The Pegaso Z-102 is a Spanish V8 sports car unveiled at the 1951 Paris Motor Show, so it turns 75 this year. Engineer Wifredo Ricart built it in Barcelona, and only about 84 were made. In 1953, a supercharged version also set a speed record at 151 mph. Despite this, almost nobody remembers it today.
Pegaso Z-102: the Spanish supercar nobody remembers
Most car lovers can name the Ferrari, the Jaguar and the Mercedes of 1951. However, few can name the Spanish car that matched them. That car is the Pegaso Z-102. It came from a company that mainly built trucks, and this makes the story even stranger.
This article tells that story. First, we look at how the car was born. Then we explain what made it advanced, and why the world forgot it. Finally, we show which prints in our catalogue honour the same era.
How a Spanish truck maker built a V8 in 1951
Pegaso was the truck and sports car brand of the Spanish group ENASA, and its factory stood in Barcelona. The man in charge of technical work was Wifredo Ricart, a former chief engineer at Alfa Romeo. Moreover, he wanted a showcase for Spanish engineering, so he designed a sports car without compromise.
The car first appeared in 1951 as two prototypes, a coupé and a drophead. It then debuted at the 1951 Paris Motor Show. Production ran until 1958, and the company built roughly 84 cars in total. Some sources say 71, so the exact figure remains debated. You can find the full technical history on Wikipedia.
What made it so advanced
Under the bonnet sat an all-aluminium V8 of 2.5 litres, with four overhead camshafts and dry-sump lubrication. Those are race-car solutions, and in 1951 they were rare on a road car. Later versions grew to 2.8 and 3.2 litres, and some received a supercharger. As a result, power ranged from roughly 165 hp up to 360 hp in the most extreme cars.
The bodies were just as special. Carrozzeria Touring built most of them with its Superleggera method, a light tubular frame covered with thin aluminium panels. In addition, the French coachbuilder Saoutchik bodied 18 cars in a more ornate style. Moreover, the factory itself bodied 19 cars, 11 of them Berlinettas, and a smaller builder named Serra added a handful. Therefore, the cars vary a lot in character, even though they share the same mechanics.
The Pegaso Z-102 and its 1953 speed record
On 25 September 1953, a supercharged Z-102 ran near Jabbeke, in Belgium. Driver Celso Fernández averaged 243 km/h (151 mph) over a flying kilometre. This beat the record of the Jaguar XK120, and it made the Pegaso one of the fastest production cars of its time.
Racing was less kind. In 1952, the factory entered two cars in the Monaco Grand Prix, but without lasting success. Then, at the 1953 24 Hours of Le Mans, driver Juan Jover crashed at high speed and was seriously injured, and the team withdrew its other cars. In 1954, the Carrera Panamericana also ended with an accident. Consequently, the brand never won the victories that built the legends of Ferrari or Jaguar.
Why it never became famous
Several reasons explain the silence. First, production stayed tiny, with about 84 cars over seven years. Second, the company earned its living with trucks and buses, not with sports cars. Third, racing success was almost nonexistent. Finally, the project ended in 1958, and the brand left no direct heir. In contrast, rivals such as Ferrari kept building and winning, so their names stayed alive.
If this story of a forgotten machine interests you, read our article on the Bugatti EB110. It follows a similar path, a brilliant car that history almost erased.
Pegaso Z-102 in fine art: what our catalogue holds
Here is the honest part. There is no Pegaso Z-102 photograph in the catalogue today, because the car is extremely rare. Instead, we offer prints from the same decade and the same spirit.
First, the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL, launched in 1954, shares the era and the engineering ambition. It starts at €78. Then the Jaguar XK wall photograph belongs to the family of the XK120, whose speed record the Pegaso beat. It also starts at €78. For a later racing chapter, the Ferrari 250 GTO print is the natural next step, from €78.
Where to see one today
Few survivors remain, yet some appear in the best places. The Audrain Automobile Museum in the United States owns a 1952 Z-102 Series II with Touring coupé bodywork, chassis 0149. Its earlier owner restored it to original specification, and the car appeared at the 2023 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.
Moreover, other cars have crossed the block at major auction houses. This shows that collectors now recognise the model, even if the wider public still does not. In short, the Pegaso is slowly getting the attention it deserved in 1951.
Which room and which format
A story like this suits a study, a library or a garage wall. A modest format works well, because the charm lies in the history and the details. Aluminium and acrylic glass prints are numbered limited editions, with 200 copies for each car photograph. Canvas is also available, but it is not a limited edition.
To see how our prints look in real homes, visit the Our Work page.
Why the Pegaso Z-102 still matters at 75
The Pegaso Z-102 proves that a great car can be forgotten and still be remarkable. It brought race-car engineering to the road in 1951, and it reached 151 mph before many famous rivals. At 75, it deserves a place in the story of the golden age of sports cars.
Pegaso Z-102 FAQ
How many Pegaso Z-102 were built?
Most sources say about 84 cars between 1951 and 1958, although some list 71. Around 28 were convertibles, and the rest were coupés. Few survive today, which explains why the car is so rarely seen.
How fast was the Pegaso Z-102?
The base cars reached around 192 km/h (120 mph). A supercharged car averaged 243 km/h (151 mph) at Jabbeke in 1953. However, sources disagree on the top speed of the standard car, so treat these figures as approximate.
Who designed the car?
Wifredo Ricart designed it. He was the technical director of Pegaso and a former chief engineer at Alfa Romeo. Carrozzeria Touring then refined the bodywork for most of the production.
Is there a Pegaso Z-102 print at Cars and Roses?
Not at the moment. The closest prints are the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL, the Jaguar XK and the Ferrari 250 GTO, all from €78. They tell the story of the same golden age.
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