Wikipedia

Lancia Gamma

For the 1910 model, seeLancia Gamma (1910).

TheLancia Gamma(Tipo 830), stylised asLanciaγ,is anexecutive car(E-segmentin Europe) manufactured and marketed by theLanciasubdivision ofFiat.Following its debut at the1976 Geneva Motor Show[2]as Lancia's newflagship,the Gamma was marketed as a 4-doorfastbacksaloonknown as theBerlina(1976–1984) and as a 2-doorcoupé(1977–1984), both designed byPininfarina– with 15,272 and 6,790 manufactured, respectively.[4]The Gamma superseded theLancia 2000.[5]

Lancia Gamma
Lancia Gamma Coupe
Overview
ManufacturerLancia
Production1976–1984
AssemblyItaly:Turin
Designer
Body and chassis
ClassExecutive car(E)
Body style
LayoutFront-engine, front-wheel-drive
RelatedLancia Beta[2]
Powertrain
Engine
Transmission
Dimensions
Wheelbase2,670 mm (105.1 in) -berlina
2,555 mm (100.6 in) -coupé[3]
Length
  • 4,580 mm (180.3 in) -berlina
  • 4,485 mm (176.6 in) -coupé[3]
Width1,730 mm (68.1 in)[3]
Height
  • 1,410 mm (55.5 in) -berlina
  • 1,330 mm (52.4 in) -coupé[3]
Curb weight
  • 1,320 kg (2,910 lb) -berlina
  • 1,290 kg (2,844 lb) -coupé[2]
Chronology
PredecessorLancia 2000
SuccessorLancia Thema
Dashboard of a Lancia Gamma

Design

edit

Lancia Gamma saloon was designed at thePininfarinadesign studio byLeonardo Fioravanti,under the dirction of Centro Stile Lancia's Sergio Camuffo. Early design proposals with different rear portion were created byAldo Brovaronewho would later design the coupé version. Fioravanti based the design on the 1967Pininfarina BMC 1800 Aerodynamicaconcept car designed byPaolo Martinto which Fioravanti also contributed.[1]

The fastback style of the Berlina featured a conventional boot at the rear, rather than ahatchback.At the car's press launch Pininfarina said a hatchback was avoided to save the inconvenience to back seat passengers, when luggage is loaded, from ostensible drafts.[6]

Etymology

edit

Gammais the third letter of theGreek Alpha bet.Lancia had used Greek letters to denote its models before 1945, and the nomenclature was revived with theLancia Betain 1971, the first Lancia developed under Fiat supervision. The Gamma is also sharedfront-wheel driveand suspension elements from the Beta.[2]

  • Lancia Gamma Coupé (front).
  • Lancia Gamma Coupé (rear).
  • Lancia Gamma Berlina (front).
  • Lancia Gamma Berlina (rear).

Engines

edit
A Lancia Gamma flat-four engine

The Lancia Gamma is a front-wheel-drive car with alongitudinally-mountedboxer engineand a 5-speed manual transmission, later joined by an optional 4-speedautomatic transmission.[2]The Gamma received a mid cycle face-lift, receiving Bosch L-Jetronic fuel injection as well as a new corporate grille, 15-inch "sunburst" alloy wheels, and a revised interior with new instrumentation, interior lighting, badging, handbrake andgear levergaiter.

Though Fiat had planned to use one of theirV6 engines,Lancia developed uniqueflat-four enginesfor the Gamma. TheFlaviaand Flavia Coupé had used 1.8 and 2.0 litre flat-fours and theLancia 2000used the 2.0-litre version. Engine designer De Virgilio also drew up a four-camV6 enginefor the Gamma with either 3- or 4-litre displacement, but this never came to fruition.

The flat engine, though large for a modern four-cylinder petrol engine, lacked the cachet associated with six- and eight-cylinder engines but enabled Pininfarina chief stylistAldo Brovaroneto lower the coupé's bonnet line and to steeply rake its windscreen. Pressure cast in alloy with wet cylinder liners, the engine was light and though it only produced 140 PS (103 kW), 120 PS (88 kW) in 2.0-litre form, its maximum torque was available at just 2,000 rpm.

Initially available with a displacement of 2.5 L (Gamma 2500), it was later joined by a 2.0 L version (Gamma 2000), which resulted from the Italian tax system (cars with engines larger than 2.0 L were subject to a heavier tax burden). The displacement was lowered by decreasing theborerather than thestrokeof the engine. Both displacements were usingWeber carburetors,and the 2.5 L also came in a version fitted with fuel injection (Gamma 2500 I.E.)[2][3]

  • 2.0 L (1,999 cc)carburetor8vSOHCflat-4- 120 PS (88 kW; 118 hp) (1st series) 115 PS (85 kW; 113 hp) (2nd series)[3]
  • 2.5 L (2,484 cc) carburetor 8v SOHC flat-4 - 140 PS (103 kW; 138 hp)[3]
  • 2.5 L (2,484 cc)I.E.8v SOHC flat-4 - 140 PS (103 kW; 138 hp)[3]
Lancia Gamma Coupé production figures*
Series 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 Totals
1 9 1,006 2,064 1,236 6,790
2 37 1,225 952 176 51 33

*stated by Pininfarina production records[4]

Lancia Gamma Coupé version figures
2.0 2.5 2.5 ie Total
Series 1
1976-79		 1,978 2,337 4,315
Series 2
1980-84		 1,265 1,209 2,474
Total 3,243 3,546 6,789

Concepts

edit

Several concepts were developed from the Gamma Platform over the years:[7]

References

edit
  1. ^ab"Gamma: Signs and Portents – Part Seven".driventowrite.12 February 2016.Retrieved27 September2024.
  2. ^abcdefgh"Lancia Gamma".The Lancia pages @ CarsFromItaly.Archived fromthe originalon 2005-03-24.Retrieved2006-08-03.(accessed via theWayback Machine)
  3. ^abcdefgh"Auto Katalog".Autokatalog Modelljahr.Motor Presse Stuttgart:220–221. 1983.ISSN0949-0884.- technical data based on 1982/83 models
  4. ^ab"PRODUZIONE COMPLESSIVA"(PDF).pininfarina.it.Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 2011-06-05.Retrieved2007-08-03.
  5. ^"DO YOU REMEMBER – THE LANCIA GAMMA BERLINA?".lancasterinsurance.co.uk.Retrieved21 October2024.
  6. ^"Top of the Lancia gamut".Autocar.Vol. 144 nbr 4155. 26 June 1976. pp.68–70.
  7. ^"Lancia Concept Cars @ CarsfromItaly".Carsfromitaly.net.Retrieved2016-01-21.
  8. ^"Lancia Gamma Scala @ CarsfromItaly".Carsfromitaly.net.Retrieved2016-01-21.
  9. ^"Lancia Gamma Olgiata @ CarsfromItaly".Carsfromitaly.net.Retrieved2016-01-21.
edit
Wikimedia Commons has media related toLancia Gamma.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lancia_Gamma&oldid=1257953243"