Lancia Dilambda

The Dilambda was born as a project for the US market, to be built at a new facility in that country, but when the entire venture collapsed the car was modified for the European market and emerged in 1928. Returning to a chassis construction, albeit with innovative features such as the structural fuel tank, the Dilambda used a new 4-litre V8 engine. The independent front suspension used a system similar to the Lambda.

Three wheelbases were used during the life of the Dilambda. Initially 3480mm this was shortened to 3290mm in the second series, but another version with a 3475mm wheelbase was then added. The cars were continually improved through the years of production with changes to the transmission, brakes, instrumentation, controls and together with the large number of different bodies fitted by various coachbuilders this meant that virtually no two cars were identical.

The Dilambda was a large car, the finished vehicle rarely weighing less than two tons, and was built in correspondingly small numbers. The total production was around 1,700 (1,000 first series and 700 second series) from 1928 to 1938.