1963 Lancia Flaminia 3C
For the 1963 Turin Motor Show, Pininfarina prepared this one-of Lancia on their flagship Flaminia platform. The new body by Tom Tjaarda was restrained but elegant and signaled the future of Lancia design.
The unique coupe had several interesting features including slender a C-pillar, a slight kick-up over the rear fender and a front-end treatment similar to the Lancia Flavia. Unique exterior touches included bespoke door handles, badges, bumpers, hubcaps, taillights and running boards.
In their February 1964 issue, Road & Track said “The Lancia’s contours flowed into each other so seductively that it was a pleasure just to stand and look at it. One charming line led unerringly to another.”
Inside, the colorful interior used teal carpets and a teal headliner to great effect. The dashboard was fully trimmed in wood which extended to the top of the doors.
Using chassis 826.138.001167, the car had short chassis and a 2.8 liter-variant of the all-aluminum V6 engine. It was one of the very last Flaminias produced and was shown at some of the top events around Europe.
Finished in pearl white with black upholstery and blue carpets, the show car first appeared at Turin and later the 1964 Brussels Motor Show. It also toured the Concours at Alassio and Cortina d’Ampezzo before becoming the personal car for Battista Pininfarina.
Pininfarina SpA kept the 3C until 1972. At the time the car was painted silver and it was sold to the first owner, Dr. Richard Buckingham, for $4,200. With less than 10,000 miles on the car he showed it once at the 1989 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. Later it was shipped to Japan for inclusion into the Matsuda Collection where it returned to the original pearl white color scheme.
Inside the original interior is retained including different door panels and seats for the driver and passenger. At the time, Pininfarina was experimenting with different designs for Lancia’s upcoming models.
With just 12,000 miles on the odometer, Fantasy Junction sold the 3C to collector Mr. Corrado Lopresto who first displayed it at the 2011 Concorso Italiano.
In Detail
| submitted by | Richard Owen |
| type | Concept / Prototype Car |
| coachbuilder | Pininfarina |
| production | 1 |
| engine | 60º V6 |
| position | Front, Longitudinal |
| aspiration | Natural |
| displacement | 2458 cc / 150.00 in³ |
| f suspension | Double Wishbones |
| r suspension | De Dion-Type Axle |
