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.

Year: 1976
Model:  Lancia Scorpion
Engine: 1.8L 4-cylinder
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Mileage:  26,500
Price: Auction
Location: Seminole, Florida

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1976 Lancia Scorpion

Clean, complete car in running condition.  New convertible top.

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.

-Graham