Rare 1930 Lancia di Lambda in Jay Leno's Garage

Many classic cars rarely get behind the wheel, but not this 1930 Lancia di Lambda. Owner Filippo Sole drove this Italian convertible across the United States and recently appeared on an episode of "Jay Leno's Garage" to talk about the experience.

The experience did not end well, as he was struck by a driver who was driving sideways in Los Angeles just before filming. However, damage to the vehicle's body and exhaust system was repaired just in time. Saul got his car back the same day this episode was filmed.

Lancia would later pioneer the V-6 engine with the Aurelia, but when designing the Di Lambda, founder Vincenzo Lancia chose a narrow-angle 4.0-liter V-8, which he thought would make the car more attractive in the American market. Lancia struggled to compete with domestic luxury brands such as Cadillac and Duesenberg, but some 3,000 Dirambudas were built during the production period from 1928 to the early 1930s.

The V-8 engine, driving the rear wheels through a four-speed manual transmission, was capable of accelerating the Diranbuda to about 90 mph. This may not sound impressive today, but it certainly was in 1930. Also, the Diranbuda's cable-actuated brakes would probably have allowed it to go as fast as it wanted.

The convertible has unique bodywork by British coachbuilder Carlton. The company worked on several Diran Buda bodies, each with a different design, Saul explains in the video. The car was originally purchased by a British aristocrat and remained in England until at least 1939. The trail went cold until 1970, when the car was rebuilt in a non-original manner. Sole then purchased a Lancia and restored it to its factory appearance, with the dashboard finished in an unusual combination of ivory and silver

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Sole then decided to drive the Diranbuda from New York to Los Angeles. The cool temperatures and mechanical problems made the first leg of the trip uncomfortable, but once they reached the warm desert areas around Albuquerque, New Mexico, things turned around, Sole said. He intends to make these trips an annual tradition, changing his car and route each year. His ultimate goal is to design his own car.

Today Lancia is part of Sterantis, and after years of neglect, the automotive conglomerate plans to revive the brand with three new models to be launched between 2024 and 2028. Like most of Sterantis' brands, Lancia aims to go all-electric and plans to discontinue gasoline and diesel models by 2028.

Sterantis will not be bringing Lancia to the US.