1981 Lancia Gamma

An original 1976 road test by 'Motoring Express Monthly' summed up the Gamma rather well: "If you have had hangovers like mine you´ll relish the silky smoothness of the Lancia´s gear shift. And off we go. Steer! Accelerate! Swerve! And stop, quickly. There´s breakfast all over again, dear me.... The Gamma looks nicely made and will be popular among engineers and doctors from Zurich to Grenoble and on to Milan."

The Lancia Gamma replaced the Flavia as the company's flagship model and was launched at the 1976 Geneva Salon. The early Series 1 (S1) Gammas were available as a 4-door saloon and a 2-door coupe with 2 litre or 2.5 litre engines, although only the latter was officially imported here in the UK, the 2 litreversion being primarily for the Italian home market. Although both were designed by Pininfarina, only the coupe was assembled on their production line (alongside the Ferrari 400), the saloon being a purely Lancia-built product.

This left-hand drive 2.5 litre Lancia Gamma is finished in the classic combination of sand gold with tan leather interior and was first registered on 10th February 1981. Buyers should be aware that this lot has formed part of a large private collection and has been stored for some time in a heated environment so some remedial works may be required. Supplied with Italian registration papers, the bodywork and general condition of this car would suggest it has led a pampered life. All EU taxes and duties have been paid on this lot.

Unquestionably, one of Lancia's more retro designs, the Gamma is still relatively undervalued and offers fantastic value and style for a modest outlay.