1966 Lancia Flavia Sport Zagato

For people who like their cars strange, smart, and soulful.

Mike Baum’s 1966 Flavia Sport Zagato during Dolce e Veloce at the Petersen Museum

The 1966 Lancia Flavia Sport by Zagato is one of those rare cars that makes you do a double take—not because it’s conventionally beautiful, but because it’s weird in the best possible way. Designed by Ercole Spada at Zagato, the body is a quirky mix of curves and sharp lines, all wrapped in lightweight aluminum. It’s got a bubble roof, a rear window that tilts open, and a kind of alien elegance that only the Italians in the '60s could pull off. It’s not trying to be pretty—it’s trying to be clever.

Underneath all that eccentric design is some equally unconventional engineering. It runs a flat-four boxer engine up front, with front-wheel drive—a very unusual combo for an Italian GT car of the era. The 1.8-liter engine makes around 100 horsepower, which doesn’t sound like much, but thanks to the light body and tight handling, it’s a surprisingly fun car to drive. Think less Ferrari-on-the-Autostrada and more nimble, continental cruiser with a flair for the dramatic.

Only about 700 of these were ever made, which makes it a rare sight even at classic car events. Today, the Flavia Sport Zagato is a cult favorite among collectors who appreciate its oddball charm and coachbuilt pedigree. It’s a car for the design nerds, the Zagato superfans, and anyone who likes their vintage Italian metal with a side of strangeness.