RE: interesting car (inboard brakes)

[Peter Henriksen <peterhe@microsoft.com>]

This reminds me about an article I read on Lancias a while back.
Apparently, Lancia used to be *the* company to beat with regards to
being ahead of their time. All sorts of goodies implemented way long
before the major manufacturers even knew what they were. Unfortunately,
they didn't do a good job of selling their cars and were always in
financial trouble.
- peter
  peterhe@microsoft.com - http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/1001
  91 200qw
  94 acura legend gs
  issaquah, wa, usa


>-----Original Message-----
>From:	Gil Ceniceros [SMTP:gil@west.net]
>Sent:	Friday, December 06, 1996 2:16 AM
>To:	quattro@coimbra.ans.net
>Subject:	Re: interesting car (inboard brakes)
>
>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
>