I remember when Lancia launched this. Reading reviews of it, having my mind blown by how cool of a concept it is. I miss the days of crazy, or at least somewhat exciting, engines in regular cars. Even down to V6 versions of a Vectra, Xantia, and - for me especially - the type 43 and 44 Audis with their five cylinder engines. Because the 8.32 scores astonishingly high on the nuts engine in a regular car scale, it will always have a special place in my heart. Thanks for the reminder :)
The Múltipla is one of my favorite Italian cars. Too bad most of them were diesels. If they had fit a Múltipla with the 20V Turbo engine would be magical
@@resnonverba137 You'd be amazed, though I can speak from experience when I say I have had lots of people somehow find videos that were not publicly listed. I seem to recall TH-cam would still show them in playlists! In any case, it's nothing sneaky on Jack's part I am sure
I can't help myself but l love those collabs between manufacturers, like this (which was unknown to me - so, thanks!), the Citroen SM and of course the Lotus Carlton/Omega.
I was thinking this is a totally bonkers and pointless collab with a price tag to match! Until you did a pull and I heard that engine! Although it really can't contend with what other manufacturers were offering. But that engine is spectacular and makes it special in its own unique way! The Thema is remarkable in a very piculiar way Jack Sir👏👍👍
In Brazil they made a saloon version of the Uno called the Fiat Premio. It looks so much like the Thema. It's hard to look at ithe Lancia now and see it for what it really is.
Great video. The 8.32s have always fascinated me. I don't remember their having Ferrari decals on the wing; the point of the car was that it underplayed the engine's roots. Maybe Lancia were getting desperate to shift them and sold out!
very true, there were no Ferrari insignias when they left the factory but many owners applied SF decals to the wings and prancing horse centre caps. The only nod to Ferrari was the yellow pinstripe and the yellow background to the 8.32 badge
@@slacko1971 it was indeed, they were such bespoke cars it's just a shame they weren't a touch faster to distance them from the 16V Turbo, if they'd used the 3.2 QV engine they would have been much closer to the E28 M5 in performance terms.
Great video as always! I love the Thema/Ferrari it was so exotic for it's time , it's something that Italy has lost over the years when they were regarded as one of the most creative pioneers in car manufacturers.The Ferrari/Lancia collaboration may have started in the 50s in F1 but the Lancia D50 you was referring to in the video, they had lost their best driver which was Alberto Ascari who was a double World Champion in F1 the last Italian World Champion in fact and was killed testing a prototype Ferrari at Monza a week after he binned his Lancia in the houber at Monaco for the Grand Prix. Fiat and Agnelli who owned Fiat and was a shareholder in Ferrari as well, in the 70s and 80s FIAT was heavily influenced with Italian brands collaborating together over the years and to be honest as much as on paper seemed like a beautiful marriage between Ferrari Fiat Lancia and Alfa Romeo it was slowly the beginning of the end for these companies.😢 We no longer see beautifully exotic cars from these companies which is a shame, thats why these cars like the Thema are so rare that since we sold our souls to the devil and we are now part of the Stellantis group and it will never be the same again. Unfortunately the passing of Sergio Marchionne in 2017 or 18 who was chairman of the FCA had intentions to bring life back to Alfa and Lancia but fate had other ideas.😢
I lived in Germany in 1989-1993. My father was working at a Nato airbase while I was learning to shag- sort of. The italian neighbour across the street drove a 8.32. The sound was amazing. Down the road our other neighbour drove a SL600 convertible. Nice neighbourhood and wonderful memories😎
If you have driven a Lancia Gamma than you know why the Thema is not popular with Lancia enthusiasts, handling has always be the key thing about Lancia's, the Thema isn't bad but it hasn't Lancia's superior handling. The 8:32 was not the best but for sure the coolest at the time, people didn't know what to think when the spoiler came up, no phone to answer to questions in the good old 80's
Hi Jack. Really enjoyed this road test & the history. Did you manage to track down a Fiat Dino Coupe for you to review - the other well known collaboration with a Ferrari engine?
I own a 420 SE W126 which i love, but i like this car. espeacially the interior. and the engine sounds so good. 80' cars had so much individuality and character. not like the boring plastic smartphones on wheels of these days.
Hi Jack. Great video! I would love to see a comparison video on the italian luxury saloons. By that i mean the Alfa Romeo 164, Fiat Croma and Lancia Thema. I think it would be interesting. Thanks for the videos, keep up the good work!
Dr Massimo Carello (of Carello lighting fame) used to drive around in one of these when he was based at FIAT UK (Not to be confused with FIAT Auto UK) in Berkeley Square London when he was the vice president of Magneti Marelli. His one had at the time experimental Xenon headlights!
The 8.32's are sold at low prices nowadays, you can pick one up between 15 and 20k. And in 2023 collectible cars can sell for more than its catalogue price. Probably because they are not fast compared to todays standard , and the engine is expensive to maintain. Here it shares its place with Citroen SM. Lotus Omega. The engine and exhaust note is excellent though.
"It wasn't absolutely terrible." Damning with faint praise. As you implied, Lancia were so much better than FIAT or Ferrari (D50 and Stratos), but FIAT held the purse-strings.
Nice video Jack, I remember reading about these with intrigue when I owned my Integrale, but can see now from this review why they're so rare. Definitely seems a bit pointless to me, having a glorious sounding Ferrari engine, wrapped up in an uninspiring body & chassis, it would feel like it's asking you to play, then letting you down when you accepted. It's not luxurious enough to compete with the Jag, but not sporty enough to compete with the BMW, but comes with an expensive engine, making it definitely a tough pick, only it's oddball & rarity tag leaving some intrigue.
Legend says the president of Futebol Clube do Porto, Mr. Pinto da Costa had one. Later, it was tossed into a corner near the office in the stadium. Seems that to service the engine of the 8.32 it was required Ferrari expertise and Ferrari owner pockets, so all was good till it was no longer good! 😅 It was a remarkable Thema. I recall how it was announced by the press as the "Lancia by Ferrari" but I would say it was tailored for "Lancistas" and hard-core Italian sport cars fanatics with deep pockets.
I own a red one from 88 with low mileage. It is not a reasonable car at all, but who ever bought a proper italian car ( I am not talking about Stilos or Tempras....) with reason in mind??? The engine is really fantastic : sound, pick up, how it revs... and Ferrari horses mayby don´t count twice but at least 1,3... Comfort is fine, materials superb, finsih good. Chassis on the comfy side, no racer at all! A complete underdog no one really knows (except from every Italian...)..
Very nice video of a car i truly love... But i have to make a little correction, if admitted: At the launch of the 8.32, the fastest turbo thema was the 8v 166hp and the V8 was way faster. With the II series, 181 (and 175)hp the difference was lower but still 30hp and a total different trim level. Only the last turbo mk3 with 201 hp (more or less, the Evo engine) the Thema Turbo was as fast or a bit faster than the 8.32 but the Thema-Ferrari was already out of production (infact, the special trim was transferred to the LX versions).
If you had used the term 'Gran Turismo', you would have got it all correct :) Having owned one for 20 years, this is a true Italian creation, which you can only adore, if you are into the Italian way of thinking...!
Yes. Those who criticise it here just have a less than optimal mindset. I am a great enthusiast for Italy and all things Italian. That Lancia fits right in for me.
I had a Reflex Green Series 2 around 15 years ago here in the UK and I kind of agree with your sentiments. The 16V Turbo was a better car all things considered, 'but' it didn't have the Ferrari V8, bulit by Ducati in Bologna I believe. The Swiss loved them for some reason, that was their biggest market but with their mandatory catalysts the power was even lower. The interior by Poltrona Frau was beautifully made but the squeaks from the leather jarred when compared to the Alcantara used in the Turbos. Anyone who says the 8.32 was a great car is ill informed it is however an interesting piece of Lancias and Ferraris history. As a footnote I always thought it was amusing that Enzo chose to use an Alfa 164 as his daily driver while the 8.32 was in production, make of that what you will......
The claim that Enzo Ferrari used a Alfa 164 Twin Spark as his daily duirng his last days on Earth is erroneous. The aforesaid is largely based on a 'promotional photo' that depicts Enzo standing behind the open driver's door of a Alfa 164 - a car sporting a Milano (i.e. not Modena) based registration plate. His personal transport during his final period on Earth was a Lancia 8.32.
@@georgebettiol8338 I personally saw Enzo being driven in a 164 TS at Maranello, it would obviously be Milano registered as it would have been supplied by Alfa. I'm not saying he didn't use an 8.32 but I've never seen any pics of him driving or being a passengered in one in day to day use, I have also seen the press photo you talk about and I have seen in person him being chauffered in a 164 TS.
@@benzinapaul7416 I'm sure the Alfa marketting folk would have been chuffed at the opportunity to provide Enzo with a free Alfa 164 - as it certainly would promote the brand.
You really have to have a soft spot for these, because a Saab 9000 Aero is faster, better built and much cheaper to run. An Alfa 164 Super 3.0 24v is just about as quick and it too has a great engine, the Busso V6.
Probably mostly an "branding" car. A lot of special models ain't developed to sell, but to give the brand media exposure and maybe try to push the image of the brand. Like when the "boring" brands Vauxhall/Opel made the worlds fastest 4 door sedan (saloon). Putting an Ferrari engine in a Lancia made the Lancia brand appear a little more luxury.
Simple, Fiat told Ferrari to agree.. Also at arrival 1987 it was both the strongest & fastest Lancia Thema, later 16V Turbos were as powerful as in the Integrales of course. As always reviewing brakes on an old car is silly; you have no idea of pad/fluid conditions. Agree on the seats! The same as Fiat Croma, just great. Have them in my Argenta
9:00 - OH yes, you are UK driver. No wonder the Thema was so expensive there and Jags were cheaper. Those Themas were CONVERTED to your (wrong) side driving (hehe). Right now there is 25 Thema 8.32's on EU market. They goes from 16-37.000 EUR.
MOM, can I borrow your car Friday night ?? .... NOT FEELING IT. +++++++++++++++++++ THAT SAID, I GET THE INCOGNITO YUPPIE, BOSSMAN THING. I would pull the Ferrari 8.32 badge off the grill and leave the Spoiler hidden unless away from town.
Given it was an executive sized car it would have been comparable to a 5 series and if it was made today you would assume it would compete with the M5 with whatever Ferrari engine they put it in it, the M5 today is 115k pounds so...
I love the Thema (all versions) - one of the last great Lancias - wonderfully understated Giugiaro styling, classy interior, and then 2 mighty engines - the 2 litre turbo - and this wonderful example of Italian madness!!
i didn´t found yet a Lancia K coupé in good condition but last summer i bought a perfect, looking new ALFA ROMEU 164 2.0L twin cam boxer engine i only knew the turbo version with more horse power but this was looking and felt new ,it´s a hell of a car with a 2.0L inline engine
@@RUfromthe40s I don't know where you live, but here in the Netherlands there are still some quite nice ones available (in every enige set-up: the 5 cylinder 2.4, the Turbo (both the 4 and the 5 cylinder, (which is the fastest Lancia ever made) and the 3.0 V6
1:18 Maserati built by then the 430 (Biturbo) and the bombastic Quattroporte 4.9 so there was a certain alernative. Very nice sleeper though this 8.32😊
Been waiting for this one. The 8.32 was mostly about the Ferrari-powered bragging rights - in fact Enzo Ferrari himself owned one towards the end of his life. And the Saab 9000 which used the same Type 4 platform was tested with a prototype 4.0L V8.
It is true that Enzo Ferrari owned one. About this car there is a legend.....They say that Enzo Ferrari complained that 215 Hp were not enough! He called the chief engineer at Maranello plant and they tuned a V8 with an output of 250 Hp for his Thema. Gianni Agnelli, boss of Fiat Group, had a 8.32 Station Wagon (one only) especially built for him, painted in special grey tone and blue leather interior.
Hello Jack. Thanks for a great review of my 8.32. As we discussed on the day, despite how the 8.32 compared to it's contemporaries in it's day it's a fanatstic car to own and drive today. If anyone out there is thinking about having Jack do a video of their car I can confirm Jack is a true and genuine enthusiast and will treat your car with care and respect.
In today's context, I think it's a more interesting classic car proposition than most if not all its contemporaries. In its day I'd probably have chosen a V12 Jag, but today probably one of these, and they're not too expensive to buy. And I'd imagine not that bad to run, either, unless something goes wrong with the engine, or you need interior trim.
Your grandchildren will have the same reaction to my grandfather's glorious tales about fantastic horses. My reaction was: Grandpa, they stink, and their flesh is not nice to eat. Your grandchildren will ask you how it is possible that noise and stench was good.
@@ronaldderooij1774 An interesting perspective. I can contribute that I also don't appreciate the smell of lead-acid or lithium-iron batteries and I certainly would not like to eat any part of the batteries. Notably, I am a fan of EVs and would own the 'fast Tesla' in a heart beat - even though the car isn't the best with regards styling.
@@georgebettiol8338 Haha, I am with you. And Tesla's build quality is not too good either, but maybe the ones made in Germany are better. I don't know.
I'm gonna tell my grandkids how I could travel across the continent non stop with my friends just changing drivers and stopping for 5 minute fill ups it's gonna blow their minds.
In comparison to almost everything at the time, the car was clearly out classed … but in isolation, today, it’s a wonderful thing that deserves to be celebrated and enjoyed ❤
I'm hoping Stellantis relaunch a successor for this! The engine and Alcantara rosewood interior are outstanding! It would be interesting to see a review of the Lancia Kappa or Thesis (imported one) as they were never sold in the UK.
Thanks for finding such interesting and entertaining cars to review. Absolutely fantastic sounding V8 and I was always a fan of the Thema despite having numerous SAAB 9000's instead, imagine that engine in the 9000!
It's one car I would loved to have owned. They weren't particularly quick and I think it was more the uniqueness/quirkiness of them that was the appeal. I did end up buying it's little brother, the Fiat Croma Turbo and the less said about that heap the better
Back in the 70s and 80s the local pharmacist where I lived had two Fulvias, the more common coupe and the Zagato hatchback with the hexagonal headlight surrounds, both beautiful cars. My mother had a Beta HPE for some years, a very quirky car that I talked her into buying. The HPE really needed a regular Italian tune up for the engine to work properly.
Ah beautiful Lancias. I had a later one - a Delta HF Turbo - It had basically the same engine as your mum's car - I loved it, my first fuel injected, turbo, ECU car - a revelation to me. I loved it. For me the first considerations about a car are engine, transmission and brakes, other considerations are incidental so long as the car will do it's job.
Why do you consider it a quirky car? I find it sporty-elegant-practical-emotional. A girlfriend of mine had it second hand in the late 80s and we made fantastic trips around Europe. Everywhere he met attention
@@studiocalder818 It had everything you say but also issues like strange noises when driving it no mechanic could find the cause of, problem going around corners quickly when the oil would go to one end of the sump resulting in oil pressure dropping to 0 for a moment, the need to redline it several times after a week or two of normal driving to get the engine running like it should and not like there is something seriously wrong with it. The build quality was also third rate, when it was only a week old the spot welds holding one of the rear side windows let go and the dealer's mechanic fixed it using rivets and when it was one month old the main wiring loom which was rubbing against the steering column shorted because insulation wore through resulting in the whole dash catching on fire and needing to be replaced.
I have a 1988 issue of Autopista (a Spanish car magazine) where they matched up a Thema 8.32 against a Sierra Cosworth. They are very different despite having similar power. The Sierra is more brutal and more sporty whereas the Thema is more of a grand tourer.
There was Fiat Croma in 1993 with Alfa Romeo Busso V6 2.5 that was also a sublime Italo Mafia car! Nobody expects a V6 in a Fiat Croma Roma Taxi cab car :-))))
I remember when that car was introduced, i went to see it at a car show, it was beautiful! At the time of was impressive, Lancia was definitely playing the Ferrari card
In today's context, I think they're more special than they were when new, and you can pick up a good one for 15-25K, depending on the country it's being sold in, and whether you're prepared to import. Of course, all were LHD, so it doesn't really matter where you buy one. I'd also say that most alternatives were bigger and automatic. So, for the person who wants to drive themself, drive a manual, and spends a lot of time driving on narrow roads and crowded city streets, I think the engine and the interior give the car a usp. And as you say it's pretty stealth and goes under the radar, which would appeal to many people. Yeah, you can probably gather, I'd quite like one of these. Back in the day I'd have probably chosen a V12 Jag, but today, as a classic car proposition, I think these are more interesting.
Fantastic! I love these. You’re content is getting better and better. I think you might have just been promoted to be my favourite car TH-camr (not that anyone cares) 👍🏼
@@pauldoree3967Harry’s reviews are ok if you can filter out “In the EVO days we went the house in Cannes every weekend” etc but he comes out with some toe curlers when talking (unscripted) to restorers or Ian Tyrell. Ian Tyrell is the king - “Oooh Harry, What’s that noise!? It has always done that. We need to return to the workshop right away!”
I love the thema 8.32. Its so lancia! The spoiler, engine and overall looks depsite its price or weight. Its a good car in my opinion and only one of very few cars to have a ferrari engine thats not a ferrari.
I remember at that time I was reading Car, a journalist commented that the Lancia Thema model was a great build and road quality car and wondered why they only sold about 1.5 a day in the UK
I remember when that came arrived and reading about it in Autocar. It was difficult not to be wowed by it given that engine and that spoiler and its action is just wonderful. Great that they're still around a real curio!
Owned a 2.8 V6 back in the day, and always had this in mind mainly for the alcantara everywhere, the engine of course and last but in all honestly the most important gadget; the pop up spoiler on the boot.
Back in the early '70-ties FIAT owner Agnetti Agnelli had a FIAT 124 (or 130/132?) build with a Ferrari engine just to escape Communist hitmen and high jackers. In those days the roads of Italy were not safe for any industrialist. That's where the idea of this Thema 8.32 came from. It is a heritage kinda thing so to say.
Agnelli was a fast driver and he had a serious car accident in 1952 in France: he nearly lost his left leg. .Since then he continued to drive fast , but mostly of his cars had an automatic transmission. In the 70-ties he had his own bodyguards, but he still loved to drive fast his own car regardless terrorists.
I remember seeing this at the London Motor Show when it was brand new and thought that the engine looked amazing. Lancia had it displayed with the bonnet up to show the engine off and it wasn't roped off so you could walk right up to it. I've often looked these up over the years to see how much they go for and they held their values consistently well in comparison to other hot saloon cars of that era such as the Sierra Cosworth that became almost worthless at one point, although it may be lacking a bit behind lately!
Always had great admiration for these cars , in fact all the Thema range. It was a similar idea to the Lotus Cortina , in a way , and I often wondered how a Mk 4/5 Lotus Cortina would have fared, but Lotus teamed up with the Chrysler group instead with the Lotus Sunbeam. Putting the Ferrari 308 in this was odd, particularly when Lancia had a quicker car in the Thema Turbo but the power delivery was a totally different experience. The unique character , with the extra detailing to the interior , however, really makes this a truly bespoke car
Thanks Jack, what an amazing and unique car! Hoping someone is able to offer you an Alfa 164 Cloverleaf to review at some stage for the Arese approach to this platform.
Thanks for having a proper go in an 8:32 Jack. Great to see a good drive/review vid of one of these filmed on UK roads. There are some interesting ones out there but mostly filmed in Italy and as you say very, very few cars reached the UK. I think I'm right in saying that those prized "Lancia by Ferrari" engines were actually built (in parts anyway) by Ducati. Always had a liking for the 9000/Croma/164/Thema and this is quite a "Q car" which I'm always going to love.
I like this only because it's interesting and very rare but, as you correctly stated, it wasn't that good compared to its competitors. A manual 3.6 XJ40 would have been a good shout in this era.
I remember when Lancia launched this. Reading reviews of it, having my mind blown by how cool of a concept it is. I miss the days of crazy, or at least somewhat exciting, engines in regular cars. Even down to V6 versions of a Vectra, Xantia, and - for me especially - the type 43 and 44 Audis with their five cylinder engines. Because the 8.32 scores astonishingly high on the nuts engine in a regular car scale, it will always have a special place in my heart. Thanks for the reminder :)
Xantia activa V6 was a hell of a car. The r21 turbo quadra and the mighty accord typeR as well.
They should have continued this... imagine a 355-powered Multipla, etc.
a panda sf90
@@zloychechen5150 Nissan actually put the GT-R R35 powertrain in the little SUV, I think called the Juke!
😂😂😂😂
How much that Multipla gonna cost? Multi££ I'm guessing
The Múltipla is one of my favorite Italian cars.
Too bad most of them were diesels.
If they had fit a Múltipla with the 20V Turbo engine would be magical
Thank you, Jack! You and JayEmm are my favorite youtube presenters. A new video is always a cheer.
5/6/23 @ 1917. How is this comment shown as being from 9 days ago when this video was uploaded 2 hours ago?
@@resnonverba137 Something fishy going on.
@@dmode2793 My guess - this is the owner and got a sneak preview of the video
@@JayEmmOnCars This doesn't feel like the sort of comment an owner would write after seeing his car being tested.
@@resnonverba137 You'd be amazed, though I can speak from experience when I say I have had lots of people somehow find videos that were not publicly listed. I seem to recall TH-cam would still show them in playlists! In any case, it's nothing sneaky on Jack's part I am sure
I can't help myself but l love those collabs between manufacturers, like this (which was unknown to me - so, thanks!), the Citroen SM and of course the Lotus Carlton/Omega.
I was thinking this is a totally bonkers and pointless collab with a price tag to match! Until you did a pull and I heard that engine! Although it really can't contend with what other manufacturers were offering. But that engine is spectacular and makes it special in its own unique way!
The Thema is remarkable in a very piculiar way Jack Sir👏👍👍
In Brazil they made a saloon version of the Uno called the Fiat Premio. It looks so much like the Thema. It's hard to look at ithe Lancia now and see it for what it really is.
Great video. The 8.32s have always fascinated me. I don't remember their having Ferrari decals on the wing; the point of the car was that it underplayed the engine's roots. Maybe Lancia were getting desperate to shift them and sold out!
very true, there were no Ferrari insignias when they left the factory but many owners applied SF decals to the wings and prancing horse centre caps. The only nod to Ferrari was the yellow pinstripe and the yellow background to the 8.32 badge
@@benzinapaul7416 That pin stripe was hand painted as well not a sticker, I always thought that was a cool touch.
@@slacko1971 it was indeed, they were such bespoke cars it's just a shame they weren't a touch faster to distance them from the 16V Turbo, if they'd used the 3.2 QV engine they would have been much closer to the E28 M5 in performance terms.
Another great video Jack, the soundtrack from that engine would be enough alone to justify adopting that!
Great stuff, keep it up.
Had the 8.32 been available down under, the Aussies would probably have worked out a way to convert it to right-hand-drive.
Great video as always! I love the Thema/Ferrari it was so exotic for it's time , it's something that Italy has lost over the years when they were regarded as one of the most creative pioneers in car manufacturers.The Ferrari/Lancia collaboration may have started in the 50s in F1 but the Lancia D50 you was referring to in the video, they had lost their best driver which was Alberto Ascari who was a double World Champion in F1 the last Italian World Champion in fact and was killed testing a prototype Ferrari at Monza a week after he binned his Lancia in the houber at Monaco for the Grand Prix. Fiat and Agnelli who owned Fiat and was a shareholder in Ferrari as well, in the 70s and 80s FIAT was heavily influenced with Italian brands collaborating together over the years and to be honest as much as on paper seemed like a beautiful marriage between Ferrari Fiat Lancia and Alfa Romeo it was slowly the beginning of the end for these companies.😢 We no longer see beautifully exotic cars from these companies which is a shame, thats why these cars like the Thema are so rare that since we sold our souls to the devil and we are now part of the Stellantis group and it will never be the same again. Unfortunately the passing of Sergio Marchionne in 2017 or 18 who was chairman of the FCA had intentions to bring life back to Alfa and Lancia but fate had other ideas.😢
I lived in Germany in 1989-1993. My father was working at a Nato airbase while I was learning to shag- sort of. The italian neighbour across the street drove a 8.32. The sound was amazing. Down the road our other neighbour drove a SL600 convertible. Nice neighbourhood and wonderful memories😎
If you have driven a Lancia Gamma than you know why the Thema is not popular with Lancia enthusiasts, handling has always be the key thing about Lancia's, the Thema isn't bad but it hasn't Lancia's superior handling. The 8:32 was not the best but for sure the coolest at the time, people didn't know what to think when the spoiler came up, no phone to answer to questions in the good old 80's
The only time I saw one of these, it was parked outside a smart restaurant in Bologna. Cheers for the great reviews you do Jack.
Hi Jack. Really enjoyed this road test & the history. Did you manage to track down a Fiat Dino Coupe for you to review - the other well known collaboration with a Ferrari engine?
I own a 420 SE W126 which i love, but i like this car. espeacially the interior. and the engine sounds so good.
80' cars had so much individuality and character. not like the boring plastic smartphones on wheels of these days.
I dream of one day having a Lancia. Not this one. A Zagato, or Delta Integrale. But thoroughly enjoyed your superb video.
Hi Jack. Great video! I would love to see a comparison video on the italian luxury saloons. By that i mean the Alfa Romeo 164, Fiat Croma and Lancia Thema. I think it would be interesting. Thanks for the videos, keep up the good work!
Ah yes bit not easy to get them all in one place now!! Or even get a normal Thema or Croma. I’ve been trying
That’s if he can find a Fiat Croma 😂
Dr Massimo Carello (of Carello lighting fame) used to drive around in one of these when he was based at FIAT UK (Not to be confused with FIAT Auto UK) in Berkeley Square London when he was the vice president of Magneti Marelli. His one had at the time experimental Xenon headlights!
Loved the shape of these especially the prefacelift version
, am happy to have owned a none ferrrari engined one.
@@justinbennitt835 yep possibly the rear ones had different lines on some of them, long time ago
I love your shows Jack! Thanks
The W124 was the predecessor of the E-Class (actually the last W124 model years were already called E-Class), the car shown here ist the W126 S-Class.
The 8.32's are sold at low prices nowadays, you can pick one up between 15 and 20k. And in 2023 collectible cars can sell for more than its catalogue price. Probably because they are not fast compared to todays standard , and the engine is expensive to maintain. Here it shares its place with Citroen SM. Lotus Omega. The engine and exhaust note is excellent though.
"It wasn't absolutely terrible." Damning with faint praise. As you implied, Lancia were so much better than FIAT or Ferrari (D50 and Stratos), but FIAT held the purse-strings.
Superb car. Great channel- always the rare groove Italiano 👌
Nice video Jack, I remember reading about these with intrigue when I owned my Integrale, but can see now from this review why they're so rare. Definitely seems a bit pointless to me, having a glorious sounding Ferrari engine, wrapped up in an uninspiring body & chassis, it would feel like it's asking you to play, then letting you down when you accepted. It's not luxurious enough to compete with the Jag, but not sporty enough to compete with the BMW, but comes with an expensive engine, making it definitely a tough pick, only it's oddball & rarity tag leaving some intrigue.
Legend says the president of Futebol Clube do Porto, Mr. Pinto da Costa had one. Later, it was tossed into a corner near the office in the stadium. Seems that to service the engine of the 8.32 it was required Ferrari expertise and Ferrari owner pockets, so all was good till it was no longer good! 😅
It was a remarkable Thema. I recall how it was announced by the press as the "Lancia by Ferrari" but I would say it was tailored for "Lancistas" and hard-core Italian sport cars fanatics with deep pockets.
Yayyyyyy! Thanks for this ❤
Still have 2.0T 16V ) And all problems with spare parts )))Camshafts is a pain
Be mad to buy it then but what a fun thing it is now. Love it.
I have fond memories of going for a ride in a modified Thema Turbo. My god that car could book it.
The only problem of the Thema 8.32 is thats a front wheel drive. Would be perfect as rear wheel drive
I own a red one from 88 with low mileage. It is not a reasonable car at all, but who ever bought a proper italian car ( I am not talking about Stilos or Tempras....) with reason in mind??? The engine is really fantastic : sound, pick up, how it revs... and Ferrari horses mayby don´t count twice but at least 1,3...
Comfort is fine, materials superb, finsih good. Chassis on the comfy side, no racer at all! A complete underdog no one really knows (except from every Italian...)..
In my view the i.e 2000 Turbo 16 V Mk2 version of this Thema was the better- balanced and more reliable car with execellent performance.
Well that’s pretty much what I say in the video… I know which one I’d prefer to own though!
Executive saloon with Ferrari Engine.
Well, it's better then a Ferrari Mondial or 308 for daily use.
Very nice video of a car i truly love... But i have to make a little correction, if admitted:
At the launch of the 8.32, the fastest turbo thema was the 8v 166hp and the V8 was way faster. With the II series, 181 (and 175)hp the difference was lower but still 30hp and a total different trim level. Only the last turbo mk3 with 201 hp (more or less, the Evo engine) the Thema Turbo was as fast or a bit faster than the 8.32 but the Thema-Ferrari was already out of production (infact, the special trim was transferred to the LX versions).
gorgeous 8.32! drove it in the past but it rusted away alas in the Dutch climate...
If you had used the term 'Gran Turismo', you would have got it all correct :) Having owned one for 20 years, this is a true Italian creation, which you can only adore, if you are into the Italian way of thinking...!
Yes. Those who criticise it here just have a less than optimal mindset. I am a great enthusiast for Italy and all things Italian. That Lancia fits right in for me.
Uniquenes does make it special. Thank you
I had a Reflex Green Series 2 around 15 years ago here in the UK and I kind of agree with your sentiments. The 16V Turbo was a better car all things considered, 'but' it didn't have the Ferrari V8, bulit by Ducati in Bologna I believe. The Swiss loved them for some reason, that was their biggest market but with their mandatory catalysts the power was even lower. The interior by Poltrona Frau was beautifully made but the squeaks from the leather jarred when compared to the Alcantara used in the Turbos. Anyone who says the 8.32 was a great car is ill informed it is however an interesting piece of Lancias and Ferraris history. As a footnote I always thought it was amusing that Enzo chose to use an Alfa 164 as his daily driver while the 8.32 was in production, make of that what you will......
The claim that Enzo Ferrari used a Alfa 164 Twin Spark as his daily duirng his last days on Earth is erroneous. The aforesaid is largely based on a 'promotional photo' that depicts Enzo standing behind the open driver's door of a Alfa 164 - a car sporting a Milano (i.e. not Modena) based registration plate. His personal transport during his final period on Earth was a Lancia 8.32.
@@georgebettiol8338 I personally saw Enzo being driven in a 164 TS at Maranello, it would obviously be Milano registered as it would have been supplied by Alfa. I'm not saying he didn't use an 8.32 but I've never seen any pics of him driving or being a passengered in one in day to day use, I have also seen the press photo you talk about and I have seen in person him being chauffered in a 164 TS.
@@benzinapaul7416 I'm sure the Alfa marketting folk would have been chuffed at the opportunity to provide Enzo with a free Alfa 164 - as it certainly would promote the brand.
I love the understated elegance of the Thema in all its guises, but the 8.32 is the ultimate for me; the interior is beautiful.
the interior was also used in very late Themas with the Alfa Busso 3.0 V6
At 1 minute 15 you are refering to the Mercedes S-Class as the W124 - that´s wrong, because the S-Class was the W126, as shown in your video.
Great example of Lancia's middle finger to convention. V cool
Cracking car - that exhaust though… surely not stock?!
I think he may have taken the centre silencer out..
You really have to have a soft spot for these, because a Saab 9000 Aero is faster, better built and much cheaper to run. An Alfa 164 Super 3.0 24v is just about as quick and it too has a great engine, the Busso V6.
I wonder what the prices of all those cars were in Italy for instance?
Probably mostly an "branding" car. A lot of special models ain't developed to sell, but to give the brand media exposure and maybe try to push the image of the brand. Like when the "boring" brands Vauxhall/Opel made the worlds fastest 4 door sedan (saloon). Putting an Ferrari engine in a Lancia made the Lancia brand appear a little more luxury.
Please Daimler Limousine with SP250 V8
The 8.32 is a remarkable curiosity but it is difficult to imagine why anyone would have bought one at the time.
You heard the part about "Ferrari-engined," right?
@@Jason_Quinn And you could of bought a whole Ferrari for similar money
@@DavidDavid-kl4ru But I need a back-a seat-a for-a my ninos.
Simple, Fiat told Ferrari to agree.. Also at arrival 1987 it was both the strongest & fastest Lancia Thema, later 16V Turbos were as powerful as in the Integrales of course. As always reviewing brakes on an old car is silly; you have no idea of pad/fluid conditions.
Agree on the seats! The same as Fiat Croma, just great. Have them in my Argenta
Great car videos!
Imagine the amount of understeering for this V8 FWD saloon
9:00 - OH yes, you are UK driver. No wonder the Thema was so expensive there and Jags were cheaper. Those Themas were CONVERTED to your (wrong) side driving (hehe). Right now there is 25 Thema 8.32's on EU market. They goes from 16-37.000 EUR.
Eh, he's driving a left hand drive car buddy
Hi IN reference to the Mercedes 420 V8 (350 bottom end + 420 top it was a maid up engine it was horidall!
Fabulous car - totally up my street 👍 Thanks Jack
Wasn’t this built on the shared platform that Saab built the 9000 on and Alfa the 164?
Yes… see my Saab 9000 Aero video for all the info on that side of things!
8:32 means 8 cilinders 32 valves
MOM, can I borrow your car Friday night ?? ....
NOT FEELING IT.
+++++++++++++++++++
THAT SAID, I GET THE INCOGNITO YUPPIE, BOSSMAN THING. I would pull the Ferrari 8.32 badge off the grill and leave the Spoiler hidden unless away from town.
Dear Jack, Your enthusiasm for cars is contagious but your love for the ads frequency is (currently) not attractive at all.
I suppose the chimney has to smoke🏭
TH-cam picks how many ads to run… sorry if it’s a bother!
There's one for sale here in New Zealand. It's blue and only done 95,000km's, and they're asking $45k nzd.
£37,500 in 1986 would be £104,494 in today's money according to the Bank of England inflation calculator.
And worth every penny.
@@philiptownsend4026 You think?
@@asensibleyoungman2978 They would sell like Hot cakes today
@@TheAsa1972 Tongue firmly in cheek 😂
Given it was an executive sized car it would have been comparable to a 5 series and if it was made today you would assume it would compete with the M5 with whatever Ferrari engine they put it in it, the M5 today is 115k pounds so...
I love the Thema (all versions) - one of the last great Lancias - wonderfully understated Giugiaro styling, classy interior, and then 2 mighty engines - the 2 litre turbo - and this wonderful example of Italian madness!!
Didn't it have the Busso V6 as well?
@@mehrzahl2219 it did indeed - I stand corrected! *3* mighty engines……oh, and the PRV……..
@@simonhodgetts6530 did not know about the PRV. Madness!!
i didn´t found yet a Lancia K coupé in good condition but last summer i bought a perfect, looking new ALFA ROMEU 164 2.0L twin cam boxer engine i only knew the turbo version with more horse power but this was looking and felt new ,it´s a hell of a car with a 2.0L inline engine
@@RUfromthe40s I don't know where you live, but here in the Netherlands there are still some quite nice ones available (in every enige set-up: the 5 cylinder 2.4, the Turbo (both the 4 and the 5 cylinder, (which is the fastest Lancia ever made) and the 3.0 V6
I vaguely recall reading the fact the engine was assembled at the Ducati factory in Bologna.
1:18 Maserati built by then the 430 (Biturbo) and the bombastic Quattroporte 4.9 so there was a certain alernative. Very nice sleeper though this 8.32😊
Been waiting for this one. The 8.32 was mostly about the Ferrari-powered bragging rights - in fact Enzo Ferrari himself owned one towards the end of his life. And the Saab 9000 which used the same Type 4 platform was tested with a prototype 4.0L V8.
It is true that Enzo Ferrari owned one. About this car there is a legend.....They say that Enzo Ferrari complained that 215 Hp were not enough! He called the chief engineer at Maranello plant and they tuned a V8 with an output of 250 Hp for his Thema. Gianni Agnelli, boss of Fiat Group, had a 8.32 Station Wagon (one only) especially built for him, painted in special grey tone and blue leather interior.
Hello Jack. Thanks for a great review of my 8.32. As we discussed on the day, despite how the 8.32 compared to it's contemporaries in it's day it's a fanatstic car to own and drive today. If anyone out there is thinking about having Jack do a video of their car I can confirm Jack is a true and genuine enthusiast and will treat your car with care and respect.
Thank you for showing us your car.
The interior looks beautiful, and it's a head-turner from the outside too.
Lovely car m8. As a kid I remember regularly seeing a white one with Ferrari badges, being driven very fast all over town!
In today's context, I think it's a more interesting classic car proposition than most if not all its contemporaries. In its day I'd probably have chosen a V12 Jag, but today probably one of these, and they're not too expensive to buy. And I'd imagine not that bad to run, either, unless something goes wrong with the engine, or you need interior trim.
Really nice car and not something you see these days.
Im so pleased you've put so much time and effort into Number 27 Jack!
Its an excellent channel and i always enjoy watching buddy 👏👍
Thank you old chap!!
What an absolutely glorious exhaust sound. Revel in it, the electric car will make that fantastic sound a thing to tell your grandkids sbout
Yessss Sir. So true (and so sad)
Your grandchildren will have the same reaction to my grandfather's glorious tales about fantastic horses. My reaction was: Grandpa, they stink, and their flesh is not nice to eat. Your grandchildren will ask you how it is possible that noise and stench was good.
@@ronaldderooij1774 An interesting perspective. I can contribute that I also don't appreciate the smell of lead-acid or lithium-iron batteries and I certainly would not like to eat any part of the batteries.
Notably, I am a fan of EVs and would own the 'fast Tesla' in a heart beat - even though the car isn't the best with regards styling.
@@georgebettiol8338 Haha, I am with you. And Tesla's build quality is not too good either, but maybe the ones made in Germany are better. I don't know.
I'm gonna tell my grandkids how I could travel across the continent non stop with my friends just changing drivers and stopping for 5 minute fill ups it's gonna blow their minds.
In comparison to almost everything at the time, the car was clearly out classed … but in isolation, today, it’s a wonderful thing that deserves to be celebrated and enjoyed ❤
I'm hoping Stellantis relaunch a successor for this! The engine and Alcantara rosewood interior are outstanding! It would be interesting to see a review of the Lancia Kappa or Thesis (imported one) as they were never sold in the UK.
I wouldn't hedge my bets on that too much. If they redo the Thema, it will be another rebadge of C300 or some bullcrap like that.
A me piace molto! Turns fuel into noise and drama but soooo entertaining, like the Alfas I've driven. Hard not to fall in love...
I spent 15 months working in Belgium in the late 1990s. One was for sale locally from a dealer. I was very tempted!
I drove a Thema for a weekend. It was a pretty good car overall. Not incredible. Totally understated. The owner said it was expensive to maintain.
thanks for bringing us another quirky classic...
Thanks for finding such interesting and entertaining cars to review. Absolutely fantastic sounding V8 and I was always a fan of the Thema despite having numerous SAAB 9000's instead, imagine that engine in the 9000!
You'll know of the Saab 9000 V8, then.
Just the one, mind.
No mid 80’s E24 or Shaguar sounds like that…
It's one car I would loved to have owned. They weren't particularly quick and I think it was more the uniqueness/quirkiness of them that was the appeal. I did end up buying it's little brother, the Fiat Croma Turbo and the less said about that heap the better
Back in the 70s and 80s the local pharmacist where I lived had two Fulvias, the more common coupe and the Zagato hatchback with the hexagonal headlight surrounds, both beautiful cars. My mother had a Beta HPE for some years, a very quirky car that I talked her into buying. The HPE really needed a regular Italian tune up for the engine to work properly.
Ah beautiful Lancias. I had a later one - a Delta HF Turbo - It had basically the same engine as your mum's car - I loved it, my first fuel injected, turbo, ECU car - a revelation to me. I loved it.
For me the first considerations about a car are engine, transmission and brakes, other considerations are incidental so long as the car will do it's job.
Why do you consider it a quirky car? I find it sporty-elegant-practical-emotional. A girlfriend of mine had it second hand in the late 80s and we made fantastic trips around Europe. Everywhere he met attention
@@studiocalder818 It had everything you say but also issues like strange noises when driving it no mechanic could find the cause of, problem going around corners quickly when the oil would go to one end of the sump resulting in oil pressure dropping to 0 for a moment, the need to redline it several times after a week or two of normal driving to get the engine running like it should and not like there is something seriously wrong with it. The build quality was also third rate, when it was only a week old the spot welds holding one of the rear side windows let go and the dealer's mechanic fixed it using rivets and when it was one month old the main wiring loom which was rubbing against the steering column shorted because insulation wore through resulting in the whole dash catching on fire and needing to be replaced.
I have a 1988 issue of Autopista (a Spanish car magazine) where they matched up a Thema 8.32 against a Sierra Cosworth.
They are very different despite having similar power. The Sierra is more brutal and more sporty whereas the Thema is more of a grand tourer.
There was Fiat Croma in 1993 with Alfa Romeo Busso V6 2.5 that was also a sublime Italo Mafia car! Nobody expects a V6 in a Fiat Croma Roma Taxi cab car :-))))
I remember when that car was introduced, i went to see it at a car show, it was beautiful! At the time of was impressive, Lancia was definitely playing the Ferrari card
In today's context, I think they're more special than they were when new, and you can pick up a good one for 15-25K, depending on the country it's being sold in, and whether you're prepared to import. Of course, all were LHD, so it doesn't really matter where you buy one. I'd also say that most alternatives were bigger and automatic. So, for the person who wants to drive themself, drive a manual, and spends a lot of time driving on narrow roads and crowded city streets, I think the engine and the interior give the car a usp. And as you say it's pretty stealth and goes under the radar, which would appeal to many people. Yeah, you can probably gather, I'd quite like one of these. Back in the day I'd have probably chosen a V12 Jag, but today, as a classic car proposition, I think these are more interesting.
Please Video of Alfa 6 Berlina 2,5 iE or carbs (6 Dellortos) with hand shifted gearbox!
Fantastic! I love these. You’re content is getting better and better. I think you might have just been promoted to be my favourite car TH-camr (not that anyone cares) 👍🏼
Love Jacks videos, but Harry’s Garage and Tyrrell’s Classic workshop are also superb
Somebody cars.
What’s up with your 308 Jack? Did you ever do a proper ‘sorted 308’ vid?
That’s very kind Oliver thanks.. but it’s say to make an interesting video when you have such a special car to film!
@@pauldoree3967Harry’s reviews are ok if you can filter out “In the EVO days we went the house in Cannes every weekend” etc but he comes out with some toe curlers when talking (unscripted) to restorers or Ian Tyrell. Ian Tyrell is the king - “Oooh Harry, What’s that noise!? It has always done that. We need to return to the workshop right away!”
My dad used to have a Fiat Croma gen.1. This Lancia really reminds me of that car. Brings good memories.
I love the thema 8.32. Its so lancia! The spoiler, engine and overall looks depsite its price or weight. Its a good car in my opinion and only one of very few cars to have a ferrari engine thats not a ferrari.
It’s very rare and special for sure!!
I remember at that time I was reading Car, a journalist commented that the Lancia Thema model was a great build and road quality car and wondered why they only sold about 1.5 a day in the UK
I remember when that came arrived and reading about it in Autocar. It was difficult not to be wowed by it given that engine and that spoiler and its action is just wonderful. Great that they're still around a real curio!
Owned a 2.8 V6 back in the day, and always had this in mind mainly for the alcantara everywhere, the engine of course and last but in all honestly the most important gadget; the pop up spoiler on the boot.
Back in the early '70-ties FIAT owner Agnetti Agnelli had a FIAT 124 (or 130/132?) build with a Ferrari engine just to escape Communist hitmen and high jackers. In those days the roads of Italy were not safe for any industrialist. That's where the idea of this Thema 8.32 came from. It is a heritage kinda thing so to say.
same with the understated Maserati Biturbo 4 series berlinas
Agnelli was a fast driver and he had a serious car accident in 1952 in France: he nearly lost his left leg.
.Since then he continued to drive fast , but mostly of his cars had an automatic transmission.
In the 70-ties he had his own bodyguards, but he still loved to drive fast his own car regardless terrorists.
It was the Fiat 140 V8 Prototypen 4.5 engine
Anything with an alcantara interior gets my nod - some later Lancia had so much they must have taken the global supply. Much nicer than dead cow!
I remember seeing this at the London Motor Show when it was brand new and thought that the engine looked amazing. Lancia had it displayed with the bonnet up to show the engine off and it wasn't roped off so you could walk right up to it. I've often looked these up over the years to see how much they go for and they held their values consistently well in comparison to other hot saloon cars of that era such as the Sierra Cosworth that became almost worthless at one point, although it may be lacking a bit behind lately!
Always had great admiration for these cars , in fact all the Thema range. It was a similar idea to the Lotus Cortina , in a way , and I often wondered how a Mk 4/5 Lotus Cortina would have fared, but Lotus teamed up with the Chrysler group instead with the Lotus Sunbeam. Putting the Ferrari 308 in this was odd, particularly when Lancia had a quicker car in the Thema Turbo but the power delivery was a totally different experience. The unique character , with the extra detailing to the interior , however, really makes this a truly bespoke car
Thanks Jack, what an amazing and unique car!
Hoping someone is able to offer you an Alfa 164 Cloverleaf to review at some stage for the Arese approach to this platform.
That sounds absolutely badass. If only it was a rear drive.
Thanks for having a proper go in an 8:32 Jack. Great to see a good drive/review vid of one of these filmed on UK roads. There are some interesting ones out there but mostly filmed in Italy and as you say very, very few cars reached the UK. I think I'm right in saying that those prized "Lancia by Ferrari" engines were actually built (in parts anyway) by Ducati. Always had a liking for the 9000/Croma/164/Thema and this is quite a "Q car" which I'm always going to love.
Nice Video !
Greetings from a old guy from Berlin.
I like this only because it's interesting and very rare but, as you correctly stated, it wasn't that good compared to its competitors.
A manual 3.6 XJ40 would have been a good shout in this era.
Aaaah, you just NEED to love this one
💚🤍❤️
Thank you Jack for for correcting the way I have pronounced Lancia and esp. The Theeema as I always called it. 😂
Wonderful car, just love these crazy cars, everything was better back in the days 🙃