1954 Pegaso Z102B Coupe

Named after Pegasus, the mythical winged horse, the striking Spanish-built Pegaso sports car emerged at the 1951 Paris Salon, powered by a four-cam V8 engine. The Pegaso Company was created by the Spanish government after the Second World War. Production took place in the former Hispano Suiza factory in Barcelona. The innovative design was by Wilfredo Ricart who had worked for Alfa Romeo building high-performance engines. Production started with a 2.5-liter engine, which grew to 4.7-liters. For a while, Pegaso qualified as the world's fastest production car, capable of reaching 150 mph. Production ceased in 1958 by which time around 125 or so cars had left the factory.

This sporting Berlinetta carries coachwork from the famous Parisian Carrossier Saoutchik. Saoutchik bodied seven Z-102 Berlinettas, and each one is slightly different. It is one of seven second-series Berlinettas produced on the Z-102 chassis by coachbuilder Saoutchik. All examples featured a low roofline, dramatic styling, and curved fenders.

Pegaso produced a total of 83 cars and the majority were bodied out of house: Carrozzeria Touring bodied a total of 40 cars, and Saoutchik bodied 18 - just two fewer than the factory itself. Spanish designer Pedro Serra also bodied five cars.

This example was delivered in right-hand drive configuration, though the chassis was numbered 150, indicating a left-hand-drive model. It came equipped with the twin-ignition cylinder head.

The original owner of this car may have been Don Pedro Domecq de la Riva. Years later, it was exported to the United States. It was acquired in 1983 by Frans Pelzer of Maastricht, the Netherlands. At the time, the car was in solid original condition with around 95 percent used in the restoration. The only major component changed was the gearbox, replaced with a correct unit from another Pegaso.

The restoration was nearly complete when it was sold to a new owner in the United States in the summer of 2005, and the work was completed stateside. With the work complete, it was shown at the Pebble Beach Concours where it was judged 2nd in Class.

While in the care of Lorenzo Zambrano, the Pegaso was shown at the Amelia Island Concours where it won an Amelia Award. It was also shown at the 2008 and 2012 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, placing Second in Class on the first occasion.