The 78 Mile Gamma.........

[Betaboy2.0]

Back in the days of yore, when the knights were bold, and I was young and still had hair, we had a Lancia dealer network in UK. Many of you may well remember those happy, carefree times!

 

In the mid 80’s the importation of Lancia, was handled not by Fiat Auto UK, but Heron, via their subsidiary company Lancar. I joined the dealer network in 1986 as a junior salesman, and it was through this contact with Lancar that, in late 1987, I heard about a rather interesting vehicle.

 

Apparently, sat in their compound at Crawley, Lancar had one unregistered Gamma saloon. Even back then at the tender age of 20, I was a confirmed Gammophile, so this discovery was of interest to me. Thema had been on the market for a couple of years, so the last unsold Gamma Berlina had to be something to investigate.

 

No-one amongst the sales department contacts I had, knew much about it, but through the parts division, I found out more. Apparently, the car had been registered. And it had some miles on it. Shame. But, I was still listening.

 

Because of a parts supply problem the gearbox had been removed, and a few other parts robbed from it. But, to all intents and purposes, apparently, it was more or less unused. So, without delay, I went to have a look.

 

Sadly, my memory is really vague of my first view of the Gamma back in 1987. I do remember though, that it struck be as looking rather sad. Crammed into corner of a rather tight compound, a silver 2500ie S2. Filthy dirty outside, dusty inside, no exhaust or gearbox. No front grille, a missing rear door lock, rear door trim removed and sat on the back seat. There were a few little rust bubbles in the paint too, at the bottom of the windscreen and on the rear buttresses. The mileage was really low – almost delivery, but for some reason, I just didn’t remember what it was.

 

Lancar were open to offers, as they wanted to get it off their books. Having just bought a S1 Gamma saloon, my funds were rather depleted, so I asked my father for assistance. He declined! So, I offered £800 for the said forlorn machine. Unsurprisingly, my offer was rejected, and I heard through the grapevine that the following day, someone else offered £850 and got the car. I recognised the name of the guy who had got it, as I knew that he had Flaminias and Gammas, and was good friends with the MD of another Lancia dealer (which is how he had heard of the car, and was tipped off that someone else was sniffing around it!)

 

Over the years, I often wondered what had happened to it, as it would have made a seriously nice project vehicle. I presumed that it had long since been broken for spares and scrapped. Imagine, a 3 and a bit year old, virtually unused Gamma saloon in 1988 - that would have been fun!

 

Roll the clock forward 23 years to the NEC 2010. My Beta S1 was on display on the LMC / Betaboyz stand. On the Friday afternoon, I got chatting to an elderly gentleman who was showing quite a bit of interest in all the Lancias. With my Chairman’s hat on, I introduced myself, and as soon as he gave his name, I recognised it as the person who had outbid me all those years previously on the Lancar Gamma. We got chatting, and I asked whatever happened to the Gamma. (I think he was equally surprised that I had been the person who started the interest in the car all those years ago).

 

His response startled me. “Nothing†he said. “nothing has happened to it. It has been covered up in my workshop since I collected it from Crawley 20 odd years ago. I kept meaning to put a gearbox in it, but never got round to it. I need to get rid of it really as time is marching on and it is never going to get done with meâ€Â

 

Well, what could I say to that? I expressed interest and we left it that I would contact him in the Spring, when the weather was better, and I could arrange to go and have a look.

 

All the while, there was this nagging doubt in my mind, that the car hadn’t really pressed my buttons all those years back. Why was that? I think back then, it was because my expectations had been so high. I had been expecting a brand new, factory fresh, mint out of the box Gamma Berlina. What I had been presented with was just not that! A bit tired. A dirty, dusty, parts car.

 

 

So, to March 2011. I pottered off from Wiltshire to go and have a look at the mighty low mileage Gamma.

 

And oh my goodness. It was better than I could possibly have imagined. Even the friend who came with me was lost for words, and believe me, that NEVER happens!. It was, most definately, better than I remembered it.

 

Ok so, still no exhaust or gearbox. It was dirty and the interior dusty. No front grille (in the boot!), a missing rear door lock, rear door trim removed and sat on the back seat. There were a few little rust bubbles in the paint too, at the bottom of the windscreen and on the rear buttresses. The mileage was really low – almost delivery, 78. Yes. 78 miles from new!

 

The back end of the car was in the air, as the owner had freed off the brakes for me. Underneath was factory fresh, still clean underseal. The wheel arches were just as they had left the factory and the little rust bubbles on the scuttle were no worse than the last time I had seen it.

 

Between us, we pieced together its history.

 

A 2500ie saloon, probably built in 1983, and sat unsold in the UK for a couple of years. In August 1985, Lancar registered it as a new vehicle, and it was delivered to Caffyns down on the South Coast for them to sell as a “new†used car. Within days of it arriving at Caffyns, a UK customer elsewhere in the country had auto-gearbox failure with another Gamma, and, because of the spares availability in the UK and factory shutdown in Italy, a decision was made at Lancar to pull this one back in, remove the auto-box and sell that to the customer. For whatever reason, a replacement autobox then never got fitted back, and the car then sat in the compound for another couple of years, occasionally having parts robbed from it, until I came along upsetting the applecart!

 

Well, we struck a deal (which included a good auto-box), and finally after 23 years, C296NYJ (christened Nigella) was mine. Although unfortunately, the price agreed was nowhere near my original 1987 offer of £800!

 

Delivery was arranged, and so, on 26th April last year, Nigella arrived in Wiltshire.

 

Seeing her outside, on the trailer was another of those “oh dear†moments. She looked terrible. Just how I remembered seeing her all those years back. But, again abley assisted by a good mate, we set too. And wow, was the transformation a joy to behold!

 

The bodywork responded well. Yes, I will need to get a small amount of paintwork done, but she has already had some rectification paintwork prior to registration back in 1985.

 

The interior has come up as fresh as a daisy. That crisp, unused feeling. The tightness of controls, the lack of wear on any surface. The seat material has faded in places, but I can live with that.

 

With the original grille refitted, Nigella once again looked the mighty car she will ultimately become.

 

Whether I will ever be able to use her of course is a different matter, and the recommissioning of engine and fitting of gearbox will have to wait for a few more months yet, but she WILL be done.

 

PIcs to follow

[cort16]

great story. I'm glad you got it in the end.

Have you got a lead on a gearbox? It'd be shame if it never saw the road again.

[Alexg]

What a fantastic tale with an amazing outcome. I can't wait for the pictures!

[M'coli]

A superb story; Boy gets Gamma, Boy loses Gamma, and love is unrequited. Years later, Boy gets Gamma again... Such romance is rare!

[Betaboy2.0]

My first view after 27 years

 

 

After the initial clean

 

 

 

 

 

 

But some work to do bodily. However, how many other 30 year old cars only need stuff like this doing?

 

 

 

 

And finally - that mileage again!!!!

 

[eddyramrod]

Marvellous. I'm in awe.

[lancashireclamper]

Bloody Nora that is amazing!

Think the 2013 calendar beckons!

[Lord Sterling]

That is absolutely amazing, well done on finally getting the car you tried to get all those years ago. I guess some things in life do come to us eventually, even if others dont.

 

Last year, a mate of mine bought a 1989 Rover Sterling with something like 51 miles on the clock. Sadly I never saw it and it was later sold to a collector in Europe.

 

Didnt Luxobargeselios see an xx? miler Peugeot 405 or something sometime back?

[Luxobarges_Are_Us]

I think it was a Persian 405. Spotted by someone else a few months ago, somewhere round the West Mids. I was going to hunt for it, but the company by whose offices it was parked seemed to have moved or more likely closed down.

[Conrad D. Conelrad]

What a fantastic story, and wonderful car.

[trigger]

Some people Will do anything to be in the 2013 autoshite calendar!

[Cavcraft]

Fantastic story, looking forward to hearing more about this.

[shaun1706]

I love these cars. I would be scared of putting any miles on her (but would). Great story

[Mash]

Wow, just wow!!! Amazing story, thanks for sharing with us. I really hope you can finish it off.

[carlo]

Speechless.

 

Feels liks I'm on a Man Utd forum and Eric Cantona's just started posting.

[fiatdaft]

Awesome,now the rest of your collection!

[Alexg]

Cor, like brand new!

[Pete-M]

Speechless.

 

Feels liks I'm on a Man Utd forum and Eric Cantona's just started posting.

 

Nah, Betaboy's posts are full of win.

[Guest]

I think it was a Persian 405. Spotted by someone else a few months ago, somewhere round the West Mids.

 

That would be the Iranian Peugeot 405 I found.

 

That Lancia is amazing - I thought the Delta I found unused since 1987 with 4.470 miles on it would be hard to beat. That Gammas a stunning car with a great background.

[Guest]

Speechless.

 

Feels liks I'm on a Man Utd forum and Eric Cantona's just started posting.

 

Nah, Betaboy's posts are full of win.

 

And wont attack any of the crowd

[Guest]

This thread is the best thing I've read on Autoshite in ages. Long may it continue.

[trigger]

I agree Jon, How hard is it going to be to find another drivetrain for it?

[Taff]

that is a beaut, and a cracking bacl story.

do you plan on showing her? Would love to see her in the metal

[Mr Lobster]

Lovely car and great story. Excellent work.

[Betaboy2.0]

Fellow shiters...

 

Well, what can I say. I am blown away by your kind responses! Many thanks. We all like a little bit of a pick-me-up sometime and your have certainly provided me with that.

 

So, where I am at the moment with Nigella the 78 mile Gamma (Nigella, because the reg is NYJ, and it doesn;t look like a Nigel to me... and like thhe great cooking goddess herself, I think my Nigella has the right curves in alll the right places too, and is really just mobile sex. Anyhow, I digress as usual)

 

I do have a gearbox for her. An auto box at that, so, in theory it shouldn't be too difficult a recommissioning job. I am assurred that the box is a "good 'un", although that doesn't say much! The autobox fitted to the Gamma was a 4-speed AP unit, and not known for its longevity. You know the box that gives trouble in the front drive automatic minis, Aggros and Metrots? Well, take the innards of that box and put it behind a 2.5 flat four, and then wonder why it goes pop after between 20 and 30k miles!

 

I had thought about converting her to manual (I have all the necessary bits to do the job), but I really want to stick to originality on this one. So, we'';ll see. I don't intend to do many miles, so if the box last for only 1k miles, that should cover the next 30 years!

 

Before the box goes in though, THe engine needs to come out and be taken apart. At least the heads off, check for corrosion on the valve stems (once bitten twice shy on Gammas breaking valves) and I want to have a look for any signs of internal corrosion, state of bearings etc. Gamma engines really aren't a frightening thing - in some ways it is their simplicity that causes the problems.

 

With this year being Beta 40th, the Betas have taken priority, but next year will be the year of Nigella!

 

HOwever, the recommissioning has commenced. All the electric windows go up and down, the horn now works as do the lights. So, when I'm being a particularly sad git, I can sit in her, poop the horn, flash the lights, and pretend I am Mr Toad whilst shouting drunkenly out of the window!

[Shep Shepherd]

That is simply astounding!

[406V6]

Amazing story and a beautiful car. That interior is absolutely mint - as it should be for 78 miles ! Thanks for sharing it with us.

[boobydoo]

I don't really see the point of the other bloke buying the car back in '88 if he wasn't going to do anything with it. What a waste. At least you'd had the interest to track it down and offer them something for it. Glad it finally got to its 'rightful' owner after twenty odd years!

[Lankytim]

Holy shite, thats just breathtaking!

 

If that was mine I wouldn't know what to do with it, its probably a good job there's no gearbox as it would be a shame to drive it and clock the miles up.