The next eccentricity of Raymond Loewy on Lancia

ONE-OFF There are always creative people who are not only able to produce the best and quality works who are also able to provide inspiration to the people. No exception in the industrial world, especially automotive. A gentleman figure like Raymond Loewy, a well-known French-born American industrial designer who was involved in many industries including automotive between the 1930s and the late 1950s with his streamlined design style flourished.

This unique-shaped Lancia Flaminia Loraymo designed by Raymond Loewy in the 1959, is constructed by Rocco Motto in Turin, Italy and presented for the first time at the 1960 Paris Auto Salon. (Picture from: Fabwhellsdigest)

As we can see today, there are many works created through this gentleman's hands, such several world's petroleum company logos such as Shell, BP, or the logo of one of the famous American cigarettes Lucky Strike to the king-size Coca Cola bottle shape. Then in the world's automotive, started in 1940s, when he made costly experimental design works on the Lincoln Continental.

He was also known as an automotive designer for Studabaker and one of his famous works is Studebaker Avanti. Even, he was also the trains designer, and because of his many works in various fields, no wonder if some called him as Father of Industrial Design.

This Lancia Flaminia Loraymo has the eccentric and exotic appearance of the car includes the tapering front end with gaping grill enclosed by a prominent chrome frame, which also serves as a bumper, plus four uniques lights. (Picture from: Fabwhellsdigest)

Such as on the article before which talked about one of his famous creations called BMW 507 Loewy Concept. This car concept built and reconstructed on in such a way as to become an eccentric car by him and launched at the 44e Salon de l'Automobile (Paris Motor Show) in the 1957 based on the BMW 507 (like one ever owned by the famous singer, Elvis Presley), so no wonder its looking much different from the original car.

This unique-shaped Lancia Flaminia Loraymo carries many design elements from its predecessor the 1957 BMW 507 Coupe which later also be applied to the following Studebaker Avanti model in 1963. (Picture from: Fabwhellsdigest)

Then in 1959, Raymond Loewy returned to spawn an automotive creation that was no less eccentric than his previous work. This time, he called it as the Lancia Flaminia Loraymo, and is built on the 1959 Lancia Flaminia Coupé chassis according to his own stylistic tastes resembled like a fish-face. Meanwhile about the 'LORAYMO' as the car's name is acronym of the surname and his owned-name, namely LO(ewy) RAYMO(nd) and also the telegraphic address of his studio.

When viewed from its design, it appears that the Lancia Loraymo carries many design elements from its predecessor the 1957 BMW 507 Coupe which later also be applied to the following Studebaker Avanti model in 1963. Then Raymond Loewy submitted next job to an Italian Turin-based coachbuilder company that specializes in aluminum bodies named Rocco Motto to turn his designs into a real car.

The eccentric and exotic appearance of the car includes the tapering front end with gaping grill enclosed by a prominent chrome frame, which also serves as a bumper. Then followed by the pinning four uniques lights consisted two outrigger fog lights are detached from the body by an aerodynamic fin and tucked under each headlights on the front fenders, which are slightly open-ended at the bottom for better brake cooling.

This unique-shaped Lancia Flaminia Loraymo uses a 2.5 liter V6 tune up engine by Nardi, and mated with 3 twin carburetors of Weber plus a modified camshaft. (Picture from: Fabwhellsdigest)

The car's uniqueness does not stop there and continues to the sinuous shape incorporates highly sophisticated aerodynamic solutions, such as the aileron above the rear window and the fully closed chrome wheel rims. The wraparound rear window overhangs the boot, which is only accessible from the passenger compartment. The only protruding rear elements are the twin exhaust pipes and slim bumper, while the taillights are flush with the body.

This unique-shaped Lancia Flaminia Loraymo has also protruding rear elements are the twin exhaust pipes and slim bumper, while the taillights are flush with the body. (Picture from: Fabwhellsdigest)

Then the power source comes from a 2.5 liter V6 Lancia's engine which was originally only capable of producing 119 hp, but after tuning up by Nardi, and mated with 3 twin carburetors of Weber plus a modified camshaft, so the power increased significantly to 150 hp so able to make the car run to top speed of 190 kph.

Shortly after the car completed, Loewy was so delighted with the result that he decided to present the Lancia Flamina Loraymo at the 1960 Paris Auto Salon. Like the previous car, this Lancia Loraymo was once Loewy's personal car for years while was in Europe and the United States. After his passed away in 1986, the car had not been seen by the public for a long time, before finally being rediscovered by by the president of the American Lancia Club, who decided to repatriate it by donating it to Lancia, today, the Loraymo resides in Lancia's factory museum in Italy. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | FCAHERITAGE | FABWHEELSDIGEST | HEMMINGS ]

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Friday, April 2, 2021

The next eccentricity of Raymond Loewy on Lancia