1961 Lancia Flaminia 335 Presidential Car seeb from outside and inside.
The Lancia Flaminia was launched in 1957 at the Geneva Motor Show: a high-class flagship, equipped with a 2.5-liter V6 engine and luxury interiors and finishes.
The #lancia #flaminia was quickly enhanced with special series, made by coachbuilders, then in 1961 Pinin Farina produced the long-wheelbase presidential convertible, known as “335”, indicating the dimensions of the wheelbase in centimeters. The car was used for the first time by President Giovanni Gronchi during Queen Elizabeth II’s visit to Italy. Within a few months, four models had been made. To continue the tradition, they were given the names of thoroughbred horses from the former papal stables, the Scuderie del Quirinale: Belfiore, Belmonte, Belvedere and Belsito.

Belfiore, Belmonte and Belvedere featured a cabriolet body with a folding rigid canvas soft top, while the latter – Belsito – came with an unopenable canvas soft top above the driver’s seat.

Painted in iconic midnight blue, all these models included black Connolly leather upholstery, an intercom to communicate with the driver, with space for 5 passengers on a large rear bench with 2 further fold-down seats.

Previously used for the visits of major heads of state including John F. Kennedy, Charles de Gaulle and for the centenary celebrations of Italian unification, the cars underwent careful restoration in 2001. Two models now belong to the Scuderie del Quirinale: Belfiore and Belvedere remain the cars used on great occasions by the Italian President and the country’s most senior officials. Belsito can be viewed at the Historical Museum of Military Vehicles in Rome, whereas Belmonte has been on show at the National Automobile Museum in Turin since 2001.

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