(first posted 3/31/2012) Here’s an interesting specimen shot by Cohort user Kurtzos.
The very brief rundown on this rare-ish car is that it was built from 1976-1984 in two series, with the second beginning in 1980. The coupe model was built from 1977 on, and the wheel design makes this a 1977-1979 Gamma Series 1 coupe.
I like the most lines on this car except for the rear wheel cutout shape, and it seems to have a vaguely Subaru XT feel back that way. Interestingly, both the XT and Gamma feature longitudinally-mounted boxer 4-cylinder engines, though only by coincidence. Fueling was by carburetor only until the Series 2 was introduced in 1980, and transmissions were manual-only until 1983.
One other interesting tidbit unique to the coupe versions is that they were built by Pininfarina (not by Lancia itself) alongside contemporary Ferraris.
Thanks again to Kurtzos for the stream of interesting cars that we don’t see much here in the states; I find this Gamma quite intriguing!
Very Maserati like nose, Burberry style upholstery and Alfa 164-ish cockpit ??
Me Likey .
Plaid is Bad! That look totally needs to come back.
It has, VW has and still uses it in one model.
Nice car I saw one recently but it was moving too fast to shoot,there are a couple of Lancias locally but rarely seen it seems the termites ate most of them
There was one on trademe recently – down Kapiti Coast way. And there was an ’83 one in Hamilton for many years – owned by a school teacher. It was always great to see it out and about.
Quite an interesting parking lot with the Fiat 131 Mirafiori and Renault 5 lurking in the background.
These are one of those cars that are wonderful in theory but horrid in execution. I had a 1983 Gamma berlina, and it was the absolutely worst car I have ever owned. Aside from the rust issues that you would expect from an Italian car designed in the 70s, it had an absolutely infernal drivetrain. The gearbox was an AP 4 speed, which was the same as the one they put in the minis and Austin America. It wasn’t known for its reliability in those cars, and with a 2.5 litre Ferarri designed boxer engine, had an even lower life expectancy. The Gamma was supposed to be the sister car to the Citroen CX. They were designed together, and the Gamma was intended to have the hydraulic systems of the Citroen. Unfortunately, it was realised that a merger between Europe’s 2 quirkiest manufacturers was not a good idea, and Lancia was forced to revert to a more conventional suspension and steering system. The problem was the engine. Like many Citroens, the hydraulic pump was driven off of the cambelt. Unfortunately, whereas Citroen pumps pumped a constant pressure light oil thorough the system regardless of pressure on the system, the Lancia just had a power steering pump bolted to one bank of the cylinder head. Thus, if you were parked in a tight space on a cold day, you would yank the steering wheel, which would stress the pump with cold fluid and make ONE cambelt jump on half of the engine. The other half would continue to power the engine and ram the pistons into the valves on the unfortunate half.
This was also an alloy block and head design, with cylinder liners that had gaskets at the bottom made of tissue paper. Thus, any fluctuation in engine temperature would cause a gasket failure, mixing coolant with oil and destroying bearings.
I hated mine though not because of these faults, but because on the few days I had it when it was working it was the best car in the world. The boxer gave wonderful power, the 4 speed gearbox clicked from gear to gear faster than I could have in a manual and exactly when I wanted it to, the handling was better than anything I’ve ever driven, and the interior- wow. It was wool blend upholstery and as sexy as anything. With better rustproofing and a Subaru Impreza engine, this thing would have been a world beater. As it stood, it just sucked £3000 from my savings that I will never get back.
I’m sorry about your troubles, but honored that an ex-Gamma owner is a reader here and shared their most intimate experiences with this very seductive car. I’ve never heard any first-hand accounts of the Gamma before; shall I say I’m not surprised about yours? Life with a beautiful Italian mistress….
I think the reason I bought it was because I’ve had good luck with underdogs. My first car was a ’65 Corvair that was excellent. I also have had a string of old hydraulic Citroens from the ’70s that were good, a Wartburg and fleet of Ladas that were astonishing reliable, and most cars British Leyland made, which were all as reliable as they were beige. So how could I go wrong? Surely the Gamma must have been just as unfairly maligned as all of my previous cars. No, sadly unlike Citroens and Corvairs and even BL FWD cars, the reputation was deserved.
It was an Italian mistress indeed- when I sold it, the new owner was very enamoured with it- he flew down to the south coast from Scotland with his wife with the intention of driving the most notoriously unreliable car ever made home. I think the way he sold the car to her, she was expecting a Rolls Royce or something. She obviously didn’t see the appeal, and I realised that he clearly valued having the Gamma more than his relationship, demonstrating a total oblivion to her indifference to the Gamma. He made it back to Scotland at least, which was good, and I think the car made a few more journeys before it reached its 1500 mile TBO. Obviously a Gamma will behave when in the presence of The Wife, if only to show her up.
I own a Gamma coupe. It is sitting in the garage right now with one of its heads off. I tried a three point turn and the cam belt broke!
I still love the car though.
Your comments on the AP transmission are interesting. When Road & Track road tested the Austin America, the headline below the make and model (and above the body copy) said, “Superb 4-speed fully automatic transmission makes more difference than you’d believe possible.”
I now REALLY want one of these!
No, what you want is for your best mate to own one and let you drive it when it works! All of the pleasure, none of the pain.
The really interesting thing is that here in the UK, we are finally getting Lancias sold here again- but they’re badged as Chryslers of all things- Lancia’s brand image was so bad after the Gamma and the rotten Beta that they realised that even Chrysler holds more kudos over here.
As a lover of mopars, this actually might get me into a new car showroom. The Chrysler Ypsilon is basically a Fiat Panda with a luxury interior, which is a really good idea- I think the idea of small cars that aren’t penalty boxes is one whose time has come. Lancia has always made beautiful interiors- they were the first to use alcantara/ suede on their seats back in the 80s.
(I think the plaid on that Gamma Coupe is aftermarket- it should have had moquette/velour upholstery with the Gamma letter embedded in the fabric.)
Nice looking car. I’ve never seen one in person before. Hopefully I’ll get a chance. 🙂
In 1980, Pininfarina showed the Scala sedan based on a Gamma coupe. Shame it never made production.
That looks a bit like the Mitsubishi Galant/Sigma that came out in 1983. I wonder if Pininfarina had anything to do with the Mitsu, or if they just liked the Scala’s design.
Oh, and the hardtop Sigma, with an even stronger resemblance.
You’ll have to take my word for it as I can provide no evidence but some years back I read a story in (uk rag) Autocar that Pininfarina were selling some museum pieces including the Gamma based sedan and wagon… Imagine my shock to see the Scala double-parked in Palmers Green (n London) a few weeks later; subsequently saw it once more in the area
I read a similar story on the Scala when it was consigned, IIRC written by Martin Buckley. Not sure the Olgiata was sold as well.
Plus names that are both Greek letters.
Those Sigmas are one of my favorite 80’s sedan designs, and I really like these Gammas as well. Coincidence?
There was an editor for the British magazine CAR that, IIRC, had at least 2 of these. Like others here: he thought it was a great car when it was drivable, but his car had a bad habit of breaking down at most unfortunate intervals.
Looking at the pictures here, it looks like someone within Lancia decided the company needed a car to carry on where those wonderful coupes from the 50s, 60s, and very early 70s left off.
My reference book says 6789 were built over a near 7 year production run.
Still, even now, so very very seductive.
Looks like the Chrysler brand’s getting the Heave Ho in the UK market, so no more badge-engineered Lancias there. And no more badge-engineered Guilettas (AKA Dart) Stateside, either. I conclude FCA cannot build competitive cars, but no matter, they must have plenty of buyers for crossovers, SUVs, & Jeeps.
I remember ads in Motor Trend and other magazines circa 1977 showing a rather extensive Lancia model lineup available, but saw very few of the cars. In fact I only remember seeing Beta’s.
Looks the same as the one I featured at the Castlemaine Lancia Rally – I was not sure if the side rub strips were an owner addition, but they are just like this car’s
No, the strips on the coupe are factory. They also appear on the Scala sedan concept, but not the Olgiata shooting break.
Kinda reminds me of a past Peugeot model, especially front side view.
this car has doubled in price each year and i just can not find a good one