<< Prev Page 3 of 3 Considering the Pegaso's specification, it came as no surprise that Ricart readied a racing version of the Z102. The road going chassis was already drilled for lightness so other than an engine little was needed. Touring fitted the racing cars with roadster bodies using their light weight 'superleggera' construction. In full running order the cars weighed less than 1000 kg. Two were ready in time for the 1952 Monaco Grand Prix, which was run for sports cars that year. Problems in practice with wheel flap forced the team to withdraw from the race. Next on the agenda was the 24 Hours of Le Mans but the proposed two car entry was not ready in time to take part. Eventually racing in 1952 was limited to local hillclimbs where the cars proved moderately successful.
Preparations for the 1953 Le Mans began well in advance. Ricart had developed a highly unusual catamaran shaped or 'bisiluro' bodywork. The two strange machines were fitted with a two-stage supercharged version of the 2.5 litre engine. Fortune did not smile on Pegaso's racing effort as both racers were severely damaged in a factory fire. Ricart was now forced to revert to the Touring barchettas for Le Mans. During the practice sessions works driver 'Jover' crashed fatally and the team withdrew from the racing. The only notable performance of a Pegaso in an international event came during the Carrera PanAmericana late in 1953. The company's test driver Palacio ran as high as third behind the leading Ferraris. But again the race ended in tragedy as the Touring Barchetta crashed heavily. Fortunately Palacio survived.
Amidst the racing effort the production of road cars was a slow and tedious process. There were only few employees skilled enough to make these supercars. To make matters worse almost every part of the car had to be made in-house as there were no suppliers of high performance parts in Spain. Pegaso did claim a spot in the history books; in September of 1953 a supercharged roadster was timed at 152 mph, a road car record. It lasted only a few weeks as Jaguar crushed the record with a 'mildly' modified version of the XK140 road car. It is believed only 87 Z102s were built when Ricart launched the Z103 in 1956. This used a far less complex OHV V8 engine. It did not turn Pegaso's fortunes and production ceased in 1958. ENASA needed all the space available to make the much more profitable trucks and buses. << Prev Page 3 of 3
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Z102 Enasa Coupe
Considering the Pegaso's specification, it came as no surprise that Ricart readied a racing version of the Z102. The road going chassis was already drilled for lightness so other than an engine little was needed. Touring fitted the racing cars with roadster bodies using their light weight 'superleggera' construction. In full running order the cars weighed less than 1000 kg. Two were ready in time for the 1952 Monaco Grand Prix, which was run for sports cars that year. Problems in practice with wheel flap forced the team to withdraw from the race. Next on the agenda was the 24 Hours of Le Mans but the proposed two car entry was not ready in time to take part. Eventually racing in 1952 was limited to local hillclimbs where the cars proved moderately successful.