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The Lancia Flavia Convertibile by Vignale.
The The Lancia Flavia Convertibile: Launched in 1961, the Flavia saloon maintained Lancia’s enviable reputation for advanced and innovative automotive engineering. Designed by Antonio Fessia and inspired by his Cemsa prototype of 1947, the Flavia was Italy’s first series-production car to employ front-wheel drive. The Lancia Flavia Convertibile by Vignale was based on the shorter-wheelbase Pininfarina-styled Coupé in 1962, while Zagato designed an outlandish-looking lightweight two-door sport version. An attractive four-seater sports car, the Convertible enjoyed the stability, comfort, and handling virtues common to the rest of the range. In 1963 the range was updated with a 1,800cc engine, which when installed in the Coupé and Convertible produced 92 bhp, good enough for a top speed of 173km/h. Only 835 Lancia Flavia Convertibile Vignale were produced with the 1.8-litre between 1963 and 1965, plus a further 43 fitted with fuel injection up to the end of 1966. Designed by Giovanni Michelotti, the Flavia is the last model originating from the co-operation between the two Turinese firms.
In the early months of 1968, Zagato, the coachbuilder from Milan, embarked on a new venture called the Competition. This project was commissioned by Cesare Fiorino and commenced with the Fulvia Sport chassis type 818.332 number 001890, concluding with number 001911.
The story of Carrozzeria Vignale represents one of the many somewhat forgotten success stories born against the backdrop of an Italy that was torn apart by the Second World War and which, starting from the end of the 1950s, was able to recover enough to know a real miracle. economical just a few years later.
