Pegaso Z-102
Pegaso Z -102 with Saoutchik body
The Pegaso Z -102 is a sports car that was built from 1951 to 1958 in Spain.
Background
The then - chief Pegaso was the technology manager Wifredo Ricart, former designer of the Alfa Romeo 512 and at that time a colleague and rival of Enzo Ferrari at Alfa Romeo.
Construction
The Z -102 is constructed according to the concept of a race car. All components except the bodies were manufactured at its plant in Barcelona, the bodies were built either at Carrozzeria Touring, Serra or Saoutchik; the early Z -102 units had yet Pegaso own bodies. The cars had V8 engines with four overhead camshafts, one behind the rear axle arranged, assembled with the differential in a housing 5 -speed transmission with non -synchronized first gear and a chassis made of sheet steel. The main beam of the frame had large lightening holes, and the wheel arches were used as load-bearing parts. Back was installed a rigid De Dion axle, the front wheels were independently suspended and suspension with torsion bars. In the rear, a tank was placed on each side of the transmission.
In 1951, two prototypes of the Z -102 built, a coupe and a convertible. However, the shape was rather clumsy and the body made of steel too heavy, which led to the decision to have them finished by external coachbuilders of aluminum. The coachbuilder Touring then revised the mold; there was a different grille, the vehicle has been lowered, corrected the position of the fog lamps and various details simplified to give it a sleeker profile, similar to that of former Aston Martin DB2 and the Lancia Aurelia.
The Z102 came with 2.5 L engines ( 2472 cc ) in production that had been used in the prototype. Later there were also variants with 2.8 liter ( 2816 cc ) and 3.2 liter V8 engines ( 3178 cc ) with four overhead camshafts, four valves per cylinder Desmodromic controlled, multiple carburetors and optional compressor. The performance ranged 132-271 kW ( 175-360 hp), it was transmitted through a five-speed gearbox. The fastest Z -102 was 250 km / h reached more than a former Ferrari, making it the fastest car produced in this period was. The base version had a top speed of 192 km / h
Despite all the cars were hard to drive and had almost no racing success. Because the car does with the premise money is no object were constructed, the company ran into financial difficulties. A simplified and cheaper version, the Z -103 with 3.9, 4.5 and 4.7 liter engines, was brought success to the market and set the last Z -102 the end of 1958. The information on the numbers fluctuate 86-125 cars, of which only a handful of convertibles are.
Specifications
Motor race
The Pegaso has been used in various competitions, but without real success. In the 1953 24 Hours of Le Mans drivers Jose Jover was seriously injured after an accident at more than 200 km / h. A Pegaso also appeared driven by Joaquin Palacio in the 1954 Carrera Panamericana - with promising results to the first stages, but also prevented an accident a better end result.
On 25 September 1953 broke in Jabbeke (Belgium ), a Z -102 Touring BS/2.8, driven by Celso Fernández, four official RACB ( Royal Automobile Club de Belgique ) World Records. The fastest of them the car was fast on average 243 km / h with a flying start. The previous record holder was a Jaguar XK 120 The actual record for the imaginary Z -102 BSS/2.5 Bisiluro Especial Competición ( with a turbocharged 2.5 -liter engine ) could not be used due to an engine failure.