Description
What a delightful little car this is.
56, 578 believed genuine miles only, and with just 2 previous keepers recorded on the new style V5 (the private 2nd owner for over 39 years to May 2021!)
UK RHD, first registered March 1981, and being sold with a full 12 months MOT.
In what should be considered excellent, preserved condition, the Merino sheepskin covers were ordered especially for this car, and am informed by the family they have been worn since day of purchase (it certainly looks like no-one has ever sat on the unmarked black sports leatherette).
Pirelli Cinturato tyres fitted all round.
This is NOT your often rotten/ plated/ bodged Beta (protected from new by both the Cryla-Gard acrylic resin protection coating, and what appears to be both Waxoyl AND Ziebart still very present on inner wings/ around most cavities).
Quite possibly all original Bianco Corfu coachwork (it wears its character/ patina imperfections with pride, NO body repairs/ paintwork have been done in current ownership, nor any we are told in its 33 years undisturbed). I can supply photos of the underside if required (along with those of its disinternment), and having jacked it up on the factory sill jacking points the whole car goes up square.
Bodywork has been given a sympathetic clean with nothing more harmful/ modern than soap & warm water (no t-cut, no wax) for the images, while interior/ carpets have been hoovered only so you can see how good it all is (80's dust has been left on back seats, door arm rests & un-cracked/ warped dash top for you to either retain or get the pleasure from bringing back to as new). The easy, latch-operation targa top that stows in the boot is in great shape, even the interior light works with its period bulb.
Weighing just 1060 kg's, performance from the 2. 0 'Lampredi' twin cam (still the most successful World Rally Championship engine, as found in the Montecarlo Turbo & Fiat 124 Abarth) is lively. Drive is through a nice, tight 5 speed gearbox, with independent suspension and disc brakes all round.
Idles nice, sounds lovely, emits literally no smoke/ flew through emissions, and should be ULEZ free transport once logbook (present and in my name) has been sent off and returned as Historic tax class (ie MOT and road fund exempt). It currently shows PLG as I applied for replacement in its 40th year - if that had been from 2022 rather than 2021 it would've come back automatically.
As well as the original tonneau/ hood and spare wheel covers, spare wheel, jack, complete factory tool roll & kit, a fascinating array of 'back in the day' pre-storage contents found inside will all come with the sale - leather driving gloves found in the glovebox, original cotton tool gloves, motor oil can/ dealer de-icer bottle, roll of unused supermarket shopping bags, as well as road maps, air show tickets, tax discs and so on.
Would benefit from further light recommissioning - reflected in the price, to make a wonderful daily driver, repairing rather than replacing the original hood (rear window is all good, just sun & rain has shrunk it in the 2 bottom corners), Tracking, oil change & filter service, fuel sender & reverse light switch (not an MOT requirement on pre-2018 vehicles), and possibly refinishing rear arches, would all be on the list - the original heater blows hot to not get in the way of some exhilarating roof down Autumn/ Winter motoring!
Original Lancia/ Fiat dealer keyring, V5 logbook, MOT pass certificate and original Spider handbook all form part of the sale. A dealer demonstrator the first 6 months of its life (still wearing both its original Bolton Lancia number plates), then in single ownership for almost 4 decades.
According to Bernard's (the late, long term custodian) daughter, the Lancia was parked in their dry, brick garage some time in 1988, from where it didn't break cover until 3 years ago.
Continuing in indoor storage, it has been recommissioned by both a local classic specialist and 2024 Mille Miglia race mechanic since, culminating in a clean MOT pass (no advisories) this week.
Works included new fuel pump & brake pipes/ flexi hoses in Covid, sandblasting & powder coating of the original 5 alloy wheels, and fitment of brand new radiator last year, then tank clean & carb refresh/ new fuel filter, water pump, cambelt & tensioner, alternator belt, and NOS silencer this Summer.
Only 60 of these Pininfarina designed & Zagato built 4 x full seat/ generous 2+2 Spiders left registered on UK roads now. This one must be unrepeatable with such low miles & ownership, in such solid/ presentable (& MOT'd!) original condition?
