Lancia Thema 8.32

Click Here for Full Screen Image - Click Here to Download Image

The Lancia Thema 8.32 made its debut in 1987 and although looked fairly inconspicuous from the outside, the car packed a three-litre Ferrari V8, similar to that used in the 308 - hence the name: 8 being the number of cylinders and 32 the number of valves.

Inside, the 8.32 was trimmed using the finest materials, including acres of wood and optional leather/alcantara upholstery, specially designed for the car by Turin-based furniture-maker, Poltrona Frau. All of which went some way towards justifying the £43,200 price tag! Only 3,971 examples were made before production ended in 1992.

This lovely 1989 example was imported from Italy and registered here in April 2005. A file of bills and service invoices are present which pre-date its arrival in the UK, substantiating the indicated 85,000 kms (53,000 miles) from new.

UK registered on arrival, it was promptly placed into storage before eventually being submitted for MOT in December 2014. After all that time, it only failed on perished tyres, headlight aim, one faulty brake light, a leaking exhaust and emissions. Sadly, the adventure stalled, and its still not been put back on the road, something always getting in the way. However, our vendor recently found opportunity to complete a cambelt service but that’s as far as he got and feels the car would be best placed with an enthusiast who has more time to put into it.

The leather upholstery looks to be in good condition and the car presents well – still a quirky eye-catching design today. With time and effort, this low-mileage example could be put back on the road where it belongs, offering a characterful alternative to a BMW M, Audi Quattro, or AMG Merc - just as it did when it was new.