Tim Schofield
Head of UK Business Development, Motoring
LOT 204
1928 Lancia Lambda 8th-Series Grande Luxe Saloon Registration no. XV 1076 Chassis no. 19228
Estimate: £70,000 - £100,000
Lot 204
1928 Lancia Lambda 8th-Series Grande Luxe Saloon Registration no. XV 1076 Chassis no. 19228
The Golden Age of Motoring Sale '1886-1939': Veteran, Vintage and Post-Vintage Motor Cars|30 October 2020, 17:00 GMT|London, New Bond Street
1928 Lancia Lambda 8th-Series Grande Luxe Saloon
Registration no. XV 1076
Chassis no. 19228
Registration no. XV 1076
Chassis no. 19228
*Landmark Lancia model
*Previously in long-term ownership (1936-2006)
*Off the road 1946-2006
*Fully restored with correct Weymann-type bodywork
*Low mileage since total restoration
*Previously in long-term ownership (1936-2006)
*Off the road 1946-2006
*Fully restored with correct Weymann-type bodywork
*Low mileage since total restoration
Footnotes
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.
Unitary body/chassis, independent front suspension, and an overhead-camshaft V4 engine, the revolutionary Lambda had all these in 1921. Lancia's in-house coachwork - designed by Battista Falchetto - consisted of a low-slung Torpedo with a pair of symmetrical doors on either side, to which a full-size hardtop could be attached, thus transforming it into a saloon. However, its unitary construction made it all but impossible for independent coachbuilders to offer bespoke creations on the Lambda 'chassis'. Indeed, one has only to look at an early Lambda bereft of its external body panels to understand the difficulty of achieving anything significantly different from the original, given the foregoing constraints.
By the time the 7th Series arrived for 1927, Lancia had had a partial change of heart and offered an alternative separate chassis, thus enabling independent coachbuilders to meet the demand for bespoke creations. Separate it might have been, but the new Lambda chassis was far from conventional, utilising a pair of large fabricated box-section side members, instead of the traditional side rails, in a form of 'semi-monocoque' construction. For the 8th and 9th Series Lambdas this was the only type of chassis produced, the sole fixed styling element being the bonnet. Paralleling these later series' chassis developments were increases in engine capacity (originally 2,120cc): to 2,370cc for the 7th Series and 2,570cc for the 8th and 9th.
Right-hand drive, like all Lancias into the 1950s, this 8th-Series Lambda saloon has the 11' 3" wheelbase chassis. The original coachwork was of the Weymann type, possibly supplied via Curtis Automobile Coachbuilders Ltd of London W1, the original importers for Lancia. Purchased by the immediately preceding owner's family in 1934, the car was partially dismantled in 1946 for restoration but the project was never commenced. Imported into the UK from South Africa in the mid-2000s, it was offered for sale as a partially dismantled restoration project at Bonhams' Olympia Sale in December 2006 (Lot 654) where it was purchased by the current vendor. A well-known and highly respected restorer in Ireland, the owner is to be congratulated in deciding to restore the car to its original specification as a Weymann-type saloon, rather than take the easier option and re-body it as a tourer. The restoration was completed in 2018 and the car has seen little use since then.
Saleroom notices
Please note the car does not have a current title document and will need to be registered.
Additional information
Looking for a similar item?
Our Cars specialists can help you find a similar item at an auction or via a private sale.
Find your local specialistSpecialist section
Auction Viewings
- 29 October 2020, 09:00 - 17:00 GMT
- 30 October 2020, 09:00 - 18:30 GMT
Bid now on these items
United Kingdom
1899 Phébus 2¼hp Motor Tricycle
£50,000 - £60,000
United Kingdom
1911 Delaunay-Belleville 26HP Tourer
£70,000 - £100,000
United Kingdom
1913 Hotchkiss Model AD 20/30 Tourer
£50,000 - £60,000
United Kingdom
1902 Beaufort 8hp Two-Seater Phaeton
£50,000 - £70,000
United KingdomOffered without reserve
c.1901 Gladiator Four-Seat Rear-Entrance Tonneau
£50,000 - £70,000
