the manufacturing of a limited-production, high-performance sports car.

The resulting Pegaso Z-102 was unveiled at the 1951 Paris Salon de l’Automobile and, by all accounts, was one of the most technically advanced machines of its day. Virtually every part of the Pegaso was designed, made, and tested in-house, except for its German Bosch electronics and Italian-made Weber carburetors. The car’s V-8 engine was a classic example of Ricart’s elaborate approach to engineering; it featured four gear-driven overhead camshafts, 32 valves, dry sump lubrication, and all-alloy construction. This magnificent powerplant was placed in a sophisticated pressed-steel chassis that featured a complex, independent front-suspension arrangement, a De Dion rear axle, rear-mounted five-speed transaxle, and enormous finned-aluminum drum brakes mounted inboard at the rear.

Intended as an exclusive, high-speed GT that could also be prepared for racing, the Z-102 was bodied by some of the most famous European coachbuilders, including Touring and Saoutchik, as well as Spanish firms like Serra. The Pegaso showed incredible promise, winning prizes at European concours d’elegance and competing in the 24 Hours of Le Mans and Carrera Panamericana; but ultimately, fewer than 85 examples of the Z-102 were built through 1958. A victim of its own ambitions, the Z-102 never realized its true potential in period. Today, however, these remarkable cars are recognized by sophisticated collectors who appreciate their uncompromising design, build quality, and exclusivity.

The Z-102 presented here, chassis 01021530167, is a rare Series II variant – one of just 10 such examples built toward the end of production. Distinguished by its larger 3.2-liter engine, which produces 210 hp at 6,000 rpm, this Z-102 Series II features elegant Berlinetta bodywork by the revered Italian coachbuilder Touring of Milan. In total, Touring produced bodies for 23 Pegasos, all using the firm’s patented Superleggera (Super light) method, which utilizes aluminum panels over a tubular inner structure.

The history of this Z-102 can be traced back to its original owner, Alfredo Urra of Pamplona, Spain, a wealthy associate of General Franco and the proprietor of Frenos Urra SAE, the official supplier of braking components for ENASA. According to the consignor, this Z-102 is believed to have been registered as “NA 11-095” and used to test the company’s new Super-Hydrovac brakes, with gentleman driver Francisco “Paco” Godia-Sales conducting his tests on public roads near Barajas, at speeds in excess of 200 km/h.

In 1960, ownership of the Pegaso transferred to Alejandro Espino of Palencia. An amateur racing driver, Espino entered the Z-102 in several rallies including the 1961 Rally RACE, as well as the Rally de la Toja and Rally de San Antolin in 1962. It is believed that he retained the car until the early 1990s, when it was sold to Dr. F. Aguilera Novo of Pamplona.

In 2007, the Pegaso was sold to English enthusiast Douglas Blain, the co-founder of Car magazine and publisher of The Automobile. A noted preservationist with a passion for unrestored cars, Mr. Blain sought to carry out a sympathetic restoration of the Z-102 that would return it to its original splendor without erasing its well-preserved, original features. To this end, he commissioned the renowned The Light Car Company of Oxford, England, to oversee the restoration, which included a rebuild of the car’s complex transaxle and steering system. Cosmetic work included a repaint in the attractive, original two-tone color scheme. The car’s original interior, with its delightful patina, was left untouched. The original engine was entrusted to specialist firm Formhalls of Fordingbridge, Hampshire, where it was rebuilt with new internals, balanced, and dyno’ed.

Once completed, the Pegaso was shown at the Heveningham Concours, displayed at the Cartier Style et Luxe exhibit at Goodwood, and took part in a special Autoworld exhibit called, “Pegaso: The Forgotten Marque” at InterClassics in Brussels. It also competed in the Ollon-Villars historic hill climb in Switzerland, demonstrating that it was not simply restored for the concours circuit alone.

The current owner, a European collector with a passion for exotic 1950s sports cars, has continued to refine the Z-102 under his ownership, undertaking further cosmetic improvements and mechanical sorting measures based on his experience owning several other Pegasos. Rarely exhibited, other than an outing at the 2023 Concours of Elegance at Hampton Court Palace, this striking and impressively prepared Pegaso is poised for further success on the show field and would be a worthy entrant to prestigious events like the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance®, where it has never before been shown. Furthermore, its ideal Series II specification and recent mechanical restoration make it an exciting choice for exclusive driving events around the world.

A Touring-bodied Series II Z-102 with a superb provenance, period competition history, and thoughtful restoration, this Pegaso is undoubtedly among the finest examples of this fascinating Spanish marque to be found. Any collector with an appreciation for engineering is sure to be impressed by this car’s extraordinary specification and build quality, and it would complement any significant collection of 1950s sports cars, rounding out an otherwise complete display of fine European marques.