Miguel Sánchez
Both comparisons and choices are always really problematic. Loaded with an inevitable subjectivity, these tend to leave out of focus a multitude of nuances necessary to correctly understand what we are talking about. However, with the passage of time -and the articles- It is impossible not to connect the dots in order to answer certain questions. One of them, of course, is the one that aims to select the most complete automotive brand on the European scene.
And the thing is, if someone is really outstanding in the big series, they may not be so outstanding in competition. And even, as in the case of Renault, even with these two characteristics, it remained behind others in terms of innovation for decades. Also, it doesn't hurt take into account the importance of commercial vehicles; effective proof of versatility in the design if they are combined with passenger cars focused on different market segments and niches.
Thus, when choosing a brand capable of encompassing in its history innovation, design, quality, mass character, sportiness, diversification, success in competition and long commercial life, only one reference comes to mind: Lancia. For a start, Its history dates back to 1906.. And although in recent times it has been on the verge of disappearance, the truth is that now, with almost 120 years behind it, it is going to be resurrected in the form of a premium brand with electric motors.
More than a century in which to add a multitude of reasons to, without giving rise to subjective tastes - never hidden or veiled on this side of the keyboard when we come across the Italian brand -, understand how To talk about Lancia is to talk about the history of a multifaceted and multifaceted brand in which to come across trucks next to Group B cars. In short, something we could talk about for hours although, as a summary, we will summarize in five reasons to understand why Lancia is a brand that has (almost) everything.
1st REASON: BIG SERIES, SMALL SERIES
One of the fundamental questions when it comes to understanding whether or not a brand has been basic to the history of motorsports is the one that talks about the big numbers. Great figures that, in the case of Lancia, have been fulfilled perfectly because, even without being Ford, This has been for most of its existence a clearly massive company. Proof of this are the two generations of the Delta - an indisputable reference for the C segment - or, going further back, models as long-lived as the popular Ardea; on the market from 1939 to 1953.
In any case, producing on a large scale has not been an obstacle to collaborating with a multitude of independent coachbuilders in order to create unique versions. What's more, whether on the Appia, the Fulvia or the Delta, the Zagato workshops have created Lightened versions with a really attractive design. And that's not to mention the relationship established with Pininfarina; responsible for such attractive models as the Aurelia B24 Spider or the Beta Montecarlo along with the Florida prototypes; one of the most influential style exercises of all time.
In short, throughout Lancia's history, large series vehicles have coexisted with others that, even based on very hackneyed platforms and mechanics, knew how to address very specific market niches with sportsmanship or exclusive design for flags. Some qualities that, by the way, the Fiat management knew how to respect - and even promote - after acquiring Lancia at the end of the sixties. And, after all, the Turin giant itself collaborated for decades with companies as diverse as Abarth or Moretti.
2nd REASON: ALL TYPES OF RACE
Competition is in the very essence of Lancia. What's more, tracing the biography of its founder it is not difficult to see him on board different racing cars competing in events such as the Targa-Florio. However, what makes the Italian house special in relation to racing is the versatility that it has demonstrated in them.
To begin with, before the Second World War their vehicles were already a common reference on starting grids related to the resistance.
But in addition, during the first years of F1 Lancia tried to dominate it using its D50. Designed by Vittorio Jano, this car remains one of the most innovative in the history of the premier class, dominated by an excellent distribution of weights along with such ingenious solutions as its engine arranged diagonally in order to improve the center of gravity.
In fact, chasing that perfection the brand neglected its accounts to the point of resigning from his competition team due to serious financial problems.
The result of this was the sale of the D50 to Ferrari, which won with them - and Fangio - the 1956 season. After that, Lancia remained distanced from the checkered flag although, already in the sixties and thanks to its light and fast Fulvia returned to the tracks to achieve success in rallies. What's more, that It was the necessary prologue for the premiere of the Stratos; equipped with a Ferrari engine and, at the time, the first competition vehicle designed from scratch by and to conquer the top in this specialty.
Then the 037 and the Delta Integrale would come to add up to nine constructors' titles and five drivers' titles in the WRC. By the way, without forgetting the desire to win the World Endurance Championship thanks to such interesting initiatives as the LC2; a design in which Abarth, Ferrari and even Dallara - in the chassis - joined forces in order to try to unseat Porsche from its hegemony at Le Mans.
In short, in the history of Lancia we find its presence in races prior to World War II, F1, endurance and World Rally Championships. Does anyone give more?
3rd REASON: TECHNOLOGICAL CUTTING EDGE
When talking about technological innovation at Lancia, our particular criterion would be to talk about the mechanics made for it by Vittorio Jano. However, the truth is that this manifested itself in many more areas. To begin with, one that we can find in almost any current automobile: the monocoque frame. And in 1922, The Italian company was the first to produce a series vehicle with such a design., capable of integrating the chassis with most of the bodywork, thus achieving evident rigidity.
By the way, an idea taken from the hulls of boats, in which Vincenzo Lancia found the necessary inspiration for his Lambda model. Likewise, vehicles like the Aurelia incorporated transaxle systems and sliding pillar suspensions even though these innovations were really difficult to find even in the most advanced models.
On the other hand, in this era in which automobiles are increasingly similar to each other, it is striking how Lancia even dared to use boxer engines while, already in 1913 and thanks to the Theta, it became the first European brand capable of presenting an integrated electrical system. In summary: the technical history of Lancia is, in itself, a technological encyclopedia in which to learn about volumetric compressors, all-wheel drive -Integrale-, narrow angle engines... Almost everything.
4TH REASON: DIVERSIFICATION IN ITS RANGE
Thinking objectively, there are really very few brands that have touched as many market niches as Lancia. On the one hand, its sporting lineage is beyond any doubt, especially if we take into account the extensive history of its HF versions. Something that has spread for decades, with models like the Fulvia or the Delta as the undisputed protagonists. What's more, his taste for performance It even led to a version of the Thema with a Ferrari engine, the 8.32. Honestly, a machine possibly inadequate in its conception although, for that very reason, it possesses one of the greatest charms seen in the entire decade of the eighties.
Likewise, that saloon - of which there was an exquisite limousine version - serves as a reminder of one of the clearest hallmarks of Lancia: elegance. An always classic, proportionate and timeless elegance in which some of the most refined three-volume models in all of European motorsport are inserted. By the way, often complemented with coupe versions which, in the end, have become masterpieces for coachbuilders like Pininfarina.
And well, as if all this were not enough, Lancia has managed to bring its style even to the most urban and compact segments with models like the Ypsilon; responsible for, in its latest version, not only being the one that has continued with the brand in its worst moments but also a sales success for the Italian market. Anyway, from the most sporty and spartan to the most luxurious and comfortable Lancia has done almost everything in the automobile field and, moreover, always with its distinguishable touch.
REASON 5: BEYOND CARS, INDUSTRIAL AND MILITARY VEHICLES
After only six years of its foundation, Lancia established its commercial vehicle division in 1912, beginning in the field of military models. From here, during the XNUMXs and XNUMXs, it focused on everything related to the transportation of goods and passengers, thus presenting various sets of chassis and mechanics with the possibility of being bodyworked in multiple ways.
In addition, their engines increased in displacement until they exceeded seven liters while the rest of the sections were not far behind, even having a brake booster already in the XNUMXs. After the Second World War, Lancia deployed a wide range of trucks which, until the seventies, shared an emblem with some of the most exquisite sports cars and passenger cars of the moment.
All this until, in 1975, Lancia Veicoli Industriali became part of IVECO by decision of Fiat. In any case, decades were left behind in which we found everything from cargo vehicles to armored military models.
Images: Stellantis
