Italian industrialist Carlo Pesenti inherited the family cement company Italcementi in 1946.

Pesenti was also a car enthusiast and took over the Lancia company from the Lancia family in June 1956 whilst the Aurelia was in production.

A new generation of engineers arrived with the Pesenti era which sidelined the great Vittorio Jano.

Pesenti tasked Antonio Fessia with the replacement for the Aurelia, to be named Flaminia.

The new car was a refinement of the Aurelia concept retaining the V6 engine layout and rear-mounted transaxle/transmission, although the traditional Lancia sliding-pillar suspension arrangement was discontinued and replaced by coil springs and wishbones.

The production Flaminia saloon was designed by Pininfarina and was launched at the 1957 Geneva Motor Show.

Initially the new model was equipped with drum brakes and optional discs but soon disc brakes would be standardised.

In addition to the four-door Berlina the Flaminia spawned a Pininfarina two-door coupe bas...