RIP Lancia - Mettere Giù Lo Scudo

Sad, but hardly surprising. I very much doubt that many casual buyers even knew that the Chryslers we have here even had a link to Lancia let alone that they're a full blown product. On top of that, how many outside of Italy even know they're a company that continues to build cars? I don't know about the rest of Europe but its been twenty years since the UK was offered Lancia badged cars as new, that's a long time in the world of cars, especially in an era where we've had many other manufacturers come and go (some much more well known than Lancia ever were in this country) suddenly it becomes easy to see how they've become thought of as another long gone classic marque. About the only way I could see them surviving now is if Fiat decide to launch a sports car and badge it as a Lancia for some added prestige, however, lets face it, I've seen three legged horses with better odds than that.

If they'd made this when they penned it in 2003…..



And this in 2010….




… things might be different

Lancia hasn't been Lancia in years. It would be better if the brand died off than continue to besmirch the name with awful rebadged Chryslers.

As a Lancia owner it doesn't surprise me that this has happened. And to be honest no one is going to notice as the average person doesn't have a clue what Lancia is. For me Lancia finished in the mid 90's, that was the last of the great cars.

Lets face it what they are selling now is simply re-badged chrysler curse word, which doesn't look that good and is an insult to the brand. When I first saw the adverts for the chrysler Delta I almost threw the remote through the TV in disgust.

All you need to remember is that they were once an unstoppable force in the world of rally, done so many radical things in days past and made some of the greatest cars to grace the roads. (I just wish mine was on the road now)

Ciao Lancia





























































RIP

The very mention of Chrysler fills me with doom and despair these days, I don't want to feel the same way about Lancia so maybe it is for the best. Clement has the right idea - celebrate what was rather than bemoaning what is.

Well it obviously worked, because you did forget it!

God I hate being right.

Anyway, on with the pictures:


Lancia Aprilia by Sosumi Photography, on Flickr


050920103966 by Sosumi Photography, on Flickr


Lancia Fulvia Zagato by Sosumi Photography, on Flickr


Lancia Stratos by Sosumi Photography, on Flickr


Lancia Flavia 2000 HF by Sosumi Photography, on Flickr


Lancia 037 by Sosumi Photography, on Flickr


Lancia Beta Saloon 2 by Sosumi Photography, on Flickr


Lancia Delta S4 (2) by Sosumi Photography, on Flickr


Lancia Aurelia B24 Spyder by Sosumi Photography, on Flickr


Lancia Aurelia B20 GT (2) by Sosumi Photography, on Flickr


Lancia Appia by Maurizio Boi, on Flickr


Lancia Triota by Sosumi Photography, on Flickr


Lancia_Esadelta_C by Sosumi Photography, on Flickr


6810585192_19db8a22b4_o by Sosumi Photography, on Flickr


Lancia_Esagamma_E_front3 by Sosumi Photography, on Flickr


1954 Lancia D50A F1 car by Sosumi Photography, on Flickr


Lancia Esatau Viberti by Sosumi Photography, on Flickr


Lancia Esatau B Viberti by Sosumi Photography, on Flickr


Lancia Jolly Service Van by Sosumi Photography, on Flickr

And what could have been:

I don't think we've had an Ardea yet, I quite like them in an old skool way.



Fulvia special for the Targa Florio



Dilambda based racer



mmmm Appia Zagato, so nice.




And back on a more down to earth note, theres not much Beta Coupe love going on, and I think they are a car that's starting to look kinda cool!