1984 Lancia Gamma

The Lancia Gamma Coupe was in production from 1976 until 1984. Styled by Pininfarina, it is a front-engine, front wheel drive coupe range seating four adults.

The Gamma Coupe replaced the Fiat 130 Coupe, despite offering a smaller four cylinder engine and being marketed under a different brand. When Fiat discontinued the 130 saloon, the Lancia Gamma became the range topper for Fiat Group and it was natural that a Coupe would be developed to sit atop its offerings. Launched as a 2.5 litre and using a brand new flat four engine, Lancia also marketed a 2.0 variant in its native Italy in order to take advantage of tax breaks for cars under 2.0. Later there would be a fuel injected 2.5, the Gamma IE, which had the same power as its carburetted equivalent. Fiat Group had intended that the Gamma be a V6 and use the engine from the 130, but Lancia preferred to develop its own flat four in a show of independence. Plans for a new 3.0 or 4.0 V6 developed by Lancia never came to fruition.

Just 6790 Lancia Gamma Coupes were produced between 1976 and 1984 – the model was not as popular as had been expected. Part of this was its position in the market; large coupes are never as popular as the equivalent saloon – and part of it can be attributed to the reputation Lancia earned itself with Beta corrosion issues in the late 1970s. When the Gamma was replaced by the Thema, no Coupe variant was forthcoming. It would take until that car was succeeded by the Kappa for Lancia to launch a new large coupe.

Alternatives to the Lancia Gamma Coupe then and now would include the Ford Granada Coupe and possibly the Opel Monza. The latter offers the same continental appeal that cars of this ilk needed for success in Britain, so we might also consider the Peugeot 504 Coupe, BMW 628 and even the Mercedes 280CE as viable options in period. Today, the Fiat 130 Coupe it replaced makes an exciting alternative.