The presidential Lancia Flaminia of Sergio Mattarella
The newly re-elected President of the Italian Republic gets back on board the Lancia Flaminia Presidential Targa Oro Asi, an ambassador car for Italy in the world
The Technical Commission of ASI – Automotoclub Storico Italiano had examined the four Lancia Flaminia del Quirinale in 2014. Called Belfiore (frame 813-99-1001, Rome number 454308), Belmonte (frame 813-99-1002, Rome number 454306), Belvedere (frame 813-99-1003, Rome plate 454307) and Belsito (frame 813-99-1004, Rome plate 474229), are still preserved in perfect condition: midnight blue color, black Connolly leather upholstery, intercom to communicate with the driver, five rear seats with a large sofa and two folding seats. Original conditions that led to Asi approval and the release of the “Targa Oro”: Italian symbol of excellence in the world of classic car collecting.
The Flaminia Presidenziale with Landaulet-Cabriolet body is the daughter of the model presented in 1957 at the Geneva Motor Show as a high-class flagship characterized by elegant lines, luxurious interiors and finishes. In 1961, Carrozzeria Pinin Farina created the Presidential long wheelbase version, called “335”, an abbreviation that indicates the wheelbase measurement in centimeters. The car was used for the first time by President Giovanni Gronchi on the occasion of the visit to Italy of Queen Elizabeth II of England. In a few months, four specimens were made, baptized with the proper names of thoroughbred horses from the Quirinale stables.
They are cars that held high the honor of Italian motorsport during the visits of heads of state such as John Fitzgerald Kennedy and Charles De Gaulle. Currently, the Belfiore and the Belvedere are at the Quirinale for the great occasions of the Head of State and the highest offices of the Republic. The Belsito is kept at the Historical Museum of Military Motorization in Rome, while the Belmonte is exhibited at the National Automobile Museum in Turin.
The Flaminia “335” is the most famous, but the long list of presidential cars begins with six Fiat 2800 Cabriolets purchased in 1939. Three of these – Aceste (number plate Roma 73183), Admeto (Roma 73184) and Alcinoo (Roma 73185) – they remained in service until the early 1960s serving De Nicola, Einaudi and Gronchi. Between 1956 and 1962 the Lancia Aurelia B12 – Tortora (registered Rome 252481) – and two Flaminia sedans, Urania (Rome 292747) and Zodiaco (Rome 354128) appeared. In the seventies, the Fiat 130s and the first armored cars arrived, starting with the Alfa Romeo 2000. Sandro Pertini introduced the Maserati Quattroporte, later replaced by the Lancia Thema and K Limousine by Scalfaro; more recently the Thesis Limousine. It was therefore the turn of the Maserati Quattroporte “Livorno”, since 2005 with Ciampi as president. Finally, Giorgio Napolitano and Sergio Mattarella had the latest generation Lancia Thema, Maserati Quattroporte and Audi A8 at their disposal.