Home»All Photographs»Automobiles As Art 1930s (free downloads)»1930 Lancia Lambda

This very rare 1930 Lancia Lambda was photographed at the 2010 Palo Alto Concours d’Elegance in the San Francisco Bay Area.

“Lancia & C. Fabbrica Automobili was founded in 1906 in Turin by Fiat racing drivers, Vincenzo Lancia (1881-1937) and his friend, Claudio Fogolin (1872-1945),” according to Wikipedia.

“The Lancia Lambda is an innovative automobile produced from 1922 through 1931,” according to Wikipedia. “It was the first car to feature a load-bearing unitary body ~ without a stressed roof, and Lancia also pioneered the use of an independent suspension (the front sliding pillar with coil springs

“Vincenzo Lancia even invented a shock absorber for the car and it had excellent four wheel brakes.”

Wikipedia said approximately 11,200 Lambdas were produced in nine versions: 1st series, produced in 1923, 400 built; 2nd series, produced between 1923 and 1924, 1,100 built with minor modifications of the engine; 3rd series, produced in 1924, 800 built, with another engine modification; 4th series, produced between 1924 and 1925, 850 built, with a modified windscreen; 5th series, produced 1925, 1,050 built, featuring a 4-speed gearbox; 6th series, produced between 1925 and 1926, 1,300 built, with a bare chassis in two wheelbase versions; 7th series, produced between 1926 and 1928, 3,100 built, featuring a new and more powerful engine; 8th series, produced between 1928 and 1930, 3,903 built, with yet another engine power upgrade; and 9th series, produced in 1931, 500 built, with only a bare chassis sold.

Lancia remains in business today, but its vehicles are not sold outside of Italy.