Looking for a Thema 8.32 project (edit: I've bought one!)

[HaydnW92]

Hello everyone,

I'll quickly introduce myself - my name is Haydn, I come from an Alfa-mad family and have owned Italian cars exclusively from my first car onwards. To date I have owned eight Alfas and two Maserati Biturbos. Of these ten cars, six were bought as non-running projects (some of which I still own). As you can tell, I like to get stuck in with my cars and I maintain them all myself.

I've admired Themas for a few years, particularly the 8.32, and I can't shake the urge to try and acquire one as a project. I can't afford a really good example with current MOT, but I like to get stuck in and work on my cars anyway (as you can probably tell) so I'm looking for one as a project to fix up and improve over time.

I have been watching the market for them for a few years so I have an idea of what I'd be willing to pay for one needing work, but this of course will be different from car-to-car.

I don't mind doing mechanical work but bodywork isn't my forte so preferably I'd like a car that doesn't need lots of bodywork and a full respray. But this isn't totally essential.

Good service history is pretty much essential, even if the car has been laid up for years. I don't mind if the car doesn't run - that's to be expected - as long as we can verify that the engine turns over.

I prefer the looks of the series 2 cars but I wouldn't say no to a series 1. I don't have any preferences re: bodywork colour but I'd quite like to have the beige full leather interior.

So...does anyone know of an 8.32 project that somebody may be willing to part with? Perhaps somebody here has one that they would consider selling?

I look forward to some responses.

I am based near Leeds but can travel for the 'right' car.

Haydn

[SanRemo78]

Hi Haydn, are you getting drawn away from the world of Alfa 164's? I assume you've checked the usual sources in the UK and not found anything suitable? With them all being left hand drive I suspect that cars in the UK are going to be less expensive than those in Italy/France/Germany etc and further, i'm not sure about import duties & VAT on cars brought into the UK now...

Having said that the cheapest one I've seen in a while is in Rome - no connection to the seller!

https://www.classic-trader.com/uk/cars/listing/lancia/thema/thema-8-32/1989/241544

I'm not sure about the logistics go bringing a car back from Italy (or if it's even possible to get there by road at the moment) but I'd like to know in case a Beta I fancy owning again should show up.

There's one for auction in France on 20th June with a guide price of €6000 - €8000 but I'll leave you to ponder the technicalities of bidding and collection/delivery! I think it's in Paris - is travel for business allowed without having to go into isolation?

https://www.classicdriver.com/en/car/lancia/thema/1987/843379

Good luck with the search!

Guy

[HaydnW92]

Hi Guy,

It's been a while - I hope you're well! I'm still very much into my 164s - I've currently got a 1996 24v Cloverleaf which took part in a photoshoot for a magazine yesterday, so I'm chuffed to bits about that.

I just really fancy an 8.32, there's so much there that appeals to me and I have thought about trying to get my hands on one for at least a year...

Thanks for the tips/suggestions re: looking abroad, but I think the logistics of such things will make those cars a bit less accessible for me, particularly after Brexit. So I'm only really looking within the UK.

If it takes a while to find one, that's okay with me - I know they are few and far between, but there must be several candidates for a project car out there as most of them appear to be SORN and I suspect a few of those will have been laid up for a while. So, we'll see what comes up.

Do you still have your Stratos replica?
Regards,
Haydn

[SanRemo78]

Hi Haydn, you're probably right but there's a chance that a couple of those SORN'd ones have become donor cars. There are at least 2 Stratos replicas with the Theme 832 motor (although one might have been a crate motor!).

Strati - since you last saw the Pirelli one it's been converted to left hand drive with a full Gp4 dash (gauges are the right ones!) and joined by another that's under build at the moment. A round arch Gp4 car with 12v Alfa power, once finished it'll be for sale if the price is right.

I retired earlier this year, if you want to pop across to see them you're more than welcome!

Guy

[HaydnW92]

Hi Guy,

You've certainly been busy then! That's a kind offer, I might just take you up on that. I remember ogling the Stratos when I collected those 164 parts from you - was that really 9 years ago already!?

Regards,
Haydn

[SanRemo78]

I'll take your word for it Haydn.... Highly likely! I'll ask on the Stratos Forum in case there's someone sat on one wondering if they really want to use it!

[poppy67]

As if by magic, an 8.32 has popped up on ebay no:- 353575859575 series 1 in need of a makeover !
Starting price 5k.

Snap it up, due to them being like "hens teeth"
S.

[HaydnW92]

Hi, Thanks for notifying me - that one is in my eBay watch list so we'll see what it goes for. It looks like it's been in the wars a little bit (dents and such) and would need some cosmetic attention.

I think I'm fairly close to sealing the deal on a Series 2 car, but I'll update this thread as/when I know more.

Haydn

[HaydnW92]

Update: I am now the very happy owner of a Thema 8.32!

It's a Series 2, black (well, very dark grey really) with full beige interior and 92k kms. Runs and drives but needs some TLC and a big service of course.

The car arrived yesterday and I haven't stopped grinning. I'll get it cleaned up a bit today (it's now had its first wash in a long, long time) and start replacing the brakes too, for which I already have the parts.

Thanks again to those who commented / messaged etc!

Haydn

[SanRemo78]

Pictures Haydn, we need pictures!

Congratulations on the purchase!

Guy

[HaydnW92]

Thanks Guy, I'm over the moon with it and I can't wait to get it back on the road.

Pictures you say? I posted some in another thread:

http://www.lancia.myzen.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=12457.0

Haydn