The Lancia Lambda is an innovative automobile produced from 1922 through 1931. It was the first car to feature a load-bearing unitary body, (but without a stressed roof) and it also pioneered the use of an independent suspension (the front sliding pillar with coil springs). Vincenzo Lancia even invented a shock absorber for the car and it had excellent four wheel brakes. Approximately 13,000 Lambdas were produced.

Nine versions of the Lambda were built:

  • 1st series, produced 1923, 400 built.
  • 2nd series, produced between 1923 and 1924, 1,100 built. Minor modifications for engine.
  • 3rd series, produced 1924, 800 built. Engine modified.
  • 4th series, produced between 1924 and 1925, 850 built. Modified windscreen.
  • 5th series, produced 1925, 1,050 built. 4-speed gearbox.
  • 6th series, produced between 1925 and 1926, 1,300 built. Car is sold now with bare chassis and with two wheelbases.
  • 7th series, produced between 1926 and 1928, 3,100 built. New bigger engine.
  • 8th series, produced between 1928 and 1930, 3,903 built. Again bigger engine.
  • 9th series, produced 1931, 500 built. Last series sold only bare chassis.

Engines

The narrow-angle aluminium Lancia V4 engine was also notable. All three displacements shared the same long stroke, and all were SOHC designs with a single camshaft serving both banks of cylinders. The first engine had a 13° V angle, the second 14° and the third 13° 40'.

{|class="wikitable"

|-

!Model!!Engine!!Displacement!!Power!!Fuel system

|-

|S.1-S.6||V4 SOHC||2121 cc|| at 3250 rpm||single carburetor

|-

|S.7||V4 SOHC||2375 cc|| at 3250 rpm||single carburetor

|-

|S.8-S.9||V4 SOHC||2569 cc|| at 3500 rpm||single carburetor

|}

<gallery widths="170px" heights="150px">

File:Lancia Lambda 1923.jpg|Lancia Lambda (1923)

File:1924 Lancia Lambda Serie II at Greenwich 2021, front right.jpg|Lancia Lambda (1924)

File:Lancia Lambda white vr TCE.jpg|Lancia Lambda (1925)

File:Lancia-Lambda.jpg|Lancia Lambda (1926)

File:Lancia Lambda-Mk7 1927 Front-view.JPG|Lancia Lambda VII S (1927)

File:Lancia Lambda - L'evoluzione dell'automobile (3800411693).jpg|Lancia Lambda

</gallery>

References

  • Lancia by Michael Frostick, 1976.
  • Lancia Motor Club (UK)
  • Lancia Lambda at Simeone Automotive Museum