Lancia Flaminia GT Touring 2.5
The 1960 Lancia Flaminia GT Touring 2.5 represents one of the finest grand touring cars produced during the golden age of Italian coachbuilding. Lancia's most prestigious post-war model, the Flaminia combined the company's tradition of engineering innovation with body designs from Italy's finest carrozzerie, and the Touring variant is widely regarded as the most beautiful of all Flaminia body styles.
The Flaminia's engine was a hallmark of Lancia's innovative approach to engineering. The 2,458cc V6 featured an aluminum construction, hemispherical combustion chambers, and a narrow 60-degree vee angle. Producing 140 horsepower in GT specification, the engine was smooth, willing, and characterful, with a distinctive exhaust note that reflected its unique architecture. The V6 layout was unusual for the era and demonstrated Lancia's willingness to pursue technical solutions that others avoided.
Touring of Milan applied their famous Superleggera construction technique to the Flaminia GT, creating a body of extraordinary elegance. Thin aluminum panels were formed over a lightweight tubular steel framework, resulting in a car that was both beautiful and light. The design featured flowing lines, a modest grille bearing the Lancia shield, and proportions that conveyed sophisticated restraint rather than ostentatious aggression.
The chassis was based on Lancia's advanced platform, featuring the company's characteristic sliding pillar front suspension (later versions used double wishbones) and a de Dion rear axle with semi-elliptic leaf springs. The de Dion arrangement provided the benefits of independent rear suspension while maintaining precise wheel location under power. Disc brakes were fitted at all four corners, an advanced specification for 1960.
The Flaminia GT was a true grand tourer, designed for high-speed travel across European distances in complete comfort. The four-speed manual gearbox (with overdrive on later models) provided relaxed cruising at highway speeds, while the V6 engine's generous torque made the car effortlessly fast without demanding constant gear changes. Top speed was approximately 120 mph.
The interior was appointed to the highest Italian luxury standards, with leather upholstery, polished wood, and meticulous attention to detail. The driving position was comfortable and commanding, with excellent visibility and well-placed controls.
Lancia produced approximately 1,718 Flaminia GT Touring coupes between 1959 and 1967. Today, the Flaminia GT is recognized as one of the finest Lancia road cars and among the most elegant Italian GTs of the 1960s. Its combination of innovative engineering, Touring's Superleggera bodywork, and timeless design makes it a highly desirable collector car.
The Superleggera construction's internal tube framework can corrode hidden by the aluminum panels. The V6 engine is robust but requires specialist knowledge for maintenance. Check the de Dion rear axle for wear and proper alignment. Disc brakes at all corners were advanced for the era but require inspection of calipers and lines. Trim and interior parts are difficult to source.
The Flaminia GT Touring was produced from 1959 to 1967 at Lancia's factory in Turin, with bodies constructed by Carrozzeria Touring in Milan using the Superleggera method.