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Vintage Machines
by Ken Handman
One of the finest owner restored cars in the U.S.
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A very rare 1956 Pegaso type Z-102 Panoramica Coup |
At a factory-guaranteed top speed of 150 mph, the Fifties-era Spanish Pegaso type 102 was the fastest and most expensive "production" car of its day. It was also the most sophisticated production car ever built.
The equipment list reads like that of a world class race car. With the aluminum body keeping the weight to only 2,600 pounds, it is easy to understand why the sleek 270-horsepower vehicle held the "world's fastest production car" title. A power-to-weight ratio of less than 10 pounds per horsepower was unheard of in the Fifties for a Grand Touring car and is still the benchmark that separates the world's fastest production cars from the poseurs.
Considering the last 50 years' advancements in technology and aerodynamics, it is all the more remarkable that the top speed of today's Super Cars has increased only 50 mph.
The above-mentioned equipment list is worth noting in detail. The engine is a 3.2-liter V8 with an 11-to-1 compression ratio and a bottom end that features full floating crankshaft bearings. The floating bearings (pressurized oil on both sides of the bearing) were probably essential to counteract the high compression forces and still maintain the 3-year factory warranty.
The top of the engine featured dual cam hemi heads, sodium-filled valve stems for cooling, and two four-barrel Weber carburetors. Power is delivered to the rear wheels via a 5-speed transaxle with limited slip. The half shafts connected to the transaxle have inboard brakes and are of the De Dion type, thereby achieving independent rear suspension.
The brakes had some of the first dual master cylinders. Front suspension is double wishbone and torsion bars are located front and rear. The sensuous hand-formed aluminum body was built by Touring, one of Italy's finest coach builders. The interiors were of magnificent hand-sewn leather.
The Pegasos were manufactured from 1950 to 1956, with a total production of 84 cars. The car pictured here is No. 72. This was the featured car on the turntable at both the Turin, Italy, and Paris car shows of 1956. Unfortunately, 1956 was also the last year of production.
Most automotive historians agree that the twenty thousand dollar (or more) price tag was responsible for the marque's demise. Last year, historians and car lovers alike picked the Pegaso for the final list of 100 cars in the millennium-inspired "Car of the Century" competition.
The present owner/restorers of car No. 72 are Jack and Vi Vopal of Simi Valley. Their son Jeff located two Pegasos in 1972 when he was 18 years old. Jack and Jeff purchased the cars with the intention of doing a "father/son" restoration on one of them. But time passed and Jeff attended college, then started his career.
Finally in 1990, with Jeff now living only three miles from home, the Vopals began planning the restoration of No. 72. But the father/son restoration was not to be. Jeff was diagnosed with cancer. He died in March, 1992, and the car went unrestored and it seemed that it would remain so. But in 1993, while attending the Pebble Beach Concourse D'Elegance, Jack was informed that Pegaso would be the featured marque at Pebble in 1994. Consequently, a 51-week family effort to restore the car in Jeff's honor began.
At Pebble Beach, the following year, the car was awarded 3rd in class, an incredible achievement when one considers the 51-week time frame. However, "incredible achievement" turns to fantasy when you realize that there were no spare parts available and this was a family effort, not a "no expense spared" professional restoration.
Jack and son-in-law Karl Baker, along with Vi and daughter Cindy, did all the work. Karl rebuilt the engine and transaxle, fabricating parts as he worked, and Jack restored the chassis and body.
After Pebble Beach '94, Jack and Vi went on to show the Panoramica Coupe in nearly 50 of the most prestigious shows throughout the U.S. This year the car has been shown six times and placed first in class at all six, with three Best of Show awards. In February 2001 the car will be displayed at the Barcelona Center of Contemporary Culture in Barcelona, Spain. This display commemorates the 50th anniversary of the first Pegaso automobile. Jack and Vi said they are very much looking forward to the trip.
The Project Touch/Easy Reader car show was honored last year when the Vopals entered the Pegaso in the annual Hermosa Beach event. The car took the People's Choice award. They said that they will be back for this year's event and the committee thanks them for their generous support of our hometown show.
Speaking of our show, many of you responded to my question about displaying a few unfinished cars that are undergoing show quality frame-off restorations. Everyone said yes, they would like to see some works in progress. So the guys who told me that they would like to display their cars in an unfinished state should contact me. I think we can find a spot for three to four cars.
The entries are coming in faster than ever and we will no doubt sell out again this year, so get yours in early. Also, don't forget to send a photo of the car or Harley Davidson you are entering, along with a 25-word description. This will get your vehicle into the full-color show program, which will appear as an insert in Easy Reader a week before the show, as well as being handed out at the event.
The entry hotline is (323) 290-3639, or contact me for other questions about the show or to volunteer to help a very worthy cause, khandman@gte.net or (310) 379-6319.