Pegaso
Pegaso is renowned for producing some of the most striking and advanced sports cars of the 1950s. Founded in 1946 by Wifredo Ricart, Pegaso originally focused on commercial vehicles and trucks under the state-owned company Empresa Nacional de Autocamiones S.A. (ENASA). However, Ricart, a former Alfa Romeo engineer, harbored ambitions of creating high-performance sports cars that could rival the best from Italy and Germany. This ambition led to the creation of the Pegaso Z-102, a car that would cement Pegaso’s place in automotive history. Introduced in 1951, the Pegaso Z-102 was a technological marvel. It featured a range of advanced engineering solutions, including an all-aluminum V8 engine, which came in various configurations with power outputs ranging from 175 to over 300 horsepower. The Z-102 also boasted a sophisticated De Dion rear suspension and a five-speed transaxle, innovations that were ahead of their time. These features gave the Z-102 exceptional performance, with some versions capable of reaching top speeds of up to 155 mph, making it one of the fastest cars of its era. The Z-102’s design was as remarkable as its engineering. Pegaso collaborated with renowned coachbuilders such as Touring of Milan, Saoutchik, and Serra, resulting in a series of beautifully crafted bodies that ranged from sleek coupes to stunning convertibles. Each car was essentially a bespoke creation, tailored to the desires of its owner, which added to its exclusivity. The elegant and aerodynamic lines of the Z-102, combined with its powerful performance, made it a standout at international car shows and a symbol of Spanish craftsmanship and engineering prowess. Despite its technical brilliance and aesthetic appeal, the Pegaso Z-102 faced several challenges. The high cost of production and the limited market for such an exclusive vehicle meant that only around 84 units were produced between 1951 and 1958. Additionally, the state-owned nature of ENASA meant that resources were often diverted to more practical and commercially viable projects, such as trucks and buses. By the late 1950s, the focus shifted entirely away from sports cars, marking the end of Pegaso’s brief foray into high-performance automobiles.
