Lancia Lambda Ex-Works - VIII Series - Ex-Mille Miglia 1928
Lancia Lambda Ex-Works - VIII Series - Ex-Mille Miglia 1928
A well-documented Lancia Lambda from the 8th series with short chassis.
The car still largely wears its original modified Torpedo bodywork with which it participated in the 1928 Mille Miglia.
Driven by Ermenegildo Strazza and Attilio Varallo, who also drove the very first Mille Miglia the year before (1927) with a Lancia Lambda Torpedo.
Signore Strazza was called "King of Lamdas" at the time; he himself was a racing driver and Lancia dealer in Como. On top of that, he was a close friend of Vincenzo Lancia.
As 1 of the 7 cars of the Lancia Works team, this car crossed the line as winner in its class (3000CC) and also finished in a nice 3rd place in the overall classification.
Technical details
The Lambda is still matching numbers and still has its original body and original Mille Miglia modification carried out by Lancia including:
- Rare Romagnoni e Pirotta cylinder head boosting horsepower to +- 80hp
- Larger 120L fuel tank with specific and high-positioned filler cap
- Double L'Exhausteur/Autovac
- Short ratio gearbox
- Long final drive
- Rear adjustable shock absorbers
- Specific Works/Mille Miglia front and rear wings
- Several years back, quite a few parts were restored and renewed;
- front and rear suspension, drive shafts, electrics, gearbox and rear axle have been fully restored at the renowned Jonathan Wood Vintage & Thoroughbred Restorations of Saffron Walden, Essex, UK.
- The wheels have been renewed and the all tyres are in new condition.
Shortly after the 1928 Mille Miglia, the car went to Lancia England. There, the car was sold to Fred Bird, an American who lived in Switzerland and southern France. He owned the car for quite some time and is said to have driven it +- 250,000 miles.
The next owner also owned the car for a long period. Mr Gerald Batt bought the Lambda in a creative way. A swap deal for a Rolls Royce Silver Ghost and some extra cash persuaded Fred Bird, the American, to part with his Lancia.
Years later, the current owner, an avid Lancia collector, bought the car from Mr Batt. This car fitted perfectly into his collection of historic great Lancia pieces. To this day, he is still only the 3 owner after Lancia Works itself.
In 2019, the car endured the Mille Miglia for the last time. There, the current owner, along with his wife, drove a flawless race.
Soon after in the same year, the car participated in the Concours d'Elegance Villa d'Este, where it won the runner-up prize in the 'Roaring Twenties' category.
In 2021, the car won the award of Best of show Pre War at the Zoute Concours d'Elegance.
To this day, the Lancia Lambda is registered in the UK and has a FIVA ID.
Currently, the car is with us at the Marreyt Classic Cars showroom in Aalst. We welcome you to come and see and experience this ex-Mille Miglia, ex-works Lancia Lambda.
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