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Lancia Gamma

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For the 1910 model, see Lancia Gamma (1910).
Lancia Gamma
Lancia Gamma Coupe
Overview
ManufacturerLancia
Production1976–1984
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

The Lancia Gamma (Tipo 830), stylised as Lancia γ, is an executive car (E-segment in Europe) manufactured and marketed by the Lancia subdivision of Fiat. Following its debut at the 1976 Geneva Motor Show[2] as Lancia's new flagship, the Gamma was marketed as a 4-door fastback saloon known as the Berlina (1976-1984) and as a 2-door coupé (1977-1984), both designed by Pininfarina – with 15,272 and 6,790 manufactured, respectively.[4] The Gamma superseded the Lancia 2000.[5]

Dashboard of a Lancia Gamma

Design

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Lancia Gamma saloon was designed at the Pininfarina design studio by Leonardo Fioravanti, under the dirction of Centro Stile Lancia's Sergio Camuffo. Early design proposals with different rear portion were created by Aldo Brovarone who would later design the coupé version. Fioravanti based the design on the 1967 Pininfarina BMC 1800 Aerodynamica concept car designed by Paolo Martin to which Fioravanti also contributed.[1]

The fastback style of the Berlina featured a conventional boot at the rear, rather than a hatchback. 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

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Gamma is the third letter of the Greek alphabet. Lancia had used Greek letters to denote its models before 1945, and the nomenclature was revived with the Lancia Beta in 1971, the first Lancia developed under Fiat supervision. The Gamma is also shared front-wheel drive and suspension elements from the Beta.[2]

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

Engines

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A Lancia Gamma flat-four engine

The Lancia Gamma is a front-wheel-drive car with a longitudinally-mounted boxer engine and a 5-speed manual transmission, later joined by an optional 4-speed automatic 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 and gear lever gaiter.

Though Fiat had planned to use one of their V6 engines, Lancia developed unique flat-four engines for the Gamma. The Flavia and Flavia Coupé had used 1.8 and 2.0 litre flat-fours and the Lancia 2000 used the 2.0-litre version. Engine designer De Virgilio also drew up a four-cam V6 engine for 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 stylist Aldo Brovarone to 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 the bore rather than the stroke of the engine. Both displacements were using Weber 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) carburetor 8v SOHC flat-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

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

References

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  1. ^ a b "Gamma: Signs and Portents – Part Seven". driventowrite.com. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h "Lancia Gamma". The Lancia pages @ www.CarsFromItaly.com. Archived from the original on 2005-03-24. Retrieved 2006-08-03. (accessed via the Wayback Machine)
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h "Auto Katalog". Autokatalog Modelljahr. Motor Presse Stuttgart: 220–221. 1983. ISSN 0949-0884. - technical data based on 1982/83 models
  4. ^ a b "PRODUZIONE COMPLESSIVA" (PDF). pininfarina.it. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-06-05. Retrieved 2007-08-03.
  5. ^ "DO YOU REMEMBER – THE LANCIA GAMMA BERLINA?". lancasterinsurance.co.uk. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
  6. ^ "Top of the Lancia gamut". Autocar. Vol. 144 nbr 4155. 26 June 1976. pp. 68–70.
  7. ^ "Lancia Concept Cars @ www.CarsfromItaly.com". Carsfromitaly.net. Retrieved 2016-01-21.
  8. ^ "Lancia Gamma Scala @ CarsfromItaly". Carsfromitaly.net. Retrieved 2016-01-21.
  9. ^ "Lancia Gamma Olgiata @ CarsfromItaly". Carsfromitaly.net. Retrieved 2016-01-21.
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