Collecting 101

1.

The Launch of Lancia

Lancia was founded in Turin in 1906 by Vincenzo Lancia -  pilot, engineer and racing driver extraordinaire - and his friend, entrepreneur and fellow pilot, Claudio Fogolin. The first Lancia went into production a year later in 1907, and the Lancia Tipo 51 or 12HP was launched in 1908 at Salone di Torino. Already looking to diversify the concern, Lancia launched its first truck, the Jota, in 1915. This industrial design stood them in good stead for their war efforts, when Lancia moved to building military lorries and armoured cars such as the 1ZM.

When the eponymous Vincenzo Lancia died in 1937, his son Gianni took the reins until 1955 having overseen the design and launch of some of Lancia’s best-loved cars including the V6 Aurelia. In 1956, the Pesenti family took charge of the company and the Lancia family took a step back from the automotive world while the company moved from strength to strength.

2.

Two Italian Giants

As Lancia was faced with financial struggles, fellow Italian automotive megalith FIAT launched a take-over bid to save the company in October 1969. FIAT recognised the strong reputation of their new acquisition, and was determined to preserve and grow the Lancia name rather than simply absorb it into their own corporation. A slew of dazzling models was released following FIAT’s takeover, including the hot hatch Delta and the superb Stratos which launched Lancia into the rally world with enormous success. Away from the sporting scene, Lancia quietly continued to produce beloved people’s cars such as the Thema and Gamma. While rally successes did an impressive job of maintaining a sporty, sexy image for Lancia, FIAT executives wanted to bring in a more sultry appeal to the marque. They teamed up with the likes of aquiline Richard Gere and alluring Carla Bruni to appear in commercials for more modern releases such as the latest Delta and the Musa.

3.

Legendary Lancias

Whether rally superstars or elegant saloons, Lancia has always been a thoroughly modern manufacturer and has pioneered several vehicle developments still used today.

The Lambda was one of several cars named after the Greek alphabet as suggested by Vincenzo’s brother, others including the Beta, Gamma and Delta.  Produced from 1922 to 1931, the Lambda was the first from Lancia to use a monocoque chassis and featured an independent combined spring and hydraulic front suspension unit which was used in all subsequent Lancias until 1963.

The Aprilia, debuted in 1937, was Vincenzo Lancia’s final masterpiece. It boasted dazzling acceleration and a top speed of 130kph thanks to its elegant aerodynamic body and light, compact V4 engine. Gianni Lancia was determined to follow in his father’s footsteps and did not disappoint with the Aurelia, the first produced under his control. Designed under the watchful eye of Vittorio Jano, previously of Alfa Romeo fame, its engine was one of the first production V6 engines.

The formidable “three Fs” came next – the Flaminia, the Flavia and the Fulvia. The Flaminia came in as the replacement for the Aurelia – it retained its aluminium V6 but replaced the sliding pillar front suspension with double wishbones and coil springs. The Flavia followed in 1960, one of the first cars to boast front wheel drive in combination with a flat four engine. It received design treatment from the holy trinity of Vignale, Pininfarina and Zagato, all of whom put their stamps on the vehicle. Then came the sporty Fulvia, noted for its role in motorsport history and lauded as a jewel of engineering.

The Rally models are particularly impressive, with lightweight HF1600 versions forming the basis of Lancia’s rally programme which secured them their first Manufacturers’ World Championship in 1972. Daring design continued apace at Lancia, and along came the indomitable Stratos. The first vehicle from a major manufacturer to be designed for rally use rather than road, the Stratos spearheaded Lancia’s rally campaign throughout the 70s. Its wedge design is instantly recognisable and remains striking today, and its Dino 2.4-Litre V6 needs little introduction. Rallying creations continued in the 80s, with the Lancia Rally 037 (also available as the road going Stradale version), the last rear-wheel drive car to win the WRC.

4.

Racing Roots

Lancia is synonymous with motorsport and remains the most statistically successful marque in rallying history, with constructors’ titles with the Stratos 1974-1976, and six consecutive wins in the 037 and Delta (the most successful individual model ever in rallying) from 1987-1992.

Lancia’s rallying campaign began with the Fulvia in the 1960s, moved from strength to strength following the FIAT takeover in 1969. The Stratos followed with its ultra-light aluminium and fibreglass body, a design which would inspire the Beta, 037 and Delta S4. Lancia also competed keenly both on the circuit and in road races. In 1951, Thornley Kelham secured second place in the gruelling Mille Miglia in his Lancia Aurelia B20 GT.

The marque moved towards Grand Prix races and entered the Lancia D50 in the 1954 Spanish Grand Prix where Ascari snatched pole position and drove the fastest lap. He drove again for Lancia in the 1955 Monaco Grand Prix, but tragically died just a week later in an accident in a Ferrari at Monza. The remnants of the Lancia team were transferred to fellow Italians Scuderia Ferrari who put together a strong team including Fangio, who went on to win his third consecutive championship title in his Lancia-Ferrari D50. Lancia’s F1 career was short-lived but successful, taking two victories and ten podiums.

5.

Lancia Lives On

While Lancia currently maintains a smaller brand presence in terms of modern models, the Ypsilon – sticking with the naming theme pioneered by the Lancia family at its very inception - remains popular in its native Italy and was its second best-selling car in 2019. The legend of Lancia is currently undergoing a renaissance at the hands of owners Stellantis who are rightly determined to revive the marque.

Key examples from the marque’s history remain desirable across the world, thanks to both their timeless designs and immense eligibility for historic motorsport events. There is an example from Lancia suitable for almost any motoring pursuit – the Aurelia B20 makes a comfortable and competitive Mille Miglia option, while a range of options including the Delta S4 and the Stratos would be welcome on any Historic Rally Championship stage. Such is the lure of Lancia’s legend, a limited production homologation special was recently released to great acclaim and sold at Bonhams sale in Paris. There is a Lancia for all collectors – the only difficult part is choosing which to add to your stable.