1961 Lancia Flavia Vignale By Hooper

The Lancia Flavia was introduced at the 1960 Turin Motor Show. Coupe and convertible versions developed by Pininfarina and Vignale quickly followed, together with one or two low volume 'specials' including an eye-catching Zagato coupe. Performance improved over the next ten years as the engine size increased progressively to 2000cc. The car remained in production until 1970 when it was updated and renamed as the Lancia 2000.

Developed by Professor Antonio Fessia in the late 1950s it was introduced for sale in the UK in 1961. Initially available only as a four-door saloon it featured; a 1.5 L aluminium boxer engine, Dunlop disc brakes on all four wheels, front-wheel drive and front suspension by unequal-length wishbones. This model was soon joined by a two-door coupé designed by Pininfarina on a shortened platform. Vignale built a two-door convertible designed by Giovanni Michelotti at Vignale, while Zagato designed an outlandish-looking light weight two-door sport version. The car was quite lively for its day, considering the cubic capacity. The British "Motor" magazine tested a 1500cc car in 1961 and found it had a top speed of 92.6 mph.

This car was one of the very early Series 1 convertibles, which had the 1,500cc engine, bored out to 1,725cc by the factory to give it more punch. The new owner purchased it and the car was immediately sent to Hooper & Co. in Westminster before being delivered. Hooper & Co was commissioned to make it a more comfortable touring car. Work done to the car included its signature and unique, trunk like boot to give more luggage room which is directly interchangeable with the standard boot lid (also included in the sale), a mohair lined hood, electric windows and sun visors amongst other things. It is commonly known as the "Hooper Vignale".

Discovered and rescued in 1991 by our vendor, he set about painstakingly restoring the car over the next 9 years and has owned it ever since (23 years). The car was completely stripped to a bare, rusty shell and then repaired using hand-made replacements for the entire floor and the bottom 6 inches of the sides and doors including sills. The boot assembly was reproduced using the original Hooper item as a template and the hood was re-made by an upholsterer who was working at Hooper when the original mohair lined hood was made. All of the chromed items were also stripped, re-chromed and re-assembled.

The car was then painted fastidiously and built up step by step. The engine did not need as much work as the body and following a light refresh was running like a sewing machine again. The instruments, including the tasteful strip speedo, were overhauled before being re-installed. The brakes have been overhauled twice during our vendors ownership and the clutch was replaced less than a thousand miles ago.

A rare and unique car that is a very stylish and usable classic with is 4 speed all Syncromesh gearbox, an all alloy longitudinal boxer engine driving the front wheels and all round disc brakes.

The car is presented on a Jersey plate, it was brought back to the UK as a personal import so there is no VAT to pay. Silverstone Auctions would be happy to help the new owner with UK registration of the vehicle.