Lancia Lambda

The Lancia Lambda is an innovative automobile produced from 1922 through 1931. It was the first car to feature a load-bearing unitary body, (but without a stressed roof) and it also pioneered the use of an independent suspension (the front sliding pillar with coil springs). Vincenzo Lancia even invented a shock absorber for the car and it had excellent four wheel brakes. Approximately 11,200 Lambdas were produced.

Nine versions of the Lambda were built:


 * 1st series, produced 1923, 400 built.
 * 2nd series, produced between 1923 and 1924, 1,100 built. Minor modifications for engine.
 * 3rd series, produced 1924, 800 built. Engine modified.
 * 4th series, produced between 1924 and 1925, 850 built. Modified windscreen.
 * 5th series, produced 1925, 1,050 built. 4-speed gearbox.
 * 6th series, produced between 1925 and 1926, 1,300 built. Car is sold now with bare chassis and with two wheelbases.
 * 7th series, produced between 1926 and 1928, 3,100 built. New bigger engine.
 * 8th series, produced between 1928 and 1930, 3,903 built. Again bigger engine.
 * 9th series, produced 1931, 500 built. Last series sold only bare chassis.

Engines
The narrow-angle aluminium Lancia V4 engine was also notable. All three displacements shared the same long 120 mm stroke, and all were SOHC designs with a single camshaft serving both banks of cylinders. The first engine had a 13° V angle, the second 14° and the third 13° 40'.