On very special state occasions, the Quirinale (the palace in which the president of the republic has his office) dusts off its four Lancia Flaminia presidential limousines, which were built specially by Pininfarina for the Queen's visit to Italy in 1961. Pininfarina was informed of the visit only six months beforehand, but managed to build five cars based on Flaminia saloons. Four of the cars - named Belsito, Belmonte, Belvedere and Belfiore - were pressed into immediate service, and the fifth is said to have been given to the Queen as a gift, although the Royal Mews knows nothing of this. Does a Flaminia Presidential lurk somewhere in a lock-up at Buck House? We'd love to know...
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