Lancia Lambda
 | |
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Lancia |
| Production | 1921 to 1931 |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Motor car |
| Layout | Touring car , sedan ,coupe |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 2.1L - 2.5L four-cylinder |
| Transmission | Four-speed manual |
LANCIA LAMBDA 214 Manufactured by Fabbrica Automobili Lancia and Cia, Turin, Italy
The Lancia Lambda was Vincenzo Lancia's masterpiece. The first prototypes were built in 1921 and exhibited at the 1922 Paris Salon.
History
Italy Vincenzo Lancia's Lambda model set new standards of handling in 1921—22. Lancia himself had been an electrifying racing driver to watch in the Heroic Age of racing, but after retiring to build production cars he steered clear of competition. He was nevertheless a constructor who enjoyed driving—and this showed in his products just as much as it does with enthusiast managements today, notably BMW and Opel in Germany. The Lancia Lambda inherited a narrow-angle 'V' engine with overhead camshafts-though in four-cylinder form -from its immediate antecedent, the V 8 Lancia Trikappa. The chassis-cum-body was constructed on unitary principles, way ahead of its time, and employed independent front suspension of vertical coil-spring type, as found on all Lancia models until 1956 and present within their range as late as 1963.
The Lambda also featured such 'revolutionary' ideas as alloy cylinder blocks, pump cooling, full-pressure lubrication, vacuum fuel feed and four-wheel brakes—all rolled into the one package. Unitary construction with a propeller tunnel for the transmission shaft allowed the Lambda body to be built unusually low for its day, and with powerful cable brakes and 2120cc engine giving 50bhp at 3000 rpm the new Lambda was a remarkably exciting innovation. Its wheelbase was too long to make the most of its nimble handling potential but the model proved a great success. The Lambda was built in eight series until 1931 ; for the seventh in 1927 engine dimensions were changed from 75 mm bore x 120 mm stroke to 80mm x 120mm (2.4 litres), and in 1928 the final models offered 92 mm bore 2.5-litre power units. The standard torpedo touring body was continued little changed through these years with a detachable hard- top available for conversion into a saloon. Early numbers could exceed 70mph, the later ones 80 mph, but what was more important was their remarkable road manners : smooth riding, controllable and comfortable.
From 1923 to 1931 the Lambda was made in nine series. The first series used a long-stroke 2120 cc engine with bore and stroke of 75x120mm. The engine's four cylinders were set at a 130 angle, arranged alternately so as to achieve the shortest possible engine length. In 1926 the seventh Lambda series was powered by a bigger engine of 2370 cc, the cylinders forming a 140 angle. The power was increased from the original 36kW (49hp) to 43.3kW (59hp). The engines of the 1928 eighth and ninth series were further bored to give 2570 cc and developed 50.7kW (69hp) at 3500 rpm. The valves were operated by an overhead camshaft fitted in the cylinder head.
Lancia replaced the then commonly-used channel section chassis by a pressed cross-member chassis frame, which dropped the weight to 780kg (17201b). Another unusual feature was independent suspension of the front wheels using vertical coiled springs with telescopic dampers. The rigid rear axle was supported on longitudinal leaf springs and damped with shock-absorbers. With its unusually long wheelbase of 3m (IOft 2in), later stretched to 3.42m (llft 3in), Lambda was very unconventional, but had excellent driving properties. Mechanical brakes on all wheels were fitted with brake drums with cooling ribs, and owing to the car's low weight they had excellent braking properties. A hand-brake worked on the rear wheels. The first series had a top speed of 115km/h (72mph); the last as much as 125km/h (78mph).
In the period 1923-1931 12,530 Lambdas were built. Among the characteristic features of all of them were the 5m (16ft) long body with its distinctive radiator grille, and two spare tyres.
Sports and racing
Vincenzo Lancia's Lambda model set new standards of handling in 1921—22. Lancia himself had been an electrifying racing driver to watch in the Heroic Age of racing, but after retiring to build production cars he steered clear of competition. He was nevertheless a constructor who enjoyed driving—and this showed in his products just as much as it does with enthusiast managements today, notably BMW and Opel in Germany.
The Lancia Lambda inherited a narrow- angle 'V' engine with overhead camshafts -though in four-cylinder form —from its immediate antecedent, the V 8 Lancia Trikappa. The chassis-cum-body was constructed on unitary principles, way ahead of its time, and employed independent front suspension of vertical coil-spring type, as found on all Lancia models until 1956 and present within their range as late as 1963. The Lambda also featured such 'revolutionary' ideas as alloy cylinder blocks, pump cooling, full-pressure lubrication, vacuum fuel feed and four-wheel brakes—all rolled into the one package. Unitary construction with a propeller tunnel for the transmission shaft allowed the Lambda body to be built unusually low for its day, and with powerful cable brakes and 2120cc engine giving 50 bhp at 3000 rpm the new Lambda was a remarkably exciting innovation. Its wheelbase was too long to make the most of its nimble handling potential but the model proved a great success. The Lambda was built in eight series until 1931 ; for the seventh in 1927 engine dimensions were changed from 75 mm bore 120 mm stroke to 80mm x 120 mm (2.4 litres), and in
1928 the final models offered 92 mm bore 2.5-litre power units. The standard torpedo touring body was continued little changed through these years with a detachable hardtop available for conversion into a saloon.
Early numbers could exceed 70 mph, the later ones 80 mph, but what was more important was their remarkable road manners : smooth riding, controllable and comfortable.
