Lot 222: 1930 Lancia Lambda 8th-Series Coupé
Coachwork by Airflow Streamline

One of the most gifted automobile engineers of all time, Vincenzo Lancia founded his own company in 1906, having previously been in FIAT’s employ as chief test driver. Introduced in 1907, the first Lancia car showed an independence of thought and defiance of convention that would remain associated with the marque well into the modern era. Military vehicles, lorries, vans and aero engines followed, the latter enabling Lancia to accrue valuable expertise in the design and construction of vee-configuration engines. Lancia’s first vee-engined model - the V8 Trikappa sports car - appeared in 1922 but it was the Lambda, launched soon after, that would prove to be of even greater significance. A milestone in automotive history, the revolutionary Lambda was the world’s first car to have a stress-bearing body and the first to be powered by a V4 engine. The absence of a separate chassis meant the driver could sit lower, enabling a low aerodynamic body line to be achieved, while Lancia’s patented sliding-pillar independent front suspension endowed the Lambda with ride and handling qualities unmatched by anything in its class. The engine, an overhead-camshaft unit of 2,120cc, was progressively enlarged, arriving at its final 2,570cc, 68bhp configuration in 1928.
Originally registered ‘GH 1137’ in the UK, this well-known short-chassis Lambda is one of the sought-after 2,570cc-engined 8th Series, which was offered with an alternative separate chassis thus enabling independent coachbuilders to meet the demand for bespoke creations. Right-hand drive, like all Lancias into the 1950s, the car was originally fitted with a Weymann fabric saloon body and owned by a Commander Gage in 1946, and possibly even from new. In the austere period after WW2 when cars were expensive and steel was in short supply, re-bodying a pre-war car was quite common, and at around this time the Lambda was fitted with its unique aluminium coupé body, which is by the Northampton firm of Airflow Streamline, thus combining modern comforts with its excellent mechanicals. The car was laid up in the 1960s and sold by Dan Margulies in 1976, an engineer carrying out extensive renovation. Latterly an aluminium-alloy cylinder head, supplied by the respected Gerald Butt, has been fitted.
Chassis number ‘20354’ was purchased by the vendor at Bonhams’ Olympia Sale on 2nd December 2002 (Lot 1101). At that time the car had recently been re-sprayed and re-upholstered in grey leather while benefiting from the attention of marque expert Peter Gerrish, who had rebuilt the front suspension with correct springs, fitted a new starter motor and rewired the electrics. Since acquisition, the Lambda has taken part in the Valli e Nebbie, Ferrara and Grand Prix Marconi, Bologna in 2002; Raduno Lambda, Modena and Esposizione Padova in 2003; Grand Prix della Perugina, Perugia and Grand Prix Nuvolari, Mantova in 2004; and Valli e Nebbie and the Mille Miglia in 2005. All of the foregoing events were completed successfully and the car has featured in numerous magazines and other publications.
The engine has since been completely overhauled (photographic record available), all updating and maintenance work, including total refurbishment of the water pump and radiator, having been carried out in Italy. The car is now in perfect working order and described as a very enjoyable drive, fast, light and possessing incredible roadholding. It is offered with Austrian registration papers and FIVA passport with ‘A3’ classification as a car retaining many original parts.