1930 Lancia Lambda 8th Series

With eight previous keepers, you’d have every right to be suspicious – but when we point out that this delightful Lambda has been in its owner’s care since 1963, you’ll understand why we’re as smitten with it as we are.

Bodied by Weymann - “Lightness, Durability, Cheapness and Silence are Prominent Features – on an eighth-generation long chassis, ‘KR 1647’ has clearly been the love of the seller’s life: He bought it in 1963 as his beloved Fraser Nash was off the road being rebuilt (which we are also selling) and he fancied driving something vintage.

The test drive was, he recalls, “somewhat swift, rather upsetting a lady in her new motor, who, either from interest or fright, scraped the shiny thing on an iron post at the side of the lane.”

He must have taken things a bit steadier thereafter as he and his wife used it extensively on Lancia Club-backed tours across Europe and the Alps – and when she passed away, he never drove it again.

It also comes with an extensive history file, and while it will need to be recommissioned, this is a rare opportunity to buy one of the most unusual cars of 2026.

The Weymann fabric body is exactly that; fabric stretched across a light and flexible wooden frame, a method of construction that has been successfully for many decades on aircraft – and before you query its suitability for automotive use, it was licensed to Rolls-Royce, Bugatti, Daimler, and Hispano-Suiza among others.

The load-bearing frame is made up of individual sections, none of which touch, thereby eliminating rattles and squeaks while allowing it to flex, something the ‘bodywork’, which consists of muslin over chicken wire followed by cotton battings and a pigmented artificial leather, also facilitates.

The seats are bolted directly to the steel chassis for strength, and this unusual construction method was ideally suited to the lithe, smooth, and beautifully engineered Lancia Lambda.

There are other quirks too; instead of the ubiquitous Boyce Motometer, the Lambda is fitted instead with a Wilmot-Breeden Calormeter on top of the somewhat brutally-styled Lancia radiator.

There are also rain deflectors on the windows, Eversure door mirrors, toolboxes on the running boards, and arrow-shaped rear indicator lamps.

Plus, some of the nicest proportions of its era.

The visible areas of the green coachwork are largely in good order; not pristine but with nothing more than a light patina, we can’t see many folk feeling the need to improve it just yet. Yes, there are a few cracks on some of the hidden edges, but we suspect these have been there for a while without causing problems.

The black roof has more cracks to its surface, and we don’t know whether that’s compromised the Lancia’s waterproofing. We note a repair has also been made to the nearside C-pillar.

As for the metal panels, the offside front cycle wing has a few marks to its finish, and the paint is bubbling up on the bonnet.

The lamp lenses are all in good order with no chips, cracks, or other damage.

The Rudge-Whitworth wire wheels appear to be in good order. Again, not pristine but we suspect they’re presentable enough to be used as they are for a good while yet.

The rear and spare tyre are by Firestone, while the front tyres are by Dunlop,

All show signs of age and sidewall cracking, but that just gives you an excuse to fit matching rubber to help make the most of the Lancia’s sublime chassis.

Maintaining the lightweight theme, the Lambda’s wicker-framed seats aren’t something you see every day. Their shape provides very good lateral support for the driver and front passenger, and while their black leather cushions are dry and cracked, they could probably be revived sufficiently for them to provide many more years of faithful service.

The rear seat is in a similar condition, with creases, cracks, and even the odd tear to the face fabric: You could get the seating re-stuffed and re-covered but we think that would risk ripping the soul out of this beautifully patinated car.

Not that there isn’t work to do because the steering wheel rim is losing its black coating. However, even here the fact the exposed metalwork looks solid almost certainly means this is nothing more than a cosmetic problem that could be set aside for a while yet.

The central dashboard is a medley of instruments from Lancia, Jaeger, and Le Nivex with Bosch supplying the switch panel. It sounds like it shouldn’t work but it actually does.

Nor does the charm end there because there an ashtray and pipe holder on the dashboard, plus a chromed matchbook holder bearing the legend ‘Hoyal Closed Coachwork’, presumably making it an advertising item?

Anyway, take that 21st century Nanny State.

There are leather satchel-like storage pockets on the back of the front seats and pockets in the front door cards. All are as elegant as they are practical, but then this is a very elegant and practical motorcar.

There’s a St Christopher medal too because you can never be too careful, plus braided rope handles and footrests in the back because you never know when you might need a steadying hand or a place to rest your weary feet.

The windscreen pivots at the top to allow a cooling breeze, while the rear window has a blind to protect delicate necks from the sun.

As for the rest, the blue floor carpets have faded in places but are still eminently usable, the door cards might be a bit moth-eaten but they’re still very stylish, and the headlining is grubby but taut and undamaged.

There’s a fair-sized boot too, and this is also in a decent condition.

The engine bay isn’t the cleanest we’ve ever seen but as you’ll be recommissioning the oily bits anyway, we don’t see this as a dealbreaker.

We haven’t tried to start the engine, so cannot comment on either its condition or the car’s overall roadworthiness. But everything is nicely laid out and easy to comprehend, so we don’t imagine anyone considering buying a vintage car will have any trouble in servicing it and carrying out routine maintenance, even if the plethora of brass and copper pipework means you might need to take a night class in plumbing.

The underside looks good and strong, and there is evidence of diligent greasing as well as what appears to be a recent-ish exhaust.

The Lancia also comes with a few spares: Please see the photos for the details.

The Lancia doesn’t have a current MoT certificate, the recent Vehicle History Check is clear, and the history file includes a VSCC Eligibility Document, a piece of paper that unlocks a whole world of social and motorsport fun.

It also comes with period photographs, books, technical drawings, handwritten notes, Lancia Motor Club paperwork, comprehensive details on the benefits of the Weymann coachwork, a Lancia Lambda census return, a list of its previous owners, historical insurance paperwork, a logbook of its fuel and oil use, expired tax discs and MoT certificates, old and contemporary registration documents, a vast collection of invoices and bills stretching back decades, and much more including a five-page typewritten record of the owner’s life with it.

Coming to the market for the first time in 63 years, this delightful Lancia Lambda is an unusually elegant and well-engineered vintage sportscar.

In need of recommissioning but probably no more, our estimate is that the virtual hammer will fall somewhere between £30,000 and £50,000, but as it is being offered with no reserve, it’ll be going to a new owner after the very first bid has been placed.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at THE MARKET HQ in South Oxfordshire. Viewings are STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT and we are open weekdays (apart from Bank Holidays) between 10am - 12pm or 2pm - 4pm. To make a booking, please use the ‘Enquire About This Vehicle’ button on the listing. Feel free to ask any questions, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.