Lancia Motor Club

Andy's photo from his photoshoot in the New Forest. Yes - that's my car not his. Loooong story. :-(

Nice

    If that is the New Forest you might as well have come to Yate !!!

I've never been in a Gamma.  They do make a nice noise on a track day, and everyone who has says they're lovely.  So that's my excuse in early - the one I'd pick from that line is (tin hat on) the Citroen.  

A friend's dad had a run of V8 SD1s - some worked, and of those on the right sort of smooth swooping A road quite dramatic but mostly I just chundered all over the back window - amazing how the air would whip it all over the back.  A friend had a 2600 which would break traction if you so much as looked at a cats eye which was lots of fun age 19.  Saw one recently and they haven't aged well, or maybe their time is yet to come.  If you know anyone trying to run one wish them luck - when new just about any and everything that could go wrong would go wrong and keep going wrong.  Windows drop out, dash fall out, sunroof jam open, windscreen leaks, rattles and bumps and dingalings all before you start on the electrical and mechanical.

When did anyone see a Renault 25?  I know that's not what's in the picture but I'd love to see one again.  They rather trumped the Audi 100s when they came out.

Gamma - sorry - looks like its had its teeth smashed in and the back is - erm - well - worse than the front.  Got any interior pictures to cheer me up?   At the AGM last year I loved the early Beta Coupe and Montecarlo dash boards, and their lines and exterior details.  THEY have aged well.

I know most Citroen engines are horrid but you can't hear the suffering from the drivers seat.  Great looking inside and out.  A really different experiance from anything else on the road.  A Safari with first, club, and economy class cabins all the better.

Sorry....

David

That has to be one of my favourite pictures of the year. It must be something to do with growing up in Milton Keynes in the late 70s and early 80s!

I'd never been in a Gamma until I drove Andy Collins' family white saloon back in the mid 1990s, a very memorable journey from Aylesbury to Bournemouth just to get fish and chips by the seaside. Last month, I had the good fortune to drive and be a passenger in the car in this photo - the Gamma feels a lot smaller than it actually is, handling is precise and it has bags of get up and go. I'm a convert and one day hope to have an example of my own.

Lee

I'm a big fan of the Gamma, and I love the weird Citroens, but my childhood growing up with Renaults trumps it - it would have to be the 30 for me, if really pushed to choose.  If I had room, I'd run a 60s or 70s Renault - my Dad had 4s and 12s, and that will always be the nostalgia trip for me.  Sorry if that marks me out as a traitor... :-\

What a tough choice.  When I was a child I wanted a Citroen CX - but it had to be the estate!  I actually like the Rover SD1 too and I always fancied owning an SD1 Vitesse.  My tastes have improved somewhat since I was younger, so today there is really only one choice for me, hence the Gamma gets my vote!

Personally, I have ruled the Gamma out.

I would go for something nice and reliable, like an NSU Ro80.

(Ok, so maybe i am just a tad anit-Gamma at the moment!)

A

Stop yer h*ssy fit and get that head off (so you can check the pistons) before
we fit the other head, belt etc. You know you love the car really

That takes me back, when i was 16 yrs old my Dad bought a Beta 2000 sedan, while his best mate bought a Renault 20 three litre automatic. I can rember the debate between them, Lancia verses Renault ! it turned out the lancia was the more relyable car. After about a year the Renault suffered a brain malfunction and It cost hundreds to fix, the lancia was a better car to drive and after a while my dad's mate had to agree the lancia was the better car( according to my Dad ). And we still have the Lancia. 8)

ooooh!...... lovely bit of nostalgia! Whilst we have never been without at least one Lancia since 1970, when the children were growing up we had a succession of Citroen CX Familiale 8 seater estate. Loved em all and often toy with the idea of finding one now to keep over in France. If my memory serves me correct it was the much respected motoring journalist LJK Setright who when asked to predict what cars would be like ten years down the road opined that that car was already here, the Citroen DS, which of course evolved into the CX.

Often been tempted to have a Gamma and in fact did own a coupe for a year or so. Sadly it was an absolute dog and I never actually drove it. Came by it as a swap for a Thema 8v Turbo which a penniless neighbour of mine was desperate to own. He got the best of the deal by a long chalk!

Robin.
PS Almost cried watching Clarkson's antics with a CX on this weeks Top Gear. TG has sunk to an all time low imho and in future I shall record it so that I can skip all the rubbish.

You mustn't forget Top Gear is a childrens program - my 9 and 11 year olds almost wet themselves at the pranks.  As for me it beats Dr Who.

David

It's often predictable, but I do chuckle at some bits. Hammond's fire = not funny; Clarkson's concern at his car's leaning = amusing.

Fell in love with Marcus Harrisons' Gamma coupe at the weekend ( as did Margaret and Emma !), the electric blue interior has to be seen to be believed. Looked like something that Ed Straker (UFO) would have drove !

For me though it would have to be the Rover Vitesse, when we first started going to race meetings in the mid-80's. The 'Bastos' Rovers
of Tom Walkinshaw, Win Percy were in their prime in the European Touring Car series. Spectacular to watch, they never seemed to be in a straight line....and the noise, fantastic !

Steve

It has to be the CX for me.

A friends dad had a number of them and they were just so daringly different.

Wonderful dials...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GKN-ySJInc

Strangely, when I was very small and a Ford garage opened in the local town (Saffron Walden - Essex Boy!) they had Ed Straker's car there and I got to sit in it ..... !

I have owned two Citroen CX, both did a high mileage without breaking down. The Pallas took Lin and I, non-stop except for fuel, to Monaco in sublime comfort. I slept most of the way. I have also owned a couple of Gamma Berlinas and although I admit they have great presence, as an ownership proposition they were a disaster. Perhaps I should now leave the room?

I don't mind you implying that Gammas aren't reliable as long as you voted for it in the poll! :)

Ive now left the room.

I'm going to plead the 5th ammmendment at this point.

So how does a Gamma Berlina compare with a Coupe?  Much to choose between different varients?

David

Not a great deal of difference to be honest, the Berlina may look big and heavy but
it has a similar top speed, similar handling and is more comfortable on a long drive
than the coupe, (except mine of course) it has a better drag coefficient than the coupe
it has four doors and a reasonably sized boot,.

When the fuel injection was added it made very little difference, slightly smoother at
idle, but apart from that on a long trip the injection uses marginally more fuel.

I prefer carburetors but that's probably because I am still

'thecolonel' , Hooligan, Rebel, Renegade and Gamma driver

Eight of you have voted and revealed true colours. Luckily, the poll records the voter IDs, and I know where you all live... :-)