Lancia History

Lancia (Fiat Auto S. р. A.) – Italian company specializing in automobiles manufacturing with headquarters in Turin (Piedmont, Italy).
Lancia was founded in 1906 in Turin, on November, 27 by famous racer Vincenzo Lancia and his companion – Claudio Fodgiolin as company named Fabbrica Automobili Lancia.

On September, 1907 first Lancia model – 18-24 HP appeared. Later Vincenzo Lancia was naming his cars after Greek alphabet letters. First model was named Lancia Alfa. It was an unusual model with high torque (1800 rpm), 4-cylinders, 2543 cc displacement, 28 h/p capacity. Alfa had rear-wheels drive, 4-speed transmission, shaft instead of chain-drive as most cars of the time had. Still possessing successful technical solutions Lancia Alfa couldn’t hope pretend for joining high automobile community of its time.

Soon in 1908 young Lancia enterprise constructed new model – Dialfa. Dialfa formally was revised version of Alfa but was one of the first model worldwide equipped with 16-cylinder engine!
In 1913 big Lancia Theta was constructed which stood out for its electric lighting basic package feature while the rest car companies offered this amenity for additional fee.

Theta arranged with 4940 cc 4-cylinders power unit produced 70 h/p and could run up to 70 km/h speed. Lancia Theta became famous for its high reliability as one automotive historian was writing about it: “only professional auto kamikaze can break this car!”

WW I set its own priorities and at Italian government order Lancia was transformed into military enterprise. Luxury cars manufacturing was removed for trucks, special automobiles and military vehicles construction. Still during the WW I 8- and 12-cylinder engines were invented.

On the whole the war contributed Lancia development as a company as by 1919 plant useful areas increased up to 60 000 m/sq.. The first model appeared after WWI was Lancia Kappa which was constructed on Theta base.

In 1921 Lambda model launching marked the golden age of the company. Lambda was the first car in the world with bearing body. Concurrently Vincenzo Lancia initiated development of independent suspension. Battisto Falchetto, company engineer presented soon to his chief 14 variants of front suspension structure who chose one of them, the best in his opinion, – using vertical shock absorber pillars (candle type). Later Battisto Falchetto designed body for Lancia Aprilia model.

In October, 1922, at Paris Motor Show Lancia Lambda created a furore. This model was manufactured between 1921 and 1931 in 13 000 numbers totally. It experienced 9 modernizations named series. In 1928 racing version of Lancia Lambda won third position in Mille Miglia race. Gaining new variations Lancia Lambda was manufactured up to 1938 though under new name of Dilambda and new 8-cylinder engine.

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