The
Pegaso
Pegaso (, "Pegasus") was a Spanish manufacturer of trucks, buses, tractors, armored vehicles, and, for a while, to train apprentices, and have a good brand image, some sports cars. The parent company, Enasa, was created in 1946 and based in t ...
Z-207 was a truck model produced in Spain by
Enasa
ENASA (Empresa Nacional de Autocamiones S.A.) was a Spanish motor vehicle manufacturing company that was incorporated in 1946 after having bought the automotive assets of the Spanish Hispano-Suiza and the Italian Fiat in Spain. It produced trucks ...
from 1955 to 1959. It featured a
V6 engine
A V6 engine is a six- cylinder piston engine where the cylinders and cylinder blocks share a common crankshaft and are arranged in a V configuration.
The first V6 engines were designed and produced independently by Marmon Motor Car Company, ...
and a distinctive cab design. It was nicknamed ''
Barajas'', for the location, close to
Madrid
Madrid ( ; ) is the capital and List of largest cities in Spain, most populous municipality of Spain. It has almost 3.5 million inhabitants and a Madrid metropolitan area, metropolitan area population of approximately 7 million. It i ...
, where a new Pegaso plant was built to produce the Z-207.
The Z-207 was advanced for its time; its 7.5 L V6 engine had an aluminum block with cast iron cylinder liners, balance shaft, and a
direct fuel injection
Fuel injection is the introduction of fuel in an internal combustion engine, most commonly automotive engines, by the means of a fuel injector. This article focuses on fuel injection in reciprocating piston and Wankel rotary engines.
All co ...
system. The engine had two interchangeable cylinder heads, one for each group of three cylinders. It produced initially 110 and later 120
horsepower
Horsepower (hp) is a unit of measurement of power, or the rate at which work is done, usually in reference to the output of engines or motors. There are many different standards and types of horsepower. Two common definitions used today are t ...
, enough for the vehicle to reach a top speed of 90 km/h with its maximum weight of 11,320 kg. The engine was mated to a three-speed gearbox divided by a splitter-type system into three low and three high, combined with a two-speed rear axle producing a total of twelve speeds. The splitter control was mechanical, by means of a lever situated under the steering column.
Another characteristic of the Z-207 was the independent front suspension with two superimposed trapezoids with helicoidal springs, each with a corresponding shock absorber offering a greater degree of comfort than a typical industrial vehicle of the era.
The "Barajas" range also included the Z-702, an
articulated truck tractor for semi-trailers suitable for a payload of ten tons, and the Z-407, a rear-engined coach that never went into mass production. There was also a
four-wheel-drive
A four-wheel drive, also called 4×4 ("four by four") or 4WD, is a two-axled vehicle drivetrain capable of providing torque to all of its wheels simultaneously. It may be full-time or on-demand, and is typically linked via a transfer case provi ...
prototype, coded Z-213.
The Z-207 was expensive to build and to maintain, and was gradually replaced by the more conventional but better-selling Pegaso Comet, which included some
Leyland components. Total production of the Z-207 range was 5,737 units.
The Pegaso Z-207 was known for its reliable performance, comfort, and durability. The bus had a reputation for its smooth ride quality and relatively low noise levels, contributing to a comfortable experience for both passengers and drivers.
Over the years, the Pegaso Z-207 became an iconic symbol of public transportation in Spain. While newer bus models have since replaced it, the Z-207 remains a nostalgic and cherished piece of automotive history.
Bibliography
*Lage, Manuel. ''Hispano-Suiza/Pegaso''. Madrid 1992. {{ISBN, 84-7782-236-0.
External links
Full "Barajas" range catalog(Spanish)
Trucks