Lancia Lambda

To certain construction details of this car also can be referred from today's perspective. For example here is to find the ancestor of the most today commonly used front axles of the compact class and below. Contrary to the former standard, this Lancia have an independent front suspension and no rigid axle. Rigid are only the casings directly to the wheels connected with the body. In these sleeves are moving, hydraulically damped, the minimal wheel control elements at strut compression/rebounding and steering.

Thus, the unsprung masses are significantly lower and the movements of the front wheels independently of each other. The disadvantage is the low pivot point of the front axle with rolling motions (instantaneous center), what enlarge these enormously. Also, Lancia was still trying for many years to reduce the sliding friction within the sleeve tube, and thus enhance the responding behaviour of the suspension and damping.

The second and perhaps more important innovation is the self-supporting all-steel body. At the doors you will imagine this technique. These do not go entirely to the bottom and hinder slightly the entry/exit. But cause there is no separate chassis, the structure must endorse and therefore must not be cut down too far.

Much more than the side beams provide for stabiliy the center and rear axle tunnel. And when you get past the high sills once, you sit almost equal to the cardan shaft, which is much lower than for other vehicles that time. Requirement for this construction are of course the first presses, which can produce large steel parts and adequate rivet and welding processes. This results in addition to a more efficient production in a very low weight of cars with low center of gravity.

The third of the many innovations relates to the engine. Here will be brought a four cylinder by 13/14°cylinder angles in a compact form and still receives only one cylinder head. So one need only one overhead camshaft. Because the passengers sit deeper, the engine is built more compact and the long wheelbase contributes to a better sitting position.

The four-wheel brake, which begins to establish especially in Europe, is hardly noticeable. However, the Lancia Lambda has provided for substantial attention at least in the sum of its characteristics and is still regard as the push for innovations in the early twenties.