Thursday, June 23, 2022

Pegaso Z-103 with Panoramic Windshields

The mid-1950s fad of panoramic or wraparound windshields was of General Motors origin, but such windshields soon appeared in Europe as well.

GM's first production wraparounds appeared on low-volume 1953 Oldsmobile and Cadillac convertibles whose basic bodies had been in production for several years.  For 1954, GM's Oldsmobiles, Buicks and Cadillacs received new bodies where wraparounds were a design feature.  Model year 1955 saw other American carmakers incorporating panoramics.  Ford, Mercury, Nash, Hudson and Packard grafted such windshields onto older body designs. 

Spain's Pegaso Z-102, a low-production sports car,  retained conventional windshields over its existence.   But the company's Z-103 variant had panoramic windshields.

The Z-103 seems to have been an attempt to market a car with a less-complicated motor.  According to the link above, only perhaps three cars were made.  However, there is uncertainty decades after the reality.

Gallery

1954 Pegaso Z-102 Berlinetta by Touring - for sale photo
Only about 80 Pegaso cars were ever made -- sources vary.  Probably the most common bodies were by Touring, as seen here.

1955 Pegaso Z-103 Coupe by Touring - unknown photo source
When given the task of clothing the Z-103, this was Touring's first try.  The fenderline is similar to their Z-102 design, but the cabin greenhouse has a panoramic windshield.

1955 Pegaso Z-103 Coupe by Touring - unknown photo source
This is probably the same car as in the previous image after a restoration.  Its top is a two-window, not a four-window style and is rather squared-off.

1956 Pegaso Z-103 Panorámica by Touring - unknown photo source
If Internet sources can be believed, the following year Touring created this body that is more in line with their Z-102s.

Differences include the front fender vents, a smoother hood and real bumpers.

The aft end also differs from Z-102s, but only in some superficial details -- the basic body panels are the same.  What also is similar is the passenger compartment greenhouse, aside from the windshield.  Compare the window and backlight design to that in the following image.

1954 Pegaso Z-102 Berlinetta by Touring

1955 Pegaso Z-103 Spider by Serra - unknown photo source
Barcelona coach builder Serra also made a body for the Z-103.  It's a spider or roadster type with the panoramic windshield.  Like most Pegasos, it lacks a front bumper.

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