Looking back at Lancia
Lambda (1922 - 1931) : A car roughly 40 years ahead of its time. The first to use a moncoque - i.e., the whole body provides strength and rigidity - r
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Lambda (1922 - 1931) : A car roughly 40 years ahead of its time. The first to use a moncoque - i.e., the whole body provides strength and rigidity - rather than a chassis. Also the first car with a brake on every wheel and independent suspension. Photo:AFP
Lambda (1922 - 1931) : A car roughly 40 years ahead of its time. The first to use a moncoque - i.e., the whole body provides strength and rigidity - rather than a chassis. Also the first car with a brake on every wheel and independent suspension. Photo:AFP
The Aprilia (1937-1949) : First European car designed in a wind tunnel and one of the first to use a pillarless door design. Something that's very much en vogue again at the premium end of the automotive markets. Photo:AFP
The Aprilia (1937-1949) : First European car designed in a wind tunnel and one of the first to use a pillarless door design. Something that's very much en vogue again at the premium end of the automotive markets. Photo:AFP
The Ardea (1939-1953) : It had one of the smallest V4 engines ever built in order to power it forward, but it was also the first ever car with a five-speed transmission, an innovation most car companies continued to ignore right up to the 1980s. Photo:AFP
The Ardea (1939-1953) : It had one of the smallest V4 engines ever built in order to power it forward, but it was also the first ever car with a five-speed transmission, an innovation most car companies continued to ignore right up to the 1980s. Photo:AFP
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The Aurelia B20 GT Spider (1950-1958) : First production car to feature a V6 engine. Also the first with a transaxle and inbound brakes for better weight distribution and to cut unsprung weight. And the first car with a GT badge and with radial tires. Photo:AFP
The Aurelia B20 GT Spider (1950-1958) : First production car to feature a V6 engine. Also the first with a transaxle and inbound brakes for better weight distribution and to cut unsprung weight. And the first car with a GT badge and with radial tires. Photo:AFP
The Fulvia (1963-1972) : Pictured here in Coupe Safari edition form, this car also came as a four-door, or a Zagato-built ‘fastback’ and was a phenomenal feat of precision engineering. Front-wheel drive, an ingenious narrow angle V4 motor and use of aluminum in the block, the Fulvia won the International rally championships in 1972. Photo:AFP
The Fulvia (1963-1972) : Pictured here in Coupe Safari edition form, this car also came as a four-door, or a Zagato-built ‘fastback’ and was a phenomenal feat of precision engineering. Front-wheel drive, an ingenious narrow angle V4 motor and use of aluminum in the block, the Fulvia won the International rally championships in 1972. Photo:AFP
Lancia Stratos (1973-1978) : This car gave fans hope that being bought by Fiat was a good thing. The car was styled by Bertone, looked like something from another planet, blitzed the field in rallying in 1974, 75 and 76and had the same V6 engine found in the Ferrari Dino mounted mid-ships. A road-going version was also built and it is still one of the most highly sought classic Lancias. Photo:AFP
Lancia Stratos (1973-1978) : This car gave fans hope that being bought by Fiat was a good thing. The car was styled by Bertone, looked like something from another planet, blitzed the field in rallying in 1974, 75 and 76and had the same V6 engine found in the Ferrari Dino mounted mid-ships. A road-going version was also built and it is still one of the most highly sought classic Lancias. Photo:AFP
The Beta Montecarlo Type 137 (1975-1981) : But this one took that hope away. With an exterior designed by Pininfarina, a mid-mounted engine and the choice of hard top or spider versions this should have been a huge hit – many were bought because of looks alone. Unfortunately, thanks to the use of some thin gauge steel selected by Fiat, they tended to rust through. This car damaged Lancia’s reputation in the US. Photo:AFP
The Beta Montecarlo Type 137 (1975-1981) : But this one took that hope away. With an exterior designed by Pininfarina, a mid-mounted engine and the choice of hard top or spider versions this should have been a huge hit – many were bought because of looks alone. Unfortunately, thanks to the use of some thin gauge steel selected by Fiat, they tended to rust through. This car damaged Lancia’s reputation in the US. Photo:AFP
The Delta (1979 - 1999) : This car started off as a boxy hatchback and was even sold as a Saab in Sweden. But then it was turned into a world rally championship dominating hot hatch of the highest order - the HF Integrale with four wheel-drive, turbocharged engine and a wonderful suspension setup. The last great Lancia. Photo:AFP
The Delta (1979 - 1999) : This car started off as a boxy hatchback and was even sold as a Saab in Sweden. But then it was turned into a world rally championship dominating hot hatch of the highest order - the HF Integrale with four wheel-drive, turbocharged engine and a wonderful suspension setup. The last great Lancia. Photo:AFP
The Thema (1984 - 1994) : Co-developed by Saab, the Thema showed that Lancia still had some great ideas even if thanks to being owned by another company, it wasn't always easy to turn that inspiration into something tangible. What makes this luxury sedan stand out from the crowd is that the 8.32 model had a Ferrari V8 for a bit of extra grunt and it was also the first car in the world with an electric spoiler that raised out of or into the trunk to improve handling without spoiling looks, a feature that everyone from Audi to Porsche now uses. Photo:AFP
The Thema (1984 - 1994) : Co-developed by Saab, the Thema showed that Lancia still had some great ideas even if thanks to being owned by another company, it wasn't always easy to turn that inspiration into something tangible. What makes this luxury sedan stand out from the crowd is that the 8.32 model had a Ferrari V8 for a bit of extra grunt and it was also the first car in the world with an electric spoiler that raised out of or into the trunk to improve handling without spoiling looks, a feature that everyone from Audi to Porsche now uses. Photo:AFP
The Ypsilon (1985 - 2015) : Today, all that remains of this gloriously innovative brand is the Ypsilon which celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2015 and in its latest guise, though strong on external design, is actually a cross between a Fiat 500 and a Fiat Panda underneath. In order to breathe some life back into the Lancia brand, Fiat had tried selling the Chrysler 300C as a Lancia, in Italy at least but that is all about to end. Photo:AFP
The Ypsilon (1985 - 2015) : Today, all that remains of this gloriously innovative brand is the Ypsilon which celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2015 and in its latest guise, though strong on external design, is actually a cross between a Fiat 500 and a Fiat Panda underneath. In order to breathe some life back into the Lancia brand, Fiat had tried selling the Chrysler 300C as a Lancia, in Italy at least but that is all about to end. Photo:AFP
First Published Date: 18 Mar 2015, 13:24 PM IST
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