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Author Topic: flaminias built for state visit of QEII to Italy 1961  (Read 6781 times)
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lanciab20
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« on: 07 February, 2011, 05:33:39 PM »

An article in the Daily Telegraph mentioned these cars back in Feb 2007. They were apparently built by Pininfarina.  Does nayone know if any survives?  If not in LMC, who would be a good contact in Italy to find out?
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/2745808/Lancia-limousines-fit-for-The-Queen.html
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williamcorke
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« Reply #1 on: 07 February, 2011, 11:22:06 PM »

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lancia_Flaminia - read down to the Presidenziale section (should be Flaminia 335 - read the article...).

It's wikipedia, so no guarantee of accuracy, but accords with what I've heard.

The cars retained (and supposedly kept at the Quirinale, the Presidents official residence) are still in regular if not frequent use.  Here's a picture from 2010.  You can see the 'Flaminia 335' badge.



It's pleasing to a fan of this era of Lancia cars to be able to think that those in power in Italy have decided that their motor industry hasn't come up with a more prestigious car in the nearly 50 years since these Flaminias were built.  Even our own dear Queen, in supposedly tradition-obsessed Britain, is driven around at 4 mph in a newer car.  Some of her coaches are well old though :-)

Anyone know the final drive ratio of the 335s, offhand? Were they extra low to allow dignified crawling at state occasions?  Could be just the thing for my Flaminia hill-climb special...

If you  want to see one in Italy, unless someone on this forum has a special contact (I don't), I suggest you write to the Quirinale's publicity people.  Let us know how you get on.
« Last Edit: 07 February, 2011, 11:36:46 PM by williamcorke » Logged

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« Reply #2 on: 08 February, 2011, 02:02:10 AM »

Here's one in real life: Biscaretti Museum show in Turin Expo hall, a couple of years ago. 


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« Reply #3 on: 08 February, 2011, 02:03:31 AM »

a few more shots....


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ColinMarr
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« Reply #4 on: 08 February, 2011, 09:39:00 AM »

We have touched on this topic in earlier posts. See under Aurelia in March 2010:
   
"Did the Queen have an Aurelia...?"

Colin
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fay66
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« Reply #5 on: 08 February, 2011, 09:57:06 AM »

Here's one in real life: Biscaretti Museum show in Turin Expo hall, a couple of years ago. 
Geoff.
We found it tucked behind a curtain in a conference room, away from the display area in 2004, it's really lovely, just surprised they haven't treated the seat leather.

Brian
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« Reply #6 on: 08 February, 2011, 11:50:21 AM »

What is amazing is the level of individual coachbuilt craftsmanship that looks to be production: all the trimming in the seating area, the chromed top stays, just the level of fit. Yes, a bit of oil for the leather would be good too.... You almost want to go over there and do it for them.
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« Reply #7 on: 08 February, 2011, 05:37:33 PM »

There is more information about these cars on the Viva Lancia Forum, http://www.viva-lancia.com/lancia_fora/read.php?246,630722
It is in Italian, Paolo the person who wrote it will do a translation for me which I will post later in the week.
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« Reply #8 on: 09 February, 2011, 07:51:27 AM »

Here's the translation from Paolo:-

"The 4 presidential Flaminias: Four of these special models Cabriolet Landaulet were commissioned to the Pininfarina in March 1960.  In six months Pininfarina (with the collaboration of General Motors for some special electrical accessories) made the cars according to the specifications requested personally by the President of the Republic Giovanni Gronchi. They arrived at the Quirinale palace directly from the factory in Turin after a long highway trip, via Milan, Bologna and Florence.Their top speed in fact, does not exceed 120 kilometers per hour because of the low ratio reduced to the differential (10/47 instead of 12/47), specifically designed to move at a crawl during the parades, without clutch slip. After that run on the highway they have rarely done any other long journeys on the roads. Only once have they reached Naples along the Via Appia, actually they were always carried in a wagon train on special. Traditionally, the four Flaminia Cabriolet Landaulet were baptized with the names of four horses of the stables in the Quirinale palace: Belfiore (813-99-1001 chassis, license plate Roma454308), Belmonte (813-99-1002chassis, license plate Roma454306),
Belvedere ( 813-99-1003 chassis, license plate Roma454307 Rome) and Belsito (813-99-1004 chassis, license plate Roma474 229). Currently in the garage of the President remained only Belfiore and Belsito. Nearly 5.5 meter long and weighting 2 tons, the presidential Flaminia can carry seven people, two of them on the comfortable folding seats. It 's a car that continues to command respect and admiration. At that time it was the only Italian high representation car to rival wih Rolls Royce and Mercedes-Benz.The 2500cc engine is the same on the sedan series (just in case were fitted with an electric pump and an extra coil), but the frame is longer: 3,350 mm against the 2870 model series. For the rest, starting with electric hood, the cars were completely reinstalled by hand. Later, one of the four presidential car, Belsito, during the seven years of Antonio Segni, was equipped with a transparent Perspex roof. In 1982, under President Sandro Pertini, the Flaminia was used only to carry foreign ambassadors when they went to the Quirinale Palace to present their credentials. The Belvedere was "dismissed" and sold in a public auction for a pittance. Actually the owner is a lawyer in Rome. After years of faithful service without a breakdown, in 1982 somebody took the decision to renew the fleet. A special armoured Maserati Quattroporte, donated by De Tomaso, arrived in the Quirinale garage. Among some special equipments, it had an armrest for the hand-made pipes of the President Pertini. So happened that immediately after the appointment of Francesco Cossiga, just when the President was to go out for the first lap of honor, Maserati broke down and Belfiore was recalled at the last minute to replace it. The new head of State then suspended other supplies and began to use the Cabriolet Landaulet. Even Oscar Luigi Scalfaro, despite the homage of a V6 Lancia Thema limousine from Fiat, claimed the Flaminia for the official events. And like him, Carlo Azeglio Ciampi has reviewed the units aboard the timeless Lancia, Belmonte, escorted by cuirassiers riding during the 2 June parade, in 1999. In this round, Belmonte was used for the last time. Restored by Pininfarina in 2001, it was later donated by the President Ciampi to the National Automobile Museum of Turin. Thus, the Landaulet convertible seems to be back a tradition of well-wishing ceremony at the service of the Presidents. A curiosity: the first official use was in '61 during the visit of the H.M. Queen Elizabeth of England and the Prince Philiph of Edinburgh. On 16 October 2000 the old Queen regnent is back for the third time in Italy. Once again the faithful Flaminia was waiting for her at the Quirinale palace."

So to answer Stuarts original question, yes they all still exist!  Ade.
« Last Edit: 09 February, 2011, 07:55:01 AM by Sliding Pillar » Logged

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lanciab20
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« Reply #9 on: 14 February, 2011, 12:04:31 PM »

Fantastic response! Thanks to all who have contributed.
Regards
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