International Lancia Forums

I would say it's a genuine 3C model, chassis no. 824.14.2027 which I believe means that it was the 27th convertible in 3C form. She has all the details of the 3C series, like the later style unit for turn indicator/high beam, the gearbox with 13 x 47 gearing and of course an 823.10 engine. There is no 3C-plate on the front lid and during restoration it showed that there were no holes for that plate in the appropriate place above the air intake.

And some more details which came up thanks to the inquiry I made with the Fiat Archivio Storico in 1997: The Convertibile has "scocca no. 297" and the GT "scocca no. 858" (again quite a difference for 2 cars with official production dates differing only 4 months - not counting August 1962 during which the Touring factory was probably closed for holidays). I guess the "scocca" was the bare metal chassis produced at Lancia and then delivered to Touring for adding the Superleggera structure and the aluminium body. The Archivio even knew the numbers for gearbox and steering box.

There is one detail on the Convertibile where I am not sure whether it was original and common to these models, or unique and maybe added later on: Between the inner wheel arches, at the back of the trunk two metal bars forming an X have been welded in to grant added stability. These bars sort of divide the trunk space from the space needed when the soft top is folded down. The bars also prevent that the original type rubber mat can be fully rolled out into the deep of the trunk - I would have to cut a piece out of the mat at both sides to make room for the lower end of the bars, where they join the inner wheel arches at either side. They also do not facilitate the task of checking the level of gearbox oil. Does your car or any other Convertibile out there have this sort of thing?

I guess all this shows that the Flaminia in general and the Touring and also Zagato models in particular were never mass produced cars fully identical to each other, but rather quite individual items produced in smaller series. That surely makes up part of their special appeal!

Best regards, George

Hello George:

I am amazed at the information that Fiat has retained from the old Lancia company. That speaks much better of them than I would have ever guessed.

Your "X" support is correct and original. My car has it as well. On mine they are covered by panels attached with screws.

The access to the transaxle oil is nicely accomodated by a central panel also attached to the "X" support by a screw. There is a nice flat trunk floor provided for me to lay across while I tuck my head through the central access point to reach the oil filler. There are also some well-placed fasteners for panels up above this access point so as to facilitate gashing the top of my head, which I've done at least twice. The berlina and PF coupes have much easier access to the transaxle.

How badly does your rubber trunk mat fit? On mine, the corners adjacent to the tail lights are required to curl up a bit due to lack of room. I've never compared the mats in the trunk of the GT coupe and the convertible so I don't know if they are different. My GT coupe is currently stored in a manner that makes pulling out its trunk mat difficult.

O.K. that sheds some light on our cars - If I remember correctly I have seen a 2.8 Convertibile without these "X"-bars, so I wasn't sure at all. There are a few photos of a complete restoration of an early Convertibile on www.lancianews.com (under the heading "Halbe Sachen machen die anderen …") and it is unclear whether that car has the X-bars also.

I am not aware of different mats for GT and Convertibile. Mine fits well, but only because it does not go all the way back into the trunk, I tuck it upwards in front of the X-bars - the mat does not go past the bars without either cutting some room for the bars or bending the mat in the middle, both of which doesn't appeal to me.

If you're interested or just curious, I am happy to send you the letter from the Fiat Archivio Storico as PDF. Who knows whether they still keep their archives or have closed, outsourced or sold it in their struggle to survive as auto manufacturer.

Hi George:

I'd love to see the letter. My e-mail address is flaminia@sbcglobal.net

George, in looking at the photos of the stripped Flaminia chassis on www.lancianews.com, I see what I believe to be the "X" bars in the rear. There are two sets of them enclosing the space for the soft top when it is retracted. The first "X" bar set forms the rear of the car interior. The second set forms the rear of the trunk (boot) and is located immediately below the point where the rear window would be if the car was a GT coupe. I think this arrangement was essential in order to restore some rigidity to the body structure with the lack of a fixed roof.

Hi George an Randy, Great discusion i am also intreted i that pdf from i got also some info from customer service of Lancia and it said

chassisno. 824.00.1107 product 26 oktober 1959.
color yellow (nr 89) with brown leather, motor nr: 1513, differentieel nr: 118, wheelhouse nr: 2486 en
Car is delverend at Carrosserie Touring.

This is all info they could give so im interested if george did get more info from Fiat

so please mail me also the pdf at jeroenzweers@planet.nl


RegardsJeroen

Hi! I've been in contact with you for the famous four rockets. Let me your direct contact for e-mailing you some photograf's and informations. levallois.jm@frree.fr.