Description
With its monocoque body, four-wheel brakes, independent front suspension and V4 overhead camshaft engine many enthusiasts view the Lancia Lambda as one of the greatest automobiles of all time. With a conventional pedal layout and H-pattern gear selection the Lambda also set the automobile template for years to come.
The Lambda was also successful in competition with privately entered cars finishing fourth and fifth behind the works OMs in the first Mille Miglia of 1927.
Chassis 10441 is a 2nd series example whose original buff logbooks have survived and show the car was first registered on the 22nd March 1924 in Roxburgh in the Scottish borders. By January 1925 10441 was registered to British Lancia distributors Curtis Automobile Co. Ltd. of Berkeley Street, Picadilly, London.
In March 1925 the Lambda was registered to a Mr. William Hedley-Dent of Dorchester until being acquired by The Grosvenor Garage Ltd. of Bournemouth in 1928. It appears to have been sold shortly afterwards to Cyril Adams of Bournemouth before being registered in 1929 to two successive Bournemouth car dealers; Bournemouth Imperial Motors Ltd. followed by Modern Autocars.
In July 1929 the Lambda was sold to a Mr. Edward Kehyaian of Cricklewood and in April 1930 was registered to Adrian Enfiezioglou of London. A Mr. Benjamin Thakaray also of London was the registered keeper in April 1948.
Sometime in the late 1940s or early 1950s the chassis was shortened and the popular period upgrades of 8th series engine and Tipo 112 4-speed gearbox were fitted.
In the mid-1950s the Lambda was registered to Ian Young of Kensington who sold it in October 1961 via legendary London dealer Danny Margulies to prominent British Lancia enthusiast Roland Grazebrook. A work promotion meant Grazebrook had to dispose of the car soon after purchase as it wasn’t suitable for visiting customers in his new managerial role. He sold it back to Danny Margulies who sold it to its next owner, Mr. Barry Bowyers of Chelsea, London.
In 1977 Bowyers sold the Lambda to Adolphe Hemplenne of Liege, Belgium who in 1978 sold it to fellow Belgian Dominique Renson. Mr. Renson restored the car whilst retaining its modified state and changed the colour from dark blue to red.
Mr. Renson kept the car for forty-two years before it was purchased by a Dutch Lambda specialist in February 2020 who immediately carried out a full engine rebuild and fitted a replacement gearbox.
Today the car is accompanied by a history file containing original UK buff logbooks that go back to 1924, period photographs of the car in Danny Margulies’ yard and detail photographs of the recent works carried out between 2020 and 2024.
This rare and handsome 2nd series Lambda was modified some seventy years ago to a very attractive and sporty design and remains in very good condition and is ready to provide many years of enjoyment for its next owner.
Currently registered in the Netherlands.
