Lancia and the Principality of Monaco go back more than 80 years, and their relationship is steeped in history; and well ahead of the international launch in mid-June, Lancia is previewing its new Delta model in Monte Carlo.

Lancia and the Principality of Monaco go back more than 80 years, and their relationship is steeped in history. Well ahead of the international launch in mid-June, Lancia is previewing its new Delta in Monte Carlo, and for the event has chosen the setting of the Yacht Club de Monaco, with which it is announcing a three-year partnership on the same day.

The two previous series of Deltas were also showcased in Monaco. The first in 1979, when the Delta debuted, and then in 1982 when the Delta 1600 GT was presented to the media at the Hotel de Paris. On that occasion it was also possible to test the car on a route that went from the hotel to Mougins. In 1993 it was the turn of the Delta HPE, an event immortalised in a commercial set in a Formula 1 Grand Prix atmosphere.

The Principality enjoys a well documented love affair with Lancia. Prince Rainier in his lifetime put together a splendid collection of historic cars among which a number of Lancia’s, loved all over the world, were outstanding: the Lambda, the Appia II series, the Aurelia B20 and Aurelia B24. The Prince’s Lambda also made it into a French book dedicated to cult cars. These vehicles are kept in the Principality’s Car Museum and today form part of the collection of Prince Alberto II.

The Principality also gave its name to three Lancia models of the 1970s: the Fulvia Montecarlo (1970), the Beta Montecarlo, in coupe and spider versions (1st series 1974, 2nd series 1980) and the Beta Montecarlo Silhouette (1978).

Monte Carlo and motor racing

Monte Carlo has always been one of the international capitals of motor racing. Lancia made its debut on the roads of the Principality in 1925 when, on board a Lancia Lambda, Mertens came second in the rally.

Of the various entries it is worth recalling Luigi Valenzano, known as Gino, who on a hot Saturday of 1 June 1952 in a race for sports cars below 2000 cc, placed 3rd, covering the scheduled 201 km in 2h 15’ 24.4/10” at the fantastic average of 89.189 km/h at the wheel of the much-admired Aurelia B20, preceded by Manzon’s Simca Gordini and Bordoni’s Osca.

On 22 May 1955, at the Formula 1 Monte Carlo Grand Prix, the Lancia D50 of Alberto Ascari plunged into the sea without serious consequences when it was in the lead, while Eugenio Castellotti (Lancia) finished second behind Maurice Trintignant (Ferrari). Villoresi (Lancia) was fifth and Chiron (Lancia) sixth.

The Monte Carlo Rally, originated in 1911 by Prince Alberto I and providing an important test for vehicles right from the start with its particularly demanding conditions, has been won as many as 13 times by Lancia: 4 times with the Stratos, 3 with the Delta HF Integrale, 2 with the Delta HF 4WD and once with the Delta S4, 037, Fulvia Coupé HF 1600 and Aurelia GT B20.

Lancia and sailing

Vincenzo Lancia himself set the tone for the harmony that grew up between cars and sailing and which has spanned nearly a century, taking advantage of the most suitable opportunities and events, whenever they presented themselves.

The Lancia Lambda, considered by everybody to be the masterpiece of the great Piedmontese manufacturer, was inspired by hull skeletons. This was the origin of the first car with a stress-bearing shell, and introduced a concept that would revolutionise the history of the car. “Nomina sunt omina” – names are omens – and Lancia is no exception. As the Venetians, for whom the “lancia” remains the most elegant way for moving about the canals of their fabulous city, well know.

Lancia entered the power boating world with all guns blazing in the 1960s and ‘70s, on the back of the Flaminia’s powerful V6 engine, with the historic outboards that took part in the Lancia Class, then renamed the Classe Flaminia 2500. Veritable jewel in the crown of Lancia engineering, the engine was compact, light and powerful in addition to boasting other outstanding features and solutions. The ability of mechanics and drivers took the Flaminia 2500 to top speeds of 228 km/h in long-distance races. These are also the reasons that led Lancia, in 2007, to celebrate the Flaminia’s 50th birthday in Monte Carlo in the special spotlight of the Monaco Classic Week.

Lancia engines have often taken the fancy of power boat racers, as in the case of the Class 2 Martini Racing demonstration offshore equipped with 4 Thema 8.32 engines.

The Lancia name is not confined to power boating but can also be found in a prominent place in the world of sailing. Starting with the J24 Championship and the exploits of Azzurra in the early Eighties, and the sponsorship in 1987 in Naples of the final of the One Ton Cup, a regatta of great international prestige.

But in the end the most constant underlying theme in Lancia’s history is that which stresses shared values such as elegance, style, exclusivity, all of which are built into the brand’s genes. Take for example the communications, photos and splendid images such as those of the Flaminia and Beta photographed at Portofino, the first Delta on the quays of the port of Monaco, the poster of the Ypsilon 10 Avenue or, recently, the Tender Operation initiative with the Lancia Thesis and Ypsilon as protagonists.

Further witness to this is above all the product where Pelle Frau leather, as in the most prestigious yachts, now features on the best Lancia models, like the Musa, of which a special series called “Musa Poltrona Frau” will shortly be presented. Pelle Frau is also to be found on the Delta, whose most typical features are the roof, called the “Flying Bridge”, the design of which is clearly inspired by boating.