Giovanni the Lancia Thema V6.

[richbraith]

I've just done something brave.  I've imported a 31 year old Lancia.

I had a Thema, it was a 16 valve TURBO, it was gold, it had lovely green alcantara, it would have been FAST had it ever worked, but sadly it was broken in many complex and headscratching ways.   Having bought it on the promise of restoration, after some considerable time of it lurking in the back of his workshop like an ominous presence the gentleman I bought it from went "Bollox to this" and refunded me.  So I no longer had a Thema.  Sad times.  Because although even having a broken Lancia Thema makes you cooler than the average person, it would be nice to have one that worked sometimes.

So I resolved to find another.  Not an easy task.

And so here's Giovanni, a 1992 Thema V6.  He's from the Netherlands, he was bought from a dealer in South Holland, and he has the 2.8 PRV engine (boo, I hear you Volvoists say, but this is a later, much better development with EFi, it sounds marvellous and Thema owners really rate it).   Being Dutch, he also has the steering wheel on the correct side, though not for the UK which is backward.  But we'll get used to that.  He arrived in the dead of night on Sunday, and so far he's been confined to being reversed into the barn and a blast down the few hundred yards of farm track.

He needs either a battery or an alternator, as he does not go without a jump and even running him for half an hour doesn't mean that he'll go again (spoiler; he won't), there's an exhaust leak which I think is coming from the centre pipe, and there's an indicator bulb out.  After a bit of fettling he'll be in for a test and then I'll start the process of registering in the UK.

Btw, he's named after Giovanni Falcone, the Sicilian anti Mafia prosecutor who was assassinated by the Corleonesi Mafia in the Capaci bombing one month to the day after this car was registered, in a convoy that included a couple of Themas.

Anyway, have some pictures.

[martc]

I think you may have won.

[Rust Collector]

That's beautiful, I love it.

[Soundwave]

Win on toast. Do love a good Type Four.

[hairnet]

thats nice innit

[mat777]

1 hour ago, martc said:

I think you may have won.

What he said!

[motorpunk]

That is utterly glorious. I love it. Colour is perfect. 

Thema anecdote: See this nasty, narrow humpback bridge at the bottom of a steep hill? There's a sharp left hander immediately after the bridge. In a youthful "watch this!" moment a mate jumped the bridge, failed to make the turn, and rolled his white Thema turbo onto it's roof and into the field with me and other pissed-up mates being thrown about inside like the contents of a washing machine. Happy days. 

 

[Lanciaman]

Interesting indeed. I've had a few Themas in my time Inc 3.0 v6 and 8.32.  There's a same colour s2 v6 auto in the uk, previously owned by a couple of the Thema & dedra consortium members. They both really rate the prv Thema.  @lanciamatton here being one of them.

Best of luck with it and join the tdc for much tech  advice and access to parts. 

[grogee]

What a beautiful car. Well done. But three faults isn't enough, please keep us updated when you find more.

Has it got bulletproof windows? I only ask because it might be cursed if you name it after an anti-mafia activist.

[dave j]

Nice

[MiniMinorMk3]

An excellent colour combination. All the best Italian cars feature that.

[Matty]

We had a thema turbo with the alcantara as a kid when my dad was going through a phase of buying cheap quick cars no one wanted. Would've been 12 or so years old already (the car not me) but god it was immense. And still a good looking thing now

[HMC]

Love this, and kudos to you for going through with it. I once looked at importing a thema estate but did t get very far.

That colour combo is just SO tasteful and perfect for the car. True Italian style.

Im particularly in love with the interior and all those dials in the instrument cluster. I’ll go weak at the knees if the labels are in Italian.

[HMC]

Also how come Manufacturers now only associate leather with luxury? Bring back non plasticy seat facings.

[Bitzer]

Errrr... Shouldn't it be named Giovanna?

(He takes his coat and leaves the pub in haste.)

[wuvvum]

That is absolutely fantastic.  Did they ever sell the V6 version here?  I'd assume it'd be a bit overshadowed by the Turbo.

 

Also - [barefoot] Twat. [/barefoot]

[flat4alfa]

40 minutes ago, wuvvum said:

That is absolutely fantastic.  Did they ever sell the V6 version here? 

Yes, but none left on the road

https://www.howmanyleft.co.uk/vehicle/lancia_thema_v6_auto

[Blue 850]

38 minutes ago, flat4alfa said:

Yes, but none left on the road

https://www.howmanyleft.co.uk/vehicle/lancia_thema_v6_auto

There's a Belfast reg one that appears at shows in Ireland

[Bitzer]

I just adore these. Too bad they came just before Fiat introduced galvanizing.

The original Croma was a cracking car as well, no matter that it almost killed a friend of mine. 

[richbraith]

6 hours ago, Lanciaman said:

Interesting indeed. I've had a few Themas in my time Inc 3.0 v6 and 8.32.  There's a same colour s2 v6 auto in the uk, previously owned by a couple of the Thema & dedra consortium members. They both really rate the prv Thema.  @lanciamatton here being one of them.

Best of luck with it and join the tdc for much tech  advice and access to parts. 

Cheers, I've narrowly missed buying that very car before! 

Just joined the TDC, seems to be a must if you own one.  My previous stricken Turbo actually came from them.

[richbraith]

2 hours ago, wuvvum said:

That is absolutely fantastic.  Did they ever sell the V6 version here?  I'd assume it'd be a bit overshadowed by the Turbo.

 

Also - [barefoot] Twat. [/barefoot]

I know they did in Series 1, but I've never seen a UK supplied S2 or S3 (with the Busso) V6.

I don't think I've ever seen a basic 2.0 8v in RHD either, of any age.

[Asimo]

Splendid! Best of luck with the mot and the registration process.

I think the PRV6 Thema only came to UK as an auto. I spent some time trying to find one after my Gamma scars had healed, but pre-internet? No chance!

[Schaefft]

Manual facelift v6 Thema, glorious!

[Bren]

Lovely.

[Lanciaman]

10 hours ago, richbraith said:

I know they did in Series 1, but I've never seen a UK supplied S2 or S3 (with the Busso) V6.

I don't think I've ever seen a basic 2.0 8v in RHD either, of any age.

No, only the s1 came to the UK in v6 auto flavour.    I believe the s2 prv v6 engine  had a fair few differences to s1 but can't recall what. Need to go hunt now. 

There were some base ones back in the day. My first was an 8v ie lx so fogs, alcantara, auto heating etc.   I don't think we got a true base in the uk, with steel wheels and bin lid trims. 

Yeah that s2 turbo from the tdc was, supposed to be scrapped but the guy before you took it on with best intentions.... 

[flat4alfa]

18 hours ago, Blue 850 said:

There's a Belfast reg one that appears at shows in Ireland

When was that photo taken though?  It's been on a SORN since autumn 2020 

[barrett]

Nice. I've driven an 8.32, which is the closest I've come to driving a Ferrari, and it was pretty fucking great, but I'd rather have this tbh

[brownnova]

This is stunning. Absolutely fucking gorgeous. 
 

[Blue 850]

3 hours ago, flat4alfa said:

When was that photo taken though?  It's been on a SORN since autumn 2020 

At the Terenure Show, Dublin 2018, but I saw it posted on facebook last year at another show in Dublin

[tul66]

I've got all the Thema workshop manuals if you're needing any info.