THORNLEY KELHAM RESTORES THREE ULTRA-RARE LANCIA FLAMINIA ZAGATOS

THORNLEY KELHAM RESTORES THREE ULTRA-RARE LANCIA FLAMINIA ZAGATOS

Cotswolds-based classic car restoration specialist, Thornley Kelham, have completed extensive nut-and-bolt restoration work on three ultra-rare Lancia Flaminia Zagatos. Only 526 Flaminia Zagatos were built between 1959 and 1967, and not only has Thornley Kelham restored these three, but it also has a further two currently being completed in its state-of-the-art workshops, and another for sale.

With in-house bodywork, paint, engine and fabrication shops, Thornley Kelham is widely regarded for the quality of its restorations of historically significant, often unique vehicles. Having restored a number of rare Lancia models in the past, including perhaps the most famous Lancia in the world, the ex-Bracco Aurelia B20GT, Thornley Kelham has over 10 years of top-end restoration expertise.

Lancia Flaminia Zagato production spanned eight years and four evolutions and – in Zagato’s Centenary Year – is still widely regarded as one of the carrozzeria’s most beautiful designs, featuring classic sporting lines and the iconic double-bubble roof. With disc brakes all-round on later models, and fully independent front suspension it was renowned for its excellent balance and superb on-road manners.

Prior to the restoration work of the three Flaminia Sport Zagatos, Thornley Kelham commissioned 3D Engineers to scan a Zagato, from which a buck was produced. This enabled the team to make new or repair existing skins for all future Flaminia Zagatos that may arrive. The svelte aluminium body panels are enormously delicate and intricately shaped, making the creation of new panels challenging work.

There were three generations of Zagato-bodied Flaminias. The earliest cars, numbering 199, were single carburettor models, the first 99 of which had cowled headlamps. This design changed to open headlamps in 1960 due to revised Italian traffic regulations. This lead to:

The second evolution of the Flaminia, the Sport 3C, which is virtually identical to its predecessor but with three carburettors (3C) fitted to its 2.5-litre V6 engine. Power surged from 119bhp to 140bhp thanks to this change and a total of 152 models were produced. Two of the cars restored were from this period.

The final, and latest, example of the triumvirate is a one-of-33 Flaminia Sport 3C 2.8 model, produced in 1963. These latter cars were fitted with a bored-out version of the 2.5-litre engine, taking total displacement to 2.8 litres, boosting power to 150bhp. This particular car is arguably unique, being fitted with the covered headlights of the early  Series I Flaminias.

But Flaminia Zagato development didn’t stop with the 3C 2.8. In 1964, Lancia released the Super Sport variant, radically updated, featuring a new Kamm Tail design and a strengthened version of the 2.8-litre engine, complete with bigger carburettors. Only 150 examples were produced, and Thornley Kelham is currently carrying out extensive restoration work on two of them. 

A further Flaminia Super Sport Zagato is currently being offered for sale by Thornley Kelham, complete with its original 2.8-litre engine and upgrades including adjustable Zagato-style seats with lumbar support, custom stainless-steel exhaust system with stainless-steel headers, Amadori-style 15” magnesium alloy wheels, auxiliary electric fan, and a dynator. The braking system has been largely rebuilt with upgraded front calipers. For more information see the website: www.thornleykelham.com

FROM MORIBUND TO MILLE MIGLIA - THORNLEY KELHAM RESURRECTS DERELICT LANCIA FOR WORLD’S PREMIER CLASSIC RALLY

FROM MORIBUND TO MILLE MIGLIA - THORNLEY KELHAM RESURRECTS DERELICT LANCIA FOR WORLD’S PREMIER CLASSIC RALLY

 A 1953 Lancia Aurelia B20 GT Series 3 has been given a new lease of life by leading restoration specialists Thornley Kelham. The previously decaying classic has been taken from an almost unsalvageable restoration condition to factory fresh over a two-and-a-half-year period and has now been accepted into arguably the most prestigious classic car rally of all – the Mille Miglia.

Having restored a considerable number of Aurelias in the past, Thornley Kelham’s expertise in, and understanding of these models and their intricacies enabled their team to resurrect a vehicle that many others would have deemed beyond restoration.

The 1953 Lancia Aurelia B20 GT Series 3 was discovered in incredibly poor condition in the USA, with a staggering amount of rust plaguing the car. The usual rust points of these vehicles - namely floor pans, sills and door bottoms – had been totally ravaged by years left exposed to the elements. So severe was the problem that even the top of the wings had rusted through, the transmission tunnel had completely eroded, and the body required strengthening prior to being media blasted as the car had so little structural integrity.

Despite the condition of the vehicle, Thornley Kelham’s customer was determined to see the Aurelia resurrected and play his part in saving this rare car. The tired body was fully restored, in many cases by fabricating entirely new panels. A considerable portion of the lower body had to be fabricated whilst maintaining factory curvatures and shut lines, amongst myriad other repairs before moving onto Thornley Kelham’s paintshop to be prepared and painted in the original beige colour, as per the factory build sheet.

Given the owner’s aspirations to compete in the Mille Miglia, and the awful condition of the original seat frames, Thornley Kelham fabricated a set of its Rally De Corsa style seats and also carried out a common period competition upgrades of a Nardi floor shift, Nardi bonnet scoop and Nardi twin carburettors and Borrani “bi-metallic” wheels. Every component of the car was restored or replaced over a period of two and a half years, with the end result being a box fresh and period correct Aurelia – a far cry from the condition it entered the TK facility in.

Once completed, the owner’s maiden journey in the resurrected Aurelia was a 500-mile weekend of fault-free driving, testament to the thorough road testing and quality checks carried out prior to delivery. The next adventure for the car will be Mille Miglia. Thornley Kelham will provide a dedicated support team throughout the event with two mechanics allocated to the car at all times, allowing the owner to fully focus on the joy of driving and ensuring the car remains in superb order throughout the gruelling event.