RE: Lancia Thema 8.32: Spotted
Discussion
In good company with it’s compatriots.
The Sparco gear knob in the previous photo has gone.
Engine out belt service undertaken, not cheap obvs.
Correct springs sourced and inbound. It’s a 90’s saloon and I thought the lowered stance was wrong.
I had an 8.32 before , the buyer of that car and an enthusiast in Norway have joined me in a support group/parts finding Syndicate.
So far all good, but emphatically not a car to run on a shoe string or expect to make money on.
Fans should check the Harry’s Garage and David’s Cironi clips on You Tube.
Dale487 said:
What more could you want - a Ferrari engined Lancia super saloon? The want is very big.
(I've have to find the correct gear knob & fast - its upsetting my originality freak.)
The Ferrari 308 engine: is it unreliable, as the tone on this thread seems to hint, or is it just a money pit to maintain correctly? (All way above my price league, just interested). The Lancia is a handsome beast, no doubt.(I've have to find the correct gear knob & fast - its upsetting my originality freak.)
Having run Lancias for 20+ yrs of my life and the 308 engine, Id probably argue the engine is the most reliable bit of the package! They can leak a bit of oil but nothing killer. The main main trouble with any Lancia from the 90s are the unobtanium parts. Oh and the bills from Walkers. Or Tanc. Or AutoItalia.
These are awesome, there's one sitting in the yard of the engine builders i help out at, destined to be restored but likely not 
There's also one that i've seen locally a couple of times, a guy that runs a specialist machining shop we use is friends with him and made plenty of parts for it. Last time i spoke to him it was upgraded roll bars to get it cornering flatter!
I'll admit im a fan of that one being lowered in the previous pictures!
There's also one that i've seen locally a couple of times, a guy that runs a specialist machining shop we use is friends with him and made plenty of parts for it. Last time i spoke to him it was upgraded roll bars to get it cornering flatter!
I'll admit im a fan of that one being lowered in the previous pictures!
Service parts are fine including belts and most of the bearings. The engine is very tough and reliable. it is just that to do things properly, like the belts, it has to come out.
Lots ( if not most) parts can be found on Italian and German sites. It is not easy and Brexit/Covid not helping as for now lots of EU sellers are reluctant to ship. But there are ways...
Lots ( if not most) parts can be found on Italian and German sites. It is not easy and Brexit/Covid not helping as for now lots of EU sellers are reluctant to ship. But there are ways...
On the lowering thing, both the 8.32s I have owned were lowered by previous owners.
I can kind of see the appeal visually but there never was an 8.32 lowering kit as such.
So a standard Thema kit doesn’t take into account the weight of the lump in the front and gives the car a nose down profile . OK, until you meet a speed bump, which when I lived in London was often. So the first car went back to standard. The second will too if I can source the parts, the roads where I now live are too poor for a low rider.
Over time I have come to appreciate the original look, high riding on what are, by modern standards, tiny wheels.
I can kind of see the appeal visually but there never was an 8.32 lowering kit as such.
So a standard Thema kit doesn’t take into account the weight of the lump in the front and gives the car a nose down profile . OK, until you meet a speed bump, which when I lived in London was often. So the first car went back to standard. The second will too if I can source the parts, the roads where I now live are too poor for a low rider.
Over time I have come to appreciate the original look, high riding on what are, by modern standards, tiny wheels.
Was chatting to a bloke for ages who ownes two Lancia 8.32’s. I feel easier of buying one after talking with him. I like them and it’s my money.
One is used as and when he wants, does not have problems with it apart from the temperamental fuel injection. Said it’s been like that for 15 years. One day he will get to it and all fine, full of disco dash lights and it goes well. Other days and no warning lights is the worry. I asked bout, what goes wrong. Nothing much was the reply, if not used it can be a pain as relays/sensors can play up, then are fine.
Other than money to run these cars, you need a pair of hands as the internet is full of misinformation by many contributors that have never owned one or regurgitated the rubbish out there.
He said he changes the two cam belts (yes two short ones bout £20 each with Ferrari parts the tensioner are bout £120 each) with the engine in situ. Only special tool he made was a cut down hex key. Really nice and knowledgable bloke and knows his stuff.
When leaving he showed me photographs of his other Thema 8.32. It was solid red, one of 32 made. Not a metallic red as I thought that was the only red.
I did some digging on that last car, the limited 32 are German models. 32 of the big headlights as per the poster and 32 smaller head lights all black leather interior.
One is used as and when he wants, does not have problems with it apart from the temperamental fuel injection. Said it’s been like that for 15 years. One day he will get to it and all fine, full of disco dash lights and it goes well. Other days and no warning lights is the worry. I asked bout, what goes wrong. Nothing much was the reply, if not used it can be a pain as relays/sensors can play up, then are fine.
Other than money to run these cars, you need a pair of hands as the internet is full of misinformation by many contributors that have never owned one or regurgitated the rubbish out there.
He said he changes the two cam belts (yes two short ones bout £20 each with Ferrari parts the tensioner are bout £120 each) with the engine in situ. Only special tool he made was a cut down hex key. Really nice and knowledgable bloke and knows his stuff.
When leaving he showed me photographs of his other Thema 8.32. It was solid red, one of 32 made. Not a metallic red as I thought that was the only red.
I did some digging on that last car, the limited 32 are German models. 32 of the big headlights as per the poster and 32 smaller head lights all black leather interior.
250GTE said:
On the lowering thing, both the 8.32s I have owned were lowered by previous owners.
I can kind of see the appeal visually but there never was an 8.32 lowering kit as such.
So a standard Thema kit doesn’t take into account the weight of the lump in the front and gives the car a nose down profile . OK, until you meet a speed bump, which when I lived in London was often. So the first car went back to standard. The second will too if I can source the parts, the roads where I now live are too poor for a low rider.
Over time I have come to appreciate the original look, high riding on what are, by modern standards, tiny wheels.
I see it's up for sale on Collecting Cars now, looks like you've had to do a bucket load of work on it, the snapped cambelt didn't look like a great deal of fun!I can kind of see the appeal visually but there never was an 8.32 lowering kit as such.
So a standard Thema kit doesn’t take into account the weight of the lump in the front and gives the car a nose down profile . OK, until you meet a speed bump, which when I lived in London was often. So the first car went back to standard. The second will too if I can source the parts, the roads where I now live are too poor for a low rider.
Over time I have come to appreciate the original look, high riding on what are, by modern standards, tiny wheels.
Lovely car, best of luck with the sale
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