Goodwood trackday

My Old Evo. I really miss that car.



Some welding required....



...prior to a full respray



With my brothers HF Turbo.

RHD, but no UK headlamps?

Wow, just saw your profile. 215,000 miles! Be interested to hear how well it held up over those miles.

Looks stunning in the video.

My 1959 Flaminia Zagato.







Sorry for the slight thread resurrection.

Yes it is. Thanks for posting. Any details you can give us?

Wow!

Any pics of your Ace?

Very nice indeed. Never seen one in the flesh, one of Zagato's finest designs.

First and foremost, your bank details so that I can buy the car from you. Then, if you wish, where you found it. Did you restore the car? Or was it in that condition when you acquired it? Is it completely original? How does she drive? When are you taking her to a Pistonheads meet so that we can get a closer look?

Oh and the bank details thing again.

Thanks again for the appreciation! My father bought the car in the late 60s and my mother used it as daily transport for many years (in fact, she was pregnant with me whilst driving it for a time!). It fell into quite some disrepair after that for various reasons, but I saw to have the car restored and this was completed (took ten years!) circa 2006. After it was restored I would use it regularly, almost like you would a hot hatch, but as I have got busier that has not be quite as possible.

The car was very advanced for its time, and was essentially what you bought if you didn't want (or couldn't quite afford) the equivalent Ferrari. The 2.5 litre engine revs beautifully all the way to about 5000 RPM and the real joy of the car is to have it singing in 3rd along a twisting road. Cliches aside, when you step into this car after having driven a modern day Porsche, etc you instantly understand what people mean when they discuss handling as a difference concept from grip. This is a car that you really do need to "handle". Little inputs from the wheel all the time and balancing the throttle - with no seatbelts I have had lots of fun in it without ever getting to a point where I thought it could let go and crash. Its not something that is outright "fast" but is about building momentum and gliding around.

I'm clearly biased, but I do feel this is perhaps Zagato's cleanest work and certainly my favourite. I'm very familiar with the DB4 Zagatos and whilst they are worth so much more than my little Lancia, I do think they're more brawny and not quite as pretty.

The car is based abroad at the moment, and I am currently toying with the idea of either selling (due to lack of use) it or bringing to the UK where I might use it a little more. However, after a wonderful drive I had a couple of nights ago, I am feeling loath to sell it!

That's the thing about a classic car, you hate them so much on some days (actually, most days!) because of the effort, expertise, uncertainties (not to mention costs) involved, but then you have a drive like I had the other day, and you can't believe you ever contemplated letting it go.