For some reason, I tend to remember the outstanding Italian car designs, forgetting all the inferior ones. But while researching photos for blog posts, I sometimes encounter odd Italian designs that I can't ignore. Such is the case with today's subject, the mid-1960s
Lancia Flavia coupé by
Zagato. Its designer was
Ercole Spada.
Accoring to the first link above, 626 Zagato Lancia Flavia Sports were made -- a surprisingly large number, considering the quirky design.
Gallery
1949 Alfa Romeo 2500 SS Panoramica by Zagato
I wrote about Panoramicas here. More photos at the link, but note here the windows curving into the roof. This was before Spada's time at Zagato, but there must have been something in Zagato's air that led to...
1966 Lancia Flavia 1800 Coupé by Zagato - Gallery Aaldering photos
...that strange side window curving into the roof.
The basic shape is smooth and rounded; note the large-radius curve atop the fender.
If that side window hadn't curved in the roof, the design would have been pleasant, though not striking.
Interesting use of a concave backlight window and its blending into the trunk lid.
Larger wheels would have looked nicer, but what you see here was what Spada had to work with.
The grille wapping over the frontal hood cutline is a non-functional echo of the wrapover side window concept. And then there are those hated (by me) quad headlights.
For a little context on the Zagato design, this is a 1965 Lancia Flavia 1800 Coupé by Pininfarina - BaT Auctions photo.
The rear including trunk and tail light shapes on the 1966 reminds me of current Rolls Royces. Which reminds me - I walked by a Cullinan (!) parked on my street. Worse than I thought, particularly that awful RR face. The 1965 Pininfarina sure looks a whole lot like a possible BMW from then, even though the Neue Klasse models were designed with help from Michelotti.
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