Re: interesting car (inboard brakes)

[Gil Ceniceros <gil@west.net>]

michael mulholland wrote:
> 
> my 65 rover 2000tc also had inboard rear brakes, and a de dion rear axle
> also. it was considered advanced for the time. 

My 1965 Lancia Flaminia Super Sport Zagato was a very interesting car.
Definitely advanced for it's time. It had a list of features to please
the automobile enthusiast. It was #61 of 150 built, and sold for about
$9000 in 1965. I bought it from the second owner in 1974.

Every piece of this car was a work of art. Unfortunately they went broke
while building them.

The aluminum 2.8 liter V6 was fed by three 2bbl Weber carbs with 30mm
venturis, and rated at 150 HP (conservatively I'd bet). The included
angle between cyl. banks was 60 degreees. It had hemispherical
combustion chambers, huge valves, and used triple electrode Lodge spark
plugs, similar to the w7dtc's we like to use in tq's. The oil pan was a
huge finned aluminum casting with 8 qt sump. An oil cooler was fitted
and thermostat controlled. The huge main radiator had thermostat
actuated louvers to insure that operating temp could be maintained in
cool conditions.

The transaxle and clutch were in the rear. (Driveshaft running at engine
speed). Inside the transaxle was an oil pump to provide a continuous
flow to the final drive gears. All 4 forward gears were synchronised.
The shift lever was between the seat and driveshaft tunnel and came up
right where the hand wanted it to be.

Girling disk brakes were fitted, mounted inboard at the rear, with dual
circuit hydraulics, with power assist.

Suspension was De dion in rear and independent in front with elegant
cast aluminun A arm carriers bolted to the subframe.

The entire body was a hand formed aluminun skin over steel structure.
Trim mouldings around the windows were chromed brass. 
Other goodies included telescoping steering wheel, reclining seats,
separate heater and vent for driver and passenger, a door into the trunk
from the passenger compartment, and a large chrome handle on the dash
board for the passenger to use during white knuckle rides.

I think it weighed about 3000 lb. It was about as fast as my tq was
(before the IA kit), but with much more low end torque. Directional
stability on the highway was perfect, you could take your hands off the
wheel at 80  and the car went right down the lane.
This was a solid and stable car to drive. Good torque at low rev's which
blended into a strong power peak coming on at 3500 when the engine
really would make a beautiful sound as only an Italian car does. The
gearing was quite tall with 2nd good for 65, 3rd to 110 and 4th to 130+
. Terrific acceleration and engine braking at 30-50 in 2nd on mountain
roads. The suspension was firm at low speeds, but smoothed out like
magic at 65 mph and up. The car was balanced perfectly for very accurate
handling. Although it requiried some muscle to steer at low speeds, it
was fun and predictable, remaining perfectly poised during aggressive
cornering thru tight curves as well as very fast highway travel, even on
rough pavement. 

I have fond memories of many brisk rides with the Flaminia thru the
canyons in the Santa Monica Mountains, and 130 mph travel in the Nevada
deserts before the speed limit was taken seriously there.

I sold the Flaminia SS to a collector in 1989, realizing that it should
be restored and preserved rather than be used up. 

The Audi Quattro is of course a superior device in many ways, but the
last great Lancia was in a different class, second to none for the
sensory pleasures of driving, and pure engineering elegance in
mechanical design and aesthetics.

This thread is bringing back a sick idea of getting a Mondial T cab., V8
Quattro valve, Bosch FI, 300 HP, for fun only, of course. If only it
could be stealthy and affordable. 
Gil Ceniceros
88 5ktqw
87 5ksw