The Lancia Y10 was always a rare sight in the UK; after the 1970s rust debacle, sales of Lancias fell off very quickly and by 1994, RHD Lancias were no longer made. The last ones sold in the UK were the Dedra saloon (yes, that was its name) and the Delta hatchback.
Despite its aspirational image, the Y10 was actually based on the very modest Fiat Panda Punto, powered by 1.1, 1.2 and 1.4 L gasoline engines, with styling by the Fiat Style Centre. It was produced from 1985 to 1996 and in some markets, it was sold as the Autobianchi Y10. This is one of the later third series, with a major restyle and a plusher interior.
Whilst this car has a British registration, from 1996 to 1997, UK sales ended in 1994 after a disappointing run, although in total over 850,000 were built, all in Italy. This car therefore must have been privately imported, presumably by Luigi, and jugding by the items strewn over the interior, for the use of his girlfriend.
Any Y10 is an unusual sight here now; a tidy example of the later model even more so. Thanks for brightening a rainy day, Luigi!
How refreshing! Now that’s a car I haven’t seen for a while, needless to say. The Y10, despite not being a hit, was an important car historically, as it was one of the first of the genre: upscale sub-compact, and specifically oriented towards women (and metro-sexuals?), and was a precursor to the MINI. It’s a category that is of course growing, and Fiat’s own 500 is representative of that, as well as others. I call them the designer handbag-mobiles.
It was ahead of its time, as well as hampered by Lancia’s iffy quality image. But they had stylish interior, and certainly made a great little city car for women going shopping for that next new handbag.
Rare find indeed, and not only in the UK. Technically it was almost entirely based on the 1rst gen Punto. Beautifull interior indeed with the fabric covered dash, something of an Italian specialty. Has always remained somewhat of an exotic, unlike the Punto. Ubiquitous then, the Punto seems to have disappeared, unlike VW Polos and Renault Clios of that same generation. Not very rust proof or reliable it seems.
Hi Paul,
astute observation about the link to the Mini, FIat 500 and Citroen DS3 as well.
The current equivalent in the Lancia range is the Epsilon, based on the 500, and sold in the UK as a Chrysler
Are you able to register a brand new left hand drive vehicle in the UK or just used/older ones?
Unless the laws have changed you can register and drive any left-hand drive vehicle in the UK. The main point of concern is that the car will need to pass the MOT inspection and be properly insured. Most cars need to have the headlights adjusted so that they are correctly aimed and don’t blind oncoming traffic. I’m pretty sure that US market cars sold in the UK are not converted to right-hand drive, probably because the numbers sold would be too small to be worth the effort.
Small numbers of US cars are sometimes converted but in a slightly Heath-Robinson manner.I have heard of chain-drive connections between steering wheel on right and steering column on left.
My impression was that the (very few) vintage American cars imported to the U.K. or Australia were generally converted to RHD by the importer, but that cars imported privately generally were not.
Right hand drive American cars were indeed sent to the UK, as well as the other RHD colonies. They were all made at GM’s Oshawa plant and many were shipped out to the Colonies in Complete Knock Down kits. The Chevrolet was popular in Australia. Most were three on the tree and Stovebolts.
I have an extensive collection of Australian literature on big Fords, Chevys, Pontiacs and even Dodge Phoenixes (Plymouth Fury body). Almost always, they had V8s, automatics, power steering & brakes and more standard. This was in keeping with their upscale aspirations.
You can buy brand new Escalades and Camaros in the UK that are only available in LHD.
Having never seen one of these, I was prepared to see a luxurious-looking sedan after looking at the front view, so was quite surprised to see a stubby hatchback.
They sure did have one in the nineties, this Lancia Kappa.
This model, in profile, reminds me very much of the North American Mercury Topaz introduced in 1984.
What has been seen cannot be unseen…
As bad as Tempazes were, their looks were pretty good IMO
Yes, but it’s just so hard to divorce the sight of those cars from the memory of their disappointing operation. YUCK.
I had a rental White Hen many years ago for a day trip from Torremelinos to Gibraltar with my better-half and our children. Pretty unremarkable, got us there OK and it wasn’t too spartan. Cars like this are not very practical – with the back seat in use there is little room to put the shopping.
It looks very much like a first generation Ford Festiva, with some additional curves and a more attractive front clip. I appreciate there are limits to what you can achieve with a two box design.
I have a Lancia Y10 brochure somewhere, and I remember it as the first time I heard of Alcantara synthetic leather upholstery, so Lancia may have been one of the first users.
That thing is hideous.
I dare to disagree with the statement, the Y was based on the Panda. As far as I know, the Uno and later the Punto (for the vehicle shown here) provided their underpinnings.
You’re right of course. I didn’t even notice that mistake. Will fix.
Completely forgot about the first generation as well. Those were hardly sold up in Northern Europe. Quite an elegant little thing
From what I understand, this generation of subcompact was called simply Y. It’s predecessor was the Panda-based Y10 and its successor was the Ypsilon
I drove one of these for a few weeks while traveling in Italy. I’d completely forgotten about it until now, which pretty well sums up the car.
I am glad Australia has such strict importation and quarantine laws. I would hate to see one of those ugly critters crawling around the streets.
Man! That is one ugly car! It seems like it was beaten within 1 millimeter of it’s life with the Italian ugly stick.
I rented a Lancia Y in Italy many years ago. I had never seen one before and was struck by just how purposely ugly it was. Driving on the Autostrada was a little unnerving as it moved noticeably in the wind created by the trucks and the very speedy traffic. Mid way through the rental, the turn signals started going on and off quite randomly so I took it back to Europcar and got another little car, an Opel Corsa, that felt twice as solid as the Lancia.
The front view gives off a certain Pontiac Vibe, doesn’t it?
Ba-dum-bum!
Thanks for sharing, Roger!
We here in NZ got new RHD Lancias (excluding the Y10) right up until the end of RHD production in ’94/95 too. Unlike the UK we don’t salt our roads in winter, so they didn’t rust away to nothing within a few years and hence we’ve probably got the world’s largest remaining supply of RHD Lancias! They were uncommon when new though, and are rare now, but I see a lot more than I should, as a major Alfa-Fiat-Lancia specialist has been here in my town since 1953, sold them new here until the end and now services them.
I was surprised and delighted at how many Lancias I saw in continental Europe when on holiday earlier this year – a huge amount of the Y/Ypsilon in Rome. I loved the styling, they both look handsome and unique to me! The current Delta looks fab too, as does the Thesis (recently replaced by the Thema-badged Chrysler 300). I can understand the styling would be divisive though!
Of course the weirdest thing was seeing new RHD Lancias in the UK…except they weren’t – Fiat badges them as Chryslers for the UK. But the “Chrysler” Ypsilon is every bit as handsome!
I’ve yet to see one in the UK.
I must admit I was very surprised to see them Gem! I only saw a small number, and only in London in May and June this year when I was on holiday in the UK. I saw the first Ypsilon near Trafalgar Square and did a double-take when I realised it was on British plates and RHD. I hadn’t spotted the Chrysler badging (I was on one of those hop-on-hop-off tourist buses) but Google solved my confusion, and I then noticed the Chrysler badges on the others I saw. So a surprise, but also a delight.
I also had double-takes in Rome. Unlike the Ypsilon and Delta, I knew Fiat was rebadging the Chrysler 300 and Dodge Journey as the Lancia Thema and Fiat Freemont respectively, but I’m so used to seeing them here in NZ with their Chrysler and Dodge badging that it still threw me to see their Italian variants.
Badge engineering can be a very unexpected thing sometimes!