Adding to this perfection is a legend smouldering below its scooped hood. Displacing 2451cc, this twin overhead cam, aluminium alloy V6 is a carryover from the Aurelia, but in this version breathes through three dual downdraft Webers, developing close to 125 bhp. Development of this compact V6 was carried out under the legendary Vittorio Jano, who designed and engineered some brilliant GP and sports cars for Alfa Romeo and a winning GP car for Lancia too. This engine made history by being the first mass-produced V6, and looks like Lancia has put it to good use too. Combined with a four-speed gearbox, I noticed this free-revving engine was flexible even in today’s driving conditions. Even while in fourth, down in the rev range, the Lancia can really pull and attain a top speed of 180 kph. With disc brakes on all four wheels, it certainly stops just as well. Heck, for an Italian-built classic, this is one car that’s extremely friendly to live with even in the 21st century.
Another clever bit of engineering in the Flaminia – again a carryover from the Aurelia days – is the housing of the gearbox and clutch as a unit along with the differential at the rear, giving the Flaminia perfectly balanced weight distribution. Add to that a light aluminium body, and you have a car that handles like a dream. Even while taking sharp corners, you know instinctively that the car is well in control and shouldn’t break loose even with the leaf springs at the rear. The front suspension, of course, is independent, with a coil and wishbone setup. With such a fine balance, the Zagato-bodied Flaminia Sport is perfectly tuned for curvy roads around Tuscany – sadly, all I had in Mumbai were a few right-angles and roundabouts.
Still, I did the best I could, enjoying the thrill of driving a sporty classic in town. Given a chance, I would have scared a few Mumbai cops too. I had the right car, but sadly I don’t have the right name.
We’d like to thank Nadir Roni Khan for letting us drive his Lancia. This car has been superbly restored by Rishad Kundanmal, Mumbai.
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