The 1963 Lancia Flaminia GT Convertibile 3C is one of the most elegant open Italian grand tourers of the 1960s, combining sophisticated Lancia engineering with lightweight Touring Superleggera coachwork and the more powerful three-carburettor evolution of the Flaminia V6.
This specific 1963 Lancia Flaminia GT Convertibile 3C has been sold and is now preserved in the Giro Classico archive. The original vehicle page confirms its SOLD status.
Lancia Flaminia GT Convertibile by Touring
The Flaminia replaced the Aurelia at the top of the Lancia range. To create more sporting derivatives, Lancia supplied shortened chassis to three of Italy’s most important coachbuilders:
- Pininfarina
- Zagato
- Touring
Touring developed the elegant two-seat Flaminia GT, using its famous Superleggera construction method with a lightweight tubular framework covered by aluminium body panels.
The open GT Convertibile was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in 1960 and followed the proportions and mechanical philosophy of the Touring Coupé.
Touring Superleggera construction
The Superleggera method is central to the character and collector appeal of the Flaminia GT.
Rather than using conventional all-steel coachwork, Touring created a lightweight body structure using thin steel tubes supporting hand-shaped aluminium panels.
The benefits included:
- lower weight
- elegant proportions
- greater design freedom
- distinctive handcrafted construction
On a collector-grade Flaminia Touring, the condition and authenticity of this structure are among the most important elements to inspect.
The 3C evolution
The first-series Touring GT reached the end of its production cycle in December 1961 and was replaced by an updated version using three carburettors, hence the designation 3C.
The three-carburettor specification gave the V6 a more sporting character and today represents one of the most desirable configurations for collectors looking for a Flaminia GT or Convertibile.
The model retained the fundamental Lancia qualities of:
- front-mounted V6
- rear-wheel drive
- refined independent front suspension
- transaxle-inspired weight distribution philosophy inherited from the Aurelia era
- strong long-distance GT ability
Lancia’s V6 tradition
The Flaminia continued Lancia’s pioneering use of the V6 engine, first introduced on the Aurelia.
Rather than pursuing outright power alone, Lancia focused on:
- smooth power delivery
- balance
- refined road behaviour
- stability at speed
In the lighter Touring-bodied versions, these characteristics produced a particularly sophisticated grand-touring experience.
Dunlop disc brakes
The Touring GT was one of the advanced Italian GTs to adopt Dunlop disc brakes early in its production.
Giro Classico’s historical description notes that the Touring GT was shown at Geneva in 1959 with disc brakes, with only a very limited number of the earliest examples believed to have left the factory with drums.
This was an advanced specification for an Italian road car of the period and reinforces the technical sophistication of the Flaminia family.
Coupé or Convertibile?
The Touring Coupé and Convertibile share the same basic design language, but offer different personalities.
The GT Coupé provides:
- greater structural rigidity
- a closed grand-touring cabin
- the classic Superleggera fastback profile
The GT Convertibile adds:
- open-air driving
- greater exclusivity
- elegant two-seat proportions
- stronger Riviera-style touring character
Giro Classico has also previously handled a 1963 Lancia Flaminia GT Coupé, creating a useful historical reference within the same model family.
Discover the sold 1963 Lancia Flaminia GT Coupé previously handled by Giro Classico
Why the Flaminia GT Convertibile is collectible
The model brings together several attributes that define an important Italian collector car:
- Lancia engineering
- Touring Superleggera coachwork
- aluminium body panels
- V6 power
- three-carburettor 3C specification
- elegant open bodywork
- limited production
- strong connection with Italy’s golden age of coachbuilding
It is particularly attractive to collectors interested in cars where engineering and coachbuilding carry equal historical importance.
What to inspect before buying a Flaminia GT Convertibile
A specialist pre-purchase inspection should focus on:
- chassis identity
- Touring body numbers and details
- aluminium body panels
- tubular Superleggera structure
- corrosion between aluminium and steel
- previous accident repairs
- V6 engine
- triple-carburettor setup
- gearbox and drivetrain
- brakes
- suspension
- steering
- hood mechanism
- chrome and trim
- interior
- historical documentation
- restoration history
The aluminium-over-steel construction requires particular expertise. Corrosion or poor structural repairs hidden beneath attractive paintwork can make restoration extremely complex.
Originality and restoration quality
On a Touring-bodied Flaminia, originality extends beyond engine and chassis numbers.
A proper evaluation should also consider:
- correct body shape
- original or historically correct aluminium panels
- Touring-specific trim
- grille and lighting
- instruments
- seats and interior materials
- factory colour combination
- period-correct carburettors
A well-documented restoration that preserves original Touring construction is generally preferable to a visually perfect car whose historical identity is unclear.
This 1963 Lancia Flaminia GT Convertibile 3C has been sold
This specific 1963 Lancia Flaminia GT Convertibile 3C is no longer available. Giro Classico keeps the page online as part of its archive and invites collectors searching for a similar car to make an enquiry.
Looking for a Touring Superleggera GT currently available?
For this Flaminia page, the strongest current Giro Classico alternative is the 1961 Maserati 3500 GT.
Discover the 1961 Maserati 3500 GT currently available at Giro Classico
The connection is particularly strong because both cars represent the finest tradition of Touring Superleggera Italian grand touring.
The current Maserati is one of the final carburettor examples and was equipped from new with:
- Touring Superleggera bodywork
- 3.5-litre inline-six
- three Weber carburettors
- ZF five-speed gearbox
- limited-slip differential
- four-wheel disc brakes
- Borrani wire wheels
Giro Classico currently lists the car on a Price on Request basis.
Flaminia GT 3C or Maserati 3500 GT?
These cars are not direct substitutes, but their relationship is unusually relevant.
The Lancia Flaminia GT Convertibile 3C offers:
- open Touring coachwork
- Lancia V6 engineering
- compact two-seat GT character
- triple-carburettor specification
The Maserati 3500 GT offers:
- Touring Superleggera construction
- 3.5-litre six-cylinder power
- triple Weber carburettors
- four-seat GT usability
- greater performance
- an example currently available
For a collector searching specifically for a Flaminia Convertibile, private sourcing remains the best route. For someone attracted by Touring Superleggera and early-1960s Italian GTs, the 3500 GT is the strongest current alternative.
Discover more about Touring Superleggera
Giro Classico has also published a dedicated article on Touring Superleggera and the Maserati 3500 GT, explaining the construction method, design philosophy and importance of the Milanese coachbuilder.
Read: Touring Superleggera meets the Maserati 3500 GT
The article creates a strong thematic connection between:
- Lancia Flaminia Touring
- Maserati 3500 GT
- Superleggera construction
- Italian coachbuilding
- classic Gran Turismo cars
Looking specifically for another Lancia Flaminia?
Giro Classico can assist with the search for:
- Lancia Flaminia GT Convertibile
- Flaminia GT 3C
- Flaminia GT Coupé
- Flaminia Sport Zagato
- Flaminia Super Sport
- other Touring-bodied Lancias
The service can include private and off-market sourcing, provenance verification, body and chassis inspection, restoration assessment, valuation, negotiation and international logistics.
Discover Giro Classico’s Collector Car Advisory service
For further information regarding sourcing a Lancia Flaminia GT Convertibile 3C, evaluating Touring Superleggera coachwork, arranging a specialist inspection, or regarding the 1961 Maserati 3500 GT currently available, please contact us directly.
Because in the end, we never truly own these cars, we simply preserve them for the next generation.
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