1955 PMI Zelo 142 Competizione 1.0

Zelo is an Italian brand in PMI Ltd. ownership. Created by race engineers Colombio and Ioli, the brand focusses on high end performance cars.

Early years started out with experiments in stately looking 2x2 grand tourers under the Inter name, with V12 and V16 engines based on the 122 Competizione engine. What followed were sleek-looking V12 grand tourers for export markets.

This car, however, is a bit of an odd one out. The Zelo 142 Competizione was released in very limited numbers in 1955 to 1957. Not at first sight that odd, with the concept itself based on the 1948 Zelo 122 Competizione: an exclusive light sports roadster with a racing-spec based engine. Even the naming refers to the iconic first Zelo.

Nontheless, two elements jump out, and are very different from any of the old Zelos. First, we have the chassis and bodywork, which in the case of the 142 are a handcrafted tubular racing chassis with fiberglass paneling. A sidestep away from the classis monocoque and steel construction for the normal street factory models in the mid-50s and onwards.

Secondly, there’s the engine: this is the first twincam Zelo engine. As such not that spectacular, since many later Zelos would feature twincam V8s, V12s, and V16s. However, this particular engine was not developed in-house, it was adapted from a PMI Polloi racing engine by Colombio, and as such is the only 4-cylinder Zelo-engine ever made.

The unique 1985 cc (90,0 mm x 78,0 mm) four-banger makes 170 horsepower at 6100 rpm and 206 Nm at 5700 rpm and is coupled to the same 5-speed manual gearbox as in the Export series. Performance is smoother and more balanced than that of its spiritual predecessor from 1948, even if the numbers are not that much higher. The 2 litre engine itself was also used by PMI Racing teams in other projects, where especially its very good fuel efficiency for the time was seen as major asset.

Stats – 142 C:

Suspension: F/R: Independent double wishbone
Engine: Cast Iron with Aluminium Heads 1985 cc I4 DOHC-8, DCOE twin-carburated
Drivetrain: Front-engined rear-wheel-drive
Weight: 899 kg
Top speed: 184 kph
Acceleration: 0-100 in 7,1 seconds
Fuel Economy: 8,2 l/100 km at 50 kph; 6,6 l/100 km at 80 kph
Braking performance: 80-0: 32,3 meters
Wheels: F/R: P145/ 95C13 98U