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Pegaso Z102 Saoutchik Coupe. Spanish bodied in Paris

As you know, the Pegaso Z102 turns seven decades in 2021. An anniversary that we will use to review the history of the most outstanding units. Last week we started with the Spyder Pedralbes, one of the most exciting Pegasos for having touched 300 km / h in his first race. However, the truth is that most of these cars were not designed for competition. Far from it, his destiny was to serve as representative GTs capable of rivaling the Jaguars or Ferraris of the moment.

Sports that are capable of maximum performance, but are also fully approved to ride elegantly on a day-to-day basis. Thus, most of his forms were far from the radical lines marked by the barchettas. Conceived as unique pieces, The 86 Pegaso Z102s received bodies among which those of ENASA, Touring and Saoutchik stand out.. The former can be considered as canonical. Being the least celebrated aesthetically, the truth is that these are the ones that come out of the state factory responsible for the Z102, being the most "pure" and "Hispanic" versions.

A tradition of Spartan bodywork, broken by the irruption of the voluptuous Z102 Dome designed by Agustín Masgrau. A show of futuristic style in postwar Spain, which received the nickname of "Flying saucer" by ENASA employees. The latter, made in Milan by Touring thanks to the contacts that Ricart kept from his Italian time working for Alfa Romeo, are the most refined lines. Elegant sports cars with a design that could well have been accepted by the most important brands of the XNUMXs. A fine counterpoint to the thirds, signed by Saoutchik in Paris despite their American-inspired angles.

Today we show you one of the five that came in the form of a coupe: the chassis number 0146.

PEGASO Z102 SAOUTCHIK. EUROPEAN DESIGN LOOKING AT AMERICA

Founded in 1906, the Saoutchik coach house quickly achieved fame based on two pillars. The first was the quality of the product, always made on the best racks of the time. The second was the extravagance of his designs. Conceived as unique pieces to dress chassis from Bugatti, Delahaye or Cadillac, the designs of the Parisian brand were infected with the voluptuousness and baroque style of the Belle Epoque. Fairings, curves, chrome, gold ... Any ostentatious resource was welcome in Saoutchik's offices.

Thus, the firm's good adaptation to the futuristic designs that arrived from the other side of the Atlantic in the early XNUMXs is not surprising. A moment in which, imbued by the heat of the space race, Detroit industries bet on designs as ostentatious as they are huge. A fashion that had its particular European echo when designers like Aldo brovarone they picked up the glove by creating experiments like the Alfa Romeo Superflow. And that's not to mention the Alfa Romeo BAT in charge of Franco Scaglione during his time at Bertone.

However, as what we are celebrating here is the history of the Pegaso Z102, we are going to focus on Saoutchik's work. A job that continues to be that of some of the most celebrated bodies in the history of the model. With angles clearly inspired by the American design we mentioned, the parisian house intervened on several chassis of the Pegaso Z102 to create at least five coupe units and a number of convertibles. Interventions carried out on both the first and second series models.

PEGASO Z102 CHASSIS 0146. PERFECTLY RESTORED UNIT

Presented at the 1954 Paris Motor Show, this unit of the Pegaso Z102 was acquired by Lamy de Caen, who used it for at least two races, one of them the Panamericana. At the end of that same decade, it was sold to Don Rickert, from Alabama, beginning the model's extensive stay in the United States. In 1964, already valued as a collector's vehicle, it became part of the collection of the Harrah's Museum in Reno. After its sale in the seventies, a curious story begins in which this Pegaso Z102 is owned by hotel consortiums such as the Holiday Inn and the Imperial Palace in Las Vegas.

Driven by the desire to use the car as the winner of contests of elegance held in their hotels, these corporate owners restored the Z102 Saoutchik coupe with great care. Merit that made it happen to the collection of the Blackhawk Museum. until last 2017 it fell into the hands of a private collector who presented it at Peeble Beach. An important event, since for those same dates its red color was changed for a bichromatic paint. In keeping with original Saoutchik designs. All this accompanied by a meticulous restoration of the interior and the engine.

In fact, everything about it is so perfect that any patina that this Pegaso Z102 may have retained has been removed. Now the unit with chassis 0146 looks in such perfect condition that, without fear of doubt, we can point it out as one of the representatives of the Pegaso Z102 in the best state of the competition. So much so that, as we have seen in forums, some fans get to grind such a level of restored brightness. A controversy that, after all, is another of the eternal debates present in the field of restoration, whatever the field of work. However, what is sure to be a solid consensus is to affirm the curious charm of the Saoutchik coupe to the history of the Pegaso Z102.

PHOTOS PEGASO Z102 SAOUTCHIK COUPE 1954: Hammam Classic Cars, made by Uwe Breitkopf.

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Written by Miguel Sánchez

Through the news from La Escudería, we will travel the winding roads of Maranello listening to the roar of the Italian V12; We will travel Route66 in search of the power of the great American engines; we will get lost in the narrow English lanes tracking the elegance of their sports cars; We will speed up the braking in the curves of the Monte Carlo Rally and we will even get dusty in a garage while rescuing lost jewels.

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