1928 Lancia Lambda vehicle proves age is no barrier for an adventurous spirit
During December Stuart Paton and Brian Eastwood, members of the Sunshine Coast Antique Car Club, flew to Melbourne to purchase a 1928 Lancia Lambda Model 8th Series Weymann Saloon 6-Seater Long Model.
The vendors met them at the airport and drove them to a specialized storage site to inspect the vehicle. Stuart thus became the owner of this Lancia still proudly displaying its’ iconic Italian 1921- 2016 Fobello Varallo Rally plate.
Brian was advised to drive it at its’ ‘sweet spot’ and to ‘keep an eye’ on the gauges due to the long drive. They ventured north through Seymour, Albury and on to Wagga Wagga where their GPS proved useless. They parked up, then noticed the Police Station and two young officers approaching them. The officers were keen to admire and photograph the car.
On explaining their navigational dilemma Stuart and Brian were then kindly given a police escort through Wagga Wagga, shown a shortcut to Coolamon and told to turn right to West Wyalong at the major intersection. From there they ‘cruised the Newell’ to Forbes.
An early start from Forbes enabled travel through Parkes, Dubbo, Gilgandra, Coonabarabran and concluded at Narrabri. This section posed some issues due to the terrain, the car’s ‘comfortable’ speed and the need for careful observation of the gauges. Semi-trailer drivers courteously accommodated the Lambda’s capabilities, and they made a point of pulling off the road, where possible, allowing trucks and other vehicles overtake them.
Accommodation proved to be scarce in Narrabri but with assistance from a family-owned motel group this was overcome. This family was delighted to view the Lambda and eager to be photographed with it. Next morning a gentleman from the Narrabri Antique Car Club was found closely inspecting the car. This long, dark, regal vehicle covered in a leather like fabric, with red metal mudguards, a shiny nickel-plated radiator cowl, flip back second row seats, deep red leather upholstery complemented by red fabric window blinds with tassel pulls and crystal vases positioned at the rear windows, is certainly capable of arousing intense interest.
Back on the road north, the mighty Lambda travelled the long stretches through Moree and Goondiwindi before turning onto the Gore Highway and resting overnight at Pittsworth.
This intrepid adventure concluded with the car arriving on the Sunshine Coast. A total of 1,359 miles had been travelled. As the travellers admitted the noise from the vehicle was constant and tiring, and of course, ventilation was provided the old-fashioned way by winding down the windows!
This challenging trip taken by a vehicle manufactured in 1928 shows that age is no barrier to machine or man. The new owner is aged 99 and the vigilant driver is aged 86 and we’re sure that if Vincenzo Lancia was still alive, he would have been very proud of them all.
