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« on: 07 May, 2024, 02:48:56 PM » |
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1927 Lancia Lambda Series 7 ‘Ballon Smontabile’ - Preservation vehicle | Donington Auctions | May 19, 2024
1927 Lancia Lambda Series 7 ‘Ballon Smontabile’
Believed to be the most original and low mileage Ballon still in existence
Offered from the collection of the Jamieson Family
Offered with reserve of $75,000 AUD
Chassis number: 17372
Engine number: 7428
Considered by marque experts to be the most original and lowest mileage Lancia Lambda ‘Ballon Smontabile’ still in existence anywhere in the world, this is a significant car.
Hero of the Jamieson family collection, headed by renown global Lambda historian and expert Bill Jamieson, this 1927 Series 7 has had just three owners from new and is believed to have covered a mere 60,477 miles.
Jamieson, author of the seminal Lambda work ‘Copolavaro’, purchased the Lambda from its second owner in 1989, and then began a gentle recommissioning to return it to the road after 30 years garaged on blocks.
A long wheelbase Torpedo Tourer that emerged from the Lancia works on 21st June 1927, this Lambda was factory fitted the removeable ‘Ballon Smontabile’ saloon-style roof, which when fitted effectively transformed the tourer into a sedan. However, it also still came with a fabric frame and roof, which remain fitted to the car today and have never been used.
Originally ordered new through the Shields Motor Company in Melbourne by Alexander Mercer of Wannon, in Victoria’s Western District, the Lambda was then purchased by Rich Anderson from suburban Melbourne, who used it sparingly until 1954, when it developed a head gasket problem, resulting in its three-decade hiatus.
Once in Jamieson’s hands, he resolved to preserve as much of the Lambda’s original finish and detail as possible, a process that took him six years.
“I’ve been concerned to keep it as original and not do things that don’t need doing or paint things that don’t need painting,” Bill Jamieson proudly explained.
“The magdyno, starter motor, carburettor, autovac and instruments have all been overhauled, and the radiator now has its 95 tubes clear. New seals have been fitted to the water pump. Several spokes needed replacing, and superficial rust on the wheels required treatment, so one of the few repainting jobs has been to strip, prime and refinish the wheels before fitting new tyres.”
When he first took possession of the Lambda, the head was off the engine from its aborted gasket repair, and the oil inside had turned to jelly. Thus, the engine was removed and then carefully reassembled, and at the same time the clutch and brakes were rebuilt.
Mechanically, the Lancia remains today a totally original, matching numbers car.
Now presenting as something of a time capsule, the 1927 Lancia Lambda ‘Ballon Smontabile’ still wears its original dark maroon paintwork with black guards, its original burgundy leather trim with grey speckled red carpets, built-in cocktail cabinet, and even the original tool kit.
The 1927 Lancia also comes with an a large file of history documentation and personal notes, correspondence, maintenance receipts, references, and photographs.
Chassis type: 216
Construction number: 7383
Gearbox number: 4061
Differential number: 7287
Rear cross member number: 17372 (left)
Rear cross member construction number: 7383
Boot latches number: 7383
Dash medallion number: 17372
The 1927 Lancia Lambda Series 7 ‘Ballon Smontabile’ is being sold here unregistered and will require mechanical recommissioning. Accompanying the sale are two original leather luggage cases, one with makers plaque of 'Stabilimento-Valigeria C.ALTAVILLA & FIGLI Via Frejus 106-TORINO'
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