1954 Pegaso Z-102 Saoutchik Berlinetta Series II
Spanish engineer Wifredo Ricart created what many considered the world’s fastest production car of its time, challenging Ferrari and other established European manufacturers with advanced technology that wouldn’t appear elsewhere for years. In supercharged form, the Z-102 achieved speeds over 151 mph, setting multiple world speed records in 1953.
Parisian coachbuilder Jacques Saoutchik crafted sumptuous bodywork for just 18 of the 83 Z-102 chassis produced, with only seven receiving the Series II Berlinetta treatment. These featured aggressive wheel arches and elegant curves highlighted by delicate chrome trim, creating some of the most flamboyant designs of the 1950s.
The all-aluminum 2.5-liter (152-cubic-inch) quad-cam V8 represented cutting-edge technology, featuring dry-sump lubrication, sodium-filled exhaust valves, and hemispherical combustion chambers. This was the first production car to offer a four-cam V8, predating Ferrari’s similar engines by more than a decade. Power ranged from 175 to 360 horsepower depending on carburetion and supercharging options.
Advanced engineering included a five-speed rear-mounted transaxle, independent front suspension, and a De Dion rear axle. Built at the former Hispano-Suiza factory in Barcelona from 1951 to 1958, these cost-no-object machines represented Spain’s ambitious entry into the exotic sports car market.
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