It is forgivable to forget that Lancia sold the Scorpion in the US, with Lancia only offering the car in 1976 and 1977 - two years in an eight-year production run. Given its edge over the X1/9 from Turin, it would seem that the Scorpion squandered its potential by petering out after two years. How many cars go off the market for an entire year to rework the braking system after complaints of locked front brakes? Sadly, the sharp Pininfarina duds didn't have the mechanical backing to impress drivers.
And yet, the Scorpion came close to success. A twin cam 4-cylinder mated to a 5-speed, four-wheel disc brakes, and a McPherson suspension front and rear were a good place to start in that era. The strangling effects of the catalyst - interestingly, requiring an extra pair of vents on the rear of US cars - and the detuned camshafts of the US Scorpion models really sank the deal. We're sure that some devoted Scorpion fans in the US, or California really, are onboard with the emissions equipment, but we'd be inclined to ditch it to reclaim the nearly 40hp lost in transit across the Atlantic.
Clean, complete car in running condition. New convertible top.
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The car appears to be in great driver condition. The Florida locale benefits it somewhat, and we imagine that the car has been stored indoors, based on the condition. Rust could be an issue, so we recommend a thorough discussion with the seller and an inspection for any prospective buyers. The vinyl interior is salvageable, with just a few ripped seams to repair, but sourcing vinyl isn't at all difficult, should it come to that.
We're curious to see where this one ends up. On the one hand, we're fortunate to see such cool and interesting cars like this on the market for relatively small sums. But, there could be a reason that these have remained affordable for so long. We're optimistic - upgraded carbs, some hot cams, and a proper exhaust, we think that one of these would wake up quite nicely.
The car that marked our first exposure to a melodic V6 was actually German in origin - the VW GTI MKIV VR6. It wasn't until we heard the sound of an Alfa Romeo Milano Verde that we knew the draw of a stout Italian V6. The 60 degree Busso V6 would not have been possible, were it not for the work of Francesco De Vergilio at Lancia, where he led the first V6 engine to production.
Lancias powered by the De Vergilio V6, as opposed to the Dino V6 and the later Busso V6 borrowed from Alfa Romeo, require substantial cash to obtain. The sedans tend to run slightly less expensive, although in the case of the Flaminia, they are actually less common. Here, we've found a salvageable Flaminia project at close to $15k, which might be exactly what it's worth in this state, but is certainly much less than we are used to seeing these at.
Motor original, tapizado y carrocería en malas condiciones, listo para restaurar. Una estrella. $16,000 omo
Vehículo en Puerto Rico con disponibilidad para enviar a EU y otros destinos.
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Being located in Puerto Rico, sun damage to the interior will be more of a concern than rust. And with that said, the dash doesn't look to be destroyed, nor do the seats. Rust could be limited to the areas where the minor damage occurred. We won't speculate on the cost to get this car back to perfection - that could be extremely costly - but getting this car to decent running status could be a realistic prospect without much of an investment. Clean up the headlight area of the front headlight, pull the dent from the rear quarter, and straighten up the front bumper and its mounts.
Will the engine run, and if not, is it salvageable? We imagine that this will have a large bearing on the viability of the project. These engine might be simple in construction, but some replacement parts will come at a significant price. Knowing what you're getting into on this car likely means that you already own an Aurelia or a Flaminia, and that's the sort of buyer we expect for something like this. Our Milano Verde's engine grenaded a week after we bought, but we were able to rebuild it with relative ease; this Flaminia, we imagine, wouldn't be so painless to repair.
We're going to take a quick moment to present a view that we believe to be our own: The Alfa Romeo Milano/75 sort of reminds us of a sedan version of the Lancia Delta. It's not too clean a comparison, but imagine the Milano without a truck and you start to see it. Now, where the two cars do bear resemblance is in their power outputs; the Milano Verde's Busso V6 produces the same 183hp as the 1987 to 1989 Delta HF Integrale 8V's 2.0L turbocharged engine.
This car, fortunately or unfortunately, depending on where you stand on modifying rare cars, contains the improved 16V engine from a later 1987-1991 Delta HF Integrale 16V. Maybe someone can explain to us the logic of swapping out a turbo engine for another turbo engine in order to increase power by 15hp. Sure, the powerband is probably better, response might be sharper, but there are simpler and more easily-reversed tactics for increasing the power level of a turbocharged engine.
Used car in amazing condition for its year. Imported from Spain comin from a private collection in Madrid according to the broker who I bought it from. A TOTAL headturner. This is an EUROPEAN market car and VERY FEW are in the US. Excellent interior with recaro seats (Almost as new). Paint has very few details. Rebuilt engine with new tires and battery. Refinished wheels. Only thing missing is the radio. AC does not work but haven't had the time to check it since I bought it. AC controls and compressor are there. Power windows work. Gauges work. New fuel line with custom fittings just installed.
This car is a true rally legend. VERY few have been imported to the US. This is your chance to own a piece of History. This particular car is an 8V model fitted with the 16V engine and all the running gear associated with it, including the bulging and slotted hood. EXCELLENT condition throughout for a car with original paint and interior. BEAUTIFUL design and a very tight package. Drives like new. 2 Liter Turbo 4 cylinder DOHC with All Wheel Drive. VIN is ZLA831AB00046604
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One byproduct of the inflated pricing on these cars is that replacement parts should be somewhat easier to come by. It's a tough balance, as an enthusiast of older cars - better to have cheap and plentiful examples, and spend multiples of their values in repair parts? Or is it perhaps more palatable to have cheap and plentiful repair parts, spending more on the original vehicle itself? Who knows, maybe both are expensive on these Integrale 16Vs.
We are total fans of the general styling of these Delta HF Integrales. From the boxed fender flares, to the dual round headlights, to the slanted rear hatch with upturned spoiler, to the phonedial wheels, to the unique door handles, the cars just get detail after detail right. $38k will buy you 200hp of red Ferrari, but you're stuck with a Mondial or a washed-up 308 at that point. With the Delta Integrale, you get the rarity factor, the Italian persona, the racing history, and the bright paint, and you get room for companions and some luggage.
How about another poster boy for 1980s sports sedan creativity? By now, the Lancia Thema 8.32 hardly requires introduction. The result of the Type Four collaboration among Alfa Romeo, Lancia, Fiat, and Saab, the Thema was Lancia's premium mid-size sedan from the late 1980s into the 1990s. With an engine design from Marenello and assembly help from Ducati in Bologna, the Thema 8.32 received a modified variant of the Dino V8, called the Tipo 105L in cross-plane form.
Thema 8.32s are lustworthy on principal; how many sleepy European sedans got Ferrari lumps, ever? So we don't mean to throw a wet blanket on the idea in pointing out that Alfa Romeo totally won the Type Four platform contest. Ever care to look up the power numbers for an Alfa Romeo 164 Q4? If you've already bought your Thema 8.32, skip to the end of this post. Alright, ready? The 164 Q4 made a cool 232hp vs 212hp in the Thema 8.32. Better yet, it routed that power through an AWD driveline, thereby quelling the inherent torque-steer of a high-power FWD drivetrain.
Ferrari V8 Powered Executive Sedan ... fresh engine-out service, fully sorted, professionally restored and mechanically A1. Truly cherry.
Rare and remarkable Ferrari V8 powered executive saloon. The car being offered for sale was recently discovered by our team in Italy and has undergone a full mechanical restoration and a thorough cosmetic refresh, inside and out in the last six months. We have just imported the car and all paperwork is in order.
We started with a very original, low mileage example in very good overall condition. Front subframe and engine were removed for a complete engine out service and rebuild. The Ferrari V8 received a full valve job, new rings, new flywheel, new clutch and fully refreshed ignition and fuel injection systems. The engine, cover and manifolds were refinished in the original colors and finishes. Driveshafts and drive system serviced and refreshed. Engine compartment cleaned and detailed prior to engine reinstallation. New full exhaust system installed.
Exterior panels were refinished in original factory shade of metallic red. Double clear coat laid over the metallic burgundy finish and hand sanded to a high luster. Bumper covers repainted. The undercarriage is rust and damage free, undercoating has been refreshed as required. Wheels have been cleaned, inspected and refreshed, fitted with period correct tires all around with 75% tread depth remaining. Comes with a second set of new, period correct tires.
The original plush Alcantara interior has been meticulously cleaned and detailed, including a refresh and refit of the unique headliner. Seats, dash and carpeting are now in superb, original condition. Trunk linings have been removed, cleaned and reinstalled. Various interior trim pieces renewed, all interior lights, switches and electronics checked and redone as necessary. Retractable rear spoiler is fully functional and fitted with new, unique seals.
The engine starts readily, runs very strong, idles nicely, and shows Ferrari power and grace under acceleration. The car sounds fantastic with the expected Ferrari V8 edge to the well muffled tone. Gearbox shifts cleanly and smoothly, new clutch engages progressively and the entire drivetrain shows the level of sophistication expected of an executive car. Handling is crisp and accurate with a reassuring stability. Torque steer is well controlled by the advanced front end geometry and suspension design.
All details have been professionally attended to and this car is fully sorted and ready to enjoy. Rare, intelligent, sophisticated and refined the Lancia Thema 8.32 is a very special motorcar.
RESTORATION DETAILS 2018 work Engine Out complete rebuild Flywheel resurfaced Valve Job inc. new valves and guides Strip and Refinish all painted parts Rebuild Brake Calipers New Brake Pads Service Fuel Tank and Pump New Timing Belts and Idlers Front Subframe removed, bushings replaced as needed New Exhaust System inc. Flex Connectors Driveshaft bearings, seals, CV joints Wheels cleaned and polished
Original Interior Refreshed Refitted Headliner Clean & Detail Upholstery and Carpets All Interior lights & electronics checked Refitted Trunk liner New Retractable rear spoiler seals
Original paint refreshed as needed Hand sanded, new double clear coat finish Bumper Covers repainted and finished
Odometer 153,287 Km = 95,248 miles Car is located in San Francisco, shipping to any US location can be arranged. Viewing by appointment
Offered at $37,975 plus tax & DMV ... serious inquiries only please.
All import paperwork is in order. This car will come with a valid Vermont registration, Vermont plates and a bill of sale. Please note that Vermont does not produce titles for cars that are more than 15 years old. Registration in most states should not be an issue, but please check local regulations.
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Elephant in the room: this seller wants almost $40k for a nearly 100,000 mile Thema 8.32. $40k is collector money for a car that has most definitely exceeded a collector level of mileage. Is the condition collector-worthy? Well, the engine has seen some major rework, including a claimed rebuild and some head work. The exterior was refinished in the original color, while the interior remains original. Sounds like the basis for an excellent car, yes, but we don't see the original condition often sought by collectors. More than anything, the seller is banking on the rarity of the car leading to a rather optimistic price.
We would need quite a large collection before we'd shell out nearly $40k for a Thema 8.32. And that collection would definitely include an Alfa Romeo 164 Q4. Moreover, we'd go for a common Alfa Romeo 164 Q, without the AWD, before we'd pick up the Thema 8.32. Better styling, quicker acceleration, higher top speed, and better handling rule the 164 Q superior. But, there is no denying the appeal of a Lancia with a Ferrari engine, and we love the Thema 8.32 for that reason. Hopefully we can share a more realistically-priced Thema 8.32 for you all in the near future.
By now, the story of the Lancia 037 is a familiar one: Lancia set out to follow up the FIA Group 5 World Rally Championship success of their Stratos with the 037 in the newly-minted FIA Group B World Rally Championship. Series regulations required the manufacture of 200 road-going examples in order to compete, and thus, the Lancia 037 Stradale was born.
The mid-section of the cars was borrowed from the Lancia Montecarlo/Scorpion, while steel tube structures replaced the front and rear of the donor cars. Kevlar-reinforced fiberglass made up the new front and rear body work, which was designed by Pininfarina. The mid-engine layout was retained, but with the engine and transmission rotating 90 degrees into a longitudinal layout. Abarth breathed on the powertrain, while none other than Dallara provided the necessary suspension design and tuning.
As exciting as the history of these cars is, we wonder if there isn't a way to coax more power from the twin cam Fiat engine. Nothing irreversible, but something more nonetheless. Aside from the relatively - and with a curb weight of 2,579lb, we do mean relatively - low power output of 205hp, we wouldn't change anything about one of these Stradales.
Homologation specials are, it now seems, strictly the domain of wealthy collectors. If that describes you, then this example may be a wise purchase. For the rest of use, well, a nice Montecarlo with a hot 2 liter might come close.
We'll follow yesterday's quintessential Lancia, the Flaminia, with a Lancia begging discussion of its bonafides, the Scorpion. Introduced to the Lancia lineup following the Fiat takeover, the Scorpion belongs to the Beta line of Lancias, which were Fiat's attempt at extracting profits from Lancia.
No innovative Lancia V6 to be found under the hood of the Scorpion. Fiat supplied a 1,756cc variant of their Lampredi Twin Cam 4-cylinder, strangled by smog equipment in the US to a meager output of 81hp in comparison to the Monte Carlo's 120hp. A small consolation - the valve lash is more convenient to adjust than on the Alfa twin cam! Shims lie on top of the buckets, right under the cam lobes, eliminating the necessity of removing the camshafts to swap shims.
This is a very clean car that is coming out of the estate of one of our Lancia collectors. He has owned this car for a very long time and took great care of it. The interior has been redone at one time and is in excellent condition. It has had a recent high quality repaint done to it and looks incredible. We just put a battery in it, flushed the clutch system, cleaned the plugs, prepping the car to get ready for sale. Car does have some fluid leaks, axle seals leaking a bit and some oil leaks on the car. The a/c compressor has been removed from this car also. The speedometer and odometer also do not work on this car, and this title is marked as odometer discrepancy But this is a great looking, very nice, very clean car. This is one of the nicest Lancias we have had in the shop.
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Condition on this example is particularly nice. Paint and bodywork are spectacular, which reflects the fact that this car was repainted at some point. The reupholstered interior shows very well too. Underside photos show that rust has been tended to or hidden very well, although we'll bet on the former. The engine bay appear neat, and the engine shows a healthy amount of typical oil leakage - nothing to worry about. We aren't 100% sure, but the engine might be missing a cam belt cover - exposed belt doesn't seem right to us.
The Scorpion isn't the best Lancia ever offered, but this is certainly one of the nicest Scorpions on offer. Are we out of line to suggest that this one sort of begs for some hot-rodding? The Fiat Twin Cams can be made to breath fire with proper upgrades. We'd say that the car even deserves the hot rod treatment, if only to restore it to its rightful 120hp.
As V6 Alfa Romeo owners, you can bet that we harbor a substantial appreciation for the development work completed by Lancia as they persevered to introduce the world's first V6 engine in 1950. It was Francesco De Virgilio of Lancia who, from 1943 until the release of the Aurelia in 1950, worked to solve the fundamental issue of balance in a V6 engine by pioneering the correct crankshaft design for the application. He was able to balance the V6 engine to such a degree that two of the main crankshaft balancing terms canceled each other out, leaving the rest of the unbalanced forces to be attenuated by the engine mounts. For those interested in reading further on the Lancia V6, we recommend checking out this website by Geoff Goldberg, V6 Lancia expert.
Continuing with the Alfa Romeo connection, the Flaminia featured a DeDion rear suspension with a rear-mounted transaxle, just like the setup found in the Alfa Romeo transaxle cars, such as our Milano. The front suspension is a more traditional double wishbone design, whereas the Flaminia's predecessor, the Aurelia, featured a sliding pillar front suspension. We happen to love Alfas, but it's worth noting that Alfa was employing Lancia technology 25-40 years after Lancia came out with it - not bad, Lancia.
Lancia was the luxury car of Italy. Arguably the best car Italy produced. The marque was favored by race car drivers, actors and sports heroes. Anyone who was anybody.
Lancia introduced the Flaminia to the public in 1956 and the model was in production from 1958 to 1968. Lancia built an entire range of Flaminia’s, competition cars, sportscars, passenger sedans and limousines. Bodied by the best, Zagato, Touring and Pininfarina. Plus a few one offs by Motto, Ghia and Boneschi. The Flaminia was the last model made by an independent Lancia before being taken over by Fiat.
One can’t help but wonder if they would have survived longer if they had specialized in one sector rather than competing across the entire range of cars. Perhaps the outcome would have been the same, or perhaps they could have found a niche to dominate and survive in.
Period road testers praised the cars performance and road handling.
“Beyond criticism” Quattroroute 1963
“When I die I would like to drive to heaven in this car.” Battista (Pinin) Farina
In 1963 the optional 2.8 litre engine became available sporting triple weber carburetors. Making 146hp at 5400rpm with a 9:1 compression ratio. This gave the GT and GT convertible a top speed of 120 mph. Referred to as the 2.8 3C this model was available only in 1963 and 1964. A mere 180 cars were built.
The Lancia Flaminia Convertible on offer is one of these 180 2.9 litre triple weber cars.
Red with its original tan leather and factory removable hardtop (a rare option), as well as the standard convertible soft top. The car retains its correct 2.8 litre 3C engine.
Chassis number 826.134.1098
Engine number 826.100.1385
Runs well. She has not been used much in the last few years so could use some freshening up.
The early history of the car is unknown, but being a LHD car with the speedometer in MPH gives the impression that it may have been sold new in America. By 1979 the car was listed in Lanciana magazine Classifieds. The advert referenced 78,000 miles on the speedometer with an engine rebuild at 58,000 miles. No price was listed but the seller was located in Southport, Connecticut. The car is believed to have had two owners since.
The car is in about the same condition with the exception that it now has 84,500 miles on it.
Comes with books, manuals, tools and an array of spare parts.
She is the rarest and most powerful of the Flaminia’s. A desirable car for the discerning collector.
Please call or email for more details, photos or to discuss the car further.
Daniel: Cell 203-470-5298
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We'll go easy on the condition of the car, other than to note that the interior seems pretty tidy, whereas the respray was clearly done without proper masking. Interested parties will have their work cut out for them as far as understanding the condition goes.
The Touring body would certainly turn heads on the road. Would a late-60s Fiat Dino Spider accomplish the same tasks? Absolutely, and with a similarly-interesting history. We even like the look of the Fiat better. But, were it our money, we'd go with the Lancia, if only for the devotion to engineering innovation.
Hold on. This is not what comes to mind to North American (scum) when the Lancia Delta comes up. No, that would would be the 6-time Group A WRC winner, the Lancia Delta HF Integrale. What we have here is an Alfa-engined Fiat masquerading as a Lancia. Is that such a bad thing? We would venture to say no.
The aforementioned Alfa Romeo engine, clearly designated by its Powered by Alfa Romeo script, is the 1800 V.V.T model. Despite its insistence, the engine displaces 1747cc, and would round down to 1.7L. We consider an Alfa Romeo mill to be an upgrade to any marque, short of, say, Ferrari.
Design comes courtesy of Ercola Spada, whose abbreviated name, E. Spada, has extra meaning to Lamborghini fans. E. Spada also penned the 155, although the 145 and the 146 would have been the Alfa Romeo platform contemporaries to the Delta. The design is nuanced, to be sure, but is reasonably rewarding to take in, especially in the outspoken yellow of this example.
Because of a fraudulent buyer , i relist for sell my Lancia Delta HPE , Made by Alfa Romeo , LOW MILAGE ( 32045 Miles )
Please i accept only **** CERTIFIED BANK CHECK ****
One owner
All original without modification
AMAZING CONDITION FOR A 20 YEAR OLD CAR ,
YOU CAN COMPARED TO A 2018 CAR .
Original paint ** YES , ALL ORIGINAT PAINT ** NO RUST ** SHOW CAR
Leather seat with Alcantara
Accident free
Rust free
4 New tires ( 0 Miles )
New batterie ( 0 Miles )
VIN ( ZLA83600003047520 )
Drove like a new car , without rattel .
Always parked inside ,
Sell with ** Clear New York ** Title
Very well maintained
Interior and exterior 10 / 10
4 Original Lancia Mag wheel as new
Engine and Transmission 10 / 10 , ( DRY ) ( NO OIL LEAK ) ** ANY **
Legaly imported by Fiat Auto SPA with all epa form , SELL WITH** CLEAN NEW YORK TITLE ***
**** Y E S W I T H C L E A N N EW Y O R K T I T L E ******
The one and only piece not original is the **RADIO **, as i see it's not sheep quality , but not signed or badged by Lancia .
Inside the car is almost new , ,,, brake , suspension , etc ,,, almost new
Car is stored inside , will release it after full payment by (B A N K C H E C K O N L Y), i have to wait bank confirmation before i release the car .
I can keep it inside the time you want ( for free )
I can help with shiping ,
If you have any question about the car , please let me know , i will answer with pleasure
FOR THE RESPECT OF ALL BIDDERS ,,, PLEASE DO NOT ASK ME ABOUT THE BUY I T NOW PRICE ,,,
((((( FRONT TOWING DOOR BEHIND RIGHT FOGLIGHT IS NOT MISSING , IT'S BLACK , NOT YELLOW )))))
I APPRECIATE YOUR UNDERSTANDING
Thank you so much
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We have no idea where this auction will end up. In the $8k-12k range, this is an attractive option for the North American Italian car collector looking for something unique. It's not the higher-performance HF model, so it's not exactly collectible. And, any racing involvement was less successful than that of its predecessor, no matter how loudly the Martini livery states otherwise.
Where else in North America can you find a nice 16V Alfa twin cam in 90s 3-door hatch replete with Alcantara-trimmed Recaros seats, a manual transmission, subtle box flares, and rally-inspired wheels? We suspect that our European readers will be less enthused, but we in North America can't help but to be intrigued by this offering.
Yesterday's Bertone X-1/9 represented Bertone's successful bid for a Fiat 124 Coupe successor, but what if Pininfarina had won the business? Well, we'd have seen a Fiat Montecarlo or Fiat Scorpion in place of the X-1/9.
Following Lancia's takeover by Fiat, the automaker sought profitability in its Beta lineup, the last of which was the mid-engined Monte Carlo. A tough sell to fans of early Lancias, it featured a DOHC Fiat 4-cylinder, known as the Lampredi after its designer, rather than a bespoke Lancia unit. After establishing itself as a true innovator in engine design, producing the worlds' first V6 engine, Lancia had stooped to purchasing its engines from the outside? One could do much worse than a DOHC Fiat engine! But, Lancia fans love Lancia engines.
Selling my beautiful 1977 Lancia Scorpion with 61,900 original miles and clear box A title.
This is a rare rust free scorpion with the rear glass buttress windows(one of 430 imported).
She starts right up with no smoke and runs and drives very well. Straight body with shiny deep black paint. Re done interior with supple leather seats and console. excellent carpet and all interior plastic refinished in factory color. Good glass , working clock and added heat/sound insulation. Fabric top in very good original condition.refinished wheels with new tires. Newer battery, new oem carb, s.s flowmaster muffler and vitaloni side view mirror. Detailed engine bay with custom insulated heat shield. De smogged and a/c removed by previous owner. included with sale are original charcoal canister, original mirror and 4 new drilled brake rotors as well as 2 factory reprint service manuals, period promotional materials, fuse location manual,original jack and lug wrench, ignition key blank and numerous receipts including engine refurb etc. Quality custom California car cover included.
This Scorpion is a wonderful true sports car with a well sorted DOHC 4 cylinder mid engine(original) and 5 speed transmission. This is a 41 year old low mileage car and as I am not a dealer or car flipper there is no warranty. In the interest of full disclosure, here are the known issues: Brakes are ok but not great-system was flushed about 21/2 years ago.Tach is sometimes erratic, mechanic suspects a ground issue but I don't have the time now to pull the instrument cluster to clean the contacts. Note all visible grounds have been cleaned or replaced within the last year. Does not effect drivability. Passenger side power window slow going up but working just slow. Aftermarket stereo/cd doesn't appear to be hooked up. Car has a great exhaust note so never a priority. Drivers side lumbar control wand is seized-common issue- new updated part can sometimes be sourced from England as well as working original part. Not really a problem.
I am a collector/enthusiast and don't need to sell her but I don't have much free time lately to drive her or my other classics. I want My car to go to another enthusiast who appreciates this seldom seen Italian Beauty. Tons of positive attention at car shows!
Serious buyers only. No low ballers or tire kickers. Please don't waste my time or yours. Happy to answer any questions. A non refundable $500 deposit with balance due by bank wire transfer within 7 days. After money clears I will express you the title and bill of sale. Shipping is buyers responsibility and I can assist you. . VIN # 137AS0101547. Please note, not all scorpions have power window option, mine does. Thanks for looking!
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Today's example exhibits remarkable condition at a reasonable mileage. Clearly the car was enjoyed, and even more evident is the fact that it was cared for properly. The location lends itself to the reportedly rust-free condition as much as it does to the re-trimmed interior - that Arizona sun will bake interiors mercilessly, given the opportunity. The traditional list of faults provides enough work to get to know the car, but not nearly enough to detract from its value.
The ad doesn't state as much, but we'd go so far as to state that one could not rehab a typical Scorpion to this condition for this price. Low mileage, presentable paint on a straight, rust-free body, an intact top, and clean, cared-for mechanical bits - were there ever a Scorpion to buy, this is the one.
Periodically, one will spot a Lancia Thema 8.32 for sale, usually in an opportunistic import & flip scenario. As recently as March 2015, a nice specimen of this rare, Ferrari-powered FWD Italian executive saloon appeared on this site with an enthusiastic (Ferrari sounds) yet cautionary (better be friends with a Ferrari mechanic) CICFS analysis.
Was the 8.32 European royalty in its day, albeit perhaps an elusive monarch who was admired but few ever saw (e.g., Queen Beatrix)? Let’s say that I witnessed exactly one example during my three years in Germany. As a breathless attendee of the 1987 Bremen Auto Show, I recall there being but two cars on display that were locked from peasant-entry: the Porsche 959 and the Lancia 8.32 (feel free to insert obligatory Italian central-locking reliability joke).
Many of you know how this almost-mythical four-door 308 come to be. In an automotive act akin to NATO’s settling on a 120 MM smooth-bore cannon for its various members’ main battle tanks (my earlier M1 had a relatively skinny-necked, rifled 105 MM main gun), the Swedes and Italians developed the Type Four platform to underpin the Saab 9000, Fiat Croma, Alfa Romeo 164, and Lancia Thema, respectively. That cooperation begat attractive, space-efficient, and relatively-mainstream 1980’s – 1990’s sedans that, naturally, spawned special editions such as the Alfa 164Q; Saab 9000 Aero; not sure if I recall the Chroma’s flagship; and of course, the 8.32.
Bei dem angebotenen Fahrzeug handelt es sich um das exclusive Lancia Thema 8.32 Modell mit einem überlegenen Sportwagen-Triebwerk von Ferrari.
Der V8-Motor stammte aus dem Ferrari 308 GTB Quattrovalvole mit 32 Ventilen und wurde speziell für den Einsatz im Lancia Thema überarbeitet.
Sie haben hier die einmalige Gelegenheit, mit geringem Kapitaleinsatz, ein luxoriös ausgestattetes Fahrzeug mit einem heute, in dieser Qualität von keinem Hersteller mehr verbautem Interieur zu erwerben.
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We all know what’s happened with competing sedans of that era. Cosworth 190E’s have become scarce, both in the U.S. and in Europe, with pricing well along the hockey stick trajectory. Surviving Alfa 164Q’s and Milano Verde’s are more common, but values have also risen somewhat. To the CIAFS staff, prices of 8.32 listed have seemed optimistic, as if the admittedly-cool Ferrari component makes the car worth five times more than, say, a 9000 Aero in similar condition. Armed with our recent successful self-import of a 1991 MB 300CE-24 with dogleg stick and Hugo Boss-style cloth interior, our senior (oldest) staffer concluded one recent winter’s night that he’s savvy enough to try his luck with an 8.32. Abetting that transaction were a very forthright seller, a Bosch shop owner acting in a quasi-consignment capacity, plus an exploratory visit from Blythbros before money changed hands. Such factors aren’t likely to converge for future searches. Moreover, given our German-language skills and many warnings about buying a used car in Italy (with our considerable Sicilian bloodlines, we’re allowed that act of discrimination), we’ve narrowed the search for Germany. We’ll count on a combination of the attributes described in the ad, photo quality, and gut feel. And of course, U.S. importation laws (some combination of EPA, DOT, and Customs) do not allow cars of less than 25 years’ age.
The first candidate was a beautiful private-party car near Nürnberg with relatively low kilometers, extensive records including a recent timing belt, and a fair price. The market agreed, and the car lasted mere days. We’re therefore describing a dealer-listed car with great attributes and a killer front plate. The August 1991 manufacture date makes it legal, and the claimed 170,000 KM equates to around 4,000 miles annually. Maintenance records would reveal whether this is a just-out-of-storage example that would need attention to gaskets, fuel system, suspension components, tires, etc. The photos point to very mild interior patina and near-perfect exterior condition. I didn’t say a perfect actual exterior, because the black color doesn’t hide that this car makes a Volvo 740 seem curvy. And even the wood trim and dash scarcely take the interior out of the dour zone. The present EURUSD rate puts the €13,999 asking price at around $15,000. Tack on $1,000+ for ocean shipment, a TBD amount for inland trucking, plus another $1,000 for customs duty and miscellaneous port charges, and the grand tally is in the $17,000 - $18,000 range. Fly to Germany to make this a vacation like we did with the CE, and you top out near $20,000. We don’t recall ever seeing an 8.32 listed in the U.S. for less than $25,000. What we don’t know is ultimate transaction prices. Either way, for (insert plain sedan name – Corolla, etc.) money, one can have a coveted, mellifluous, square sedan that’ll definitely be royalty at cars & coffee events. If that excites any readers, CICFS will be happy to be part of the sourcing, logistical, and retrieval process.
