Lancia Flaminia presidenziale

The Lancia Flaminia tipo 335, usually called the Flaminia presidenziale, is a special long wheelbase version of the Lancia Flaminia built in only four examples in 1961 for the President of the Italian Republic. Pinin Farina designed it in 1960 at the request of President Giovanni Gronchi, who wanted to retire the pre war ministerial convertible, a 1939 Fiat 2800, before the visit of Queen Elizabeth II. The four cars were named after thoroughbred horses: Belfiore, Belmonte, Belvedere and Belsito. The wheelbase grew from 287 to 335 centimetres, the body to 546 centimetres long and 189 wide, and the weight to a little over two tonnes, with electric windows, a lowering glass partition for the chauffeur and a rear radio. It used a 2.5 litre V6 and a four speed gearbox, served the Quirinale for decades and carried visitors such as John F. Kennedy in 1963, and two cars are still used as official cars of the President.