Pegaso Z-102 Record Car

In the 1950s, one means of gaining publicity for car factories was to try and beat a category record. Pegaso, a new firm that was showing some promise, did such a try in 1953. They chose as the place for it a well known flat straight on a Belgian highway near the town of Jabbeke. The driver was the factory’s test driver, Celso Fernandez. The car was to be the “Bisiluro,” a concept car in which the driver sat on one side, between the front and back wheels, with the engine almost at his side (so as to keep most of the mass centrally placed) A little after the start of the trials, the Bisiluro broke down and was substituted by the backup car, a Pegaso Z102 Touring Barchetta, with which Celso managed to beat several class records.

This image shows the Pegaso Barchetta starting the standing kilometer record leg on the Jabbeke Highway, which he completed in 46.06 seconds. On the bonnet’s center line can be seen the bump over the compressor and, on its right side, the carburetor inlet periscope-type scoop. Seen in the background is the checkered distance marker and the broken down Bisiluro car, with the “Bacalao” factory transporter behind.