Miguel Sánchez
While the history of this Pegaso does not begin as far away as that of that winged horse born from the blood of Medusa, we have to look for the origin of this myth that some qualify as «The Spanish Ferrari» in the middle of the XNUMXth century. Specifically in Spain. And that is where the surprise comes to many: when they hear the words "Spain" and "supercar" together at a time when ... the national industry seemed not to live up to certain boasts.
At that time our country needed to develop its economy. Namely, If something did not seem to be needed, it was the manufacture of select sports cars, and yes that of trucks and industrial vehicles. To this end, the state created ENASA through the National Institute of Industry: Empresa Nacional de Autocamiones SA Thus, and on the ruins of a nationalized Hispano-Suiza, also appeared at the head of this company which is one of the figures key to Spanish motorsport: wilfredo ricart.
The man who headed the Alfa-Romeo racing department in the late 30s had a huge challenge before him: to move from the thrill of racing to the rationality of trucks and more. And perhaps there comes the biggest controversy in Ricart's professional career and for what he is best remembered: the development of a sports car with enormous features and spectacular design in the context of a state-owned industrial vehicle factory. The controversy took shape in 1951 under the name Pegaso Z-102.
A horse among pack mules: EL Z-102
To this day, even more than one continues to be amazed that the Pegaso, the truck, produced some of the fastest and most modern sports cars ever seen.. The person directly responsible was Ricart. Some think that with this he wanted to develop the brand through a cutting-edge project as a “test and teaching bench”. Others assure that it was a clever propaganda campaign hatched from the offices of power: to exhibit the Pegaso sports cars was to show that the Spanish industry was not as finished as it was thought, it was to gain muscle and say "Hey look what we've done, we're here."
We are sure that, at the time, the enemies of this idea would not be few. But we also dare to affirm that the project surely instilled motivation in a company that, by assuming this challenge, was able not only to reaffirm its capabilities but also to develop them. The Pegaso Z102 was a showcase and a mechanical training and development bank: this is how you have to look at its profitability and business sense. In fact, these things continue to happen today: it is what It happens, saving the distances to Volkswagen with the manufacture of each Bugatti Veyron.
The number of units coming out of the Pegaso factories is about 80. From its self-supporting chassis and its V8 engine we have several different bodies and preparations, some as spectacular as the "Thrill" or the "Dome". Different but equal, all versions of the Pegaso Z102 are characterized by the same thing: being a sports car with incredible performance, capable of rubbing shoulders with the most select of the international garage, although it lacks a greater amount of resources for its development and better marketing.
The Horse in the Stable: 'Barn Find Hunter'
Many of the "winged horses" produced in Spain went to graze in distant lands. Some of them to the United States of America. Many lost track, but if we let ourselves be seduced by Tom Cotter and his television show "Barn Find Hunter" It seems that a Z102 has just been located under the boxes and neglect of a family garage in North America. On the show, Tom Cotter is dedicated to uncovering forgotten "finds" in the most lost - and even dirtiest - places one can imagine, even if at times like this they are a montage.
In any case, such a scene was worth making. The Pegasus live up to their name, they are almost mythological animals. Pegasus: the winged horse. It's easy to understand Cotter's astonishment at his supposed find, right?
“It was made in Spain… It`s called Pegaso, Pegasus".
