mid 70s photo

[Richard Fridd]

Michael Clarke has sent this picture of his 4th series B20 taken in the mid 70s.story to follow.photo copyright Michael Clarke

[Richard Fridd]

This car came from the south of france in 1970 when Michaels father bought it one thursday night(exchange and mart ad)for £40 from a woman that had owned it in Ladbrooke Grove.it had Nardi change,tinted glass beige cloth and seperate front seats.He drove it home with Michael following in a B21 2litre with probable Mille Miglia history -later cut up for scrap says Michael.the B20 was originally EMH 276J then 8HP.richard

[Parisien]

£40, seriously...price of a round drinks?!



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[Richard Fridd]

The price of a round of drinks if there are not too many people present!

[Richard Fridd]

As can be seen here the old GT is tidied up and now has the 2 litre Mille miglia(?) Engine(has anyone else done this conversion? asks Michael)but included the original 2.5 engine and 2 litre transaxle in a sale to Japan.Michael copied the racing colour layout rather than the works(?) Scheme which brought the dark colour above the number plate to make the car more attractive.Sold to Benzo Utzui in Japan through Dennis Nursey(of 'Old Number One Bentley' court case fame) photos copyright Michael Clarke

[Richard Fridd]

Regarding the B21, Michael writes-attached pic shows the 1000 miglia badge which is all I have left of that B21(bought from Pat Driscoll).In the early 1960's we called in at HALFWAY GARAGES on the A4 and that actual B21 was on their forecout,For Sale of course.When dad bought it,it pulled horrendously to one side and when I broke it up,the front axle was really bent.Also the brakes used to bind after a few miles,and it drank juice like nobody's business,but went like the clappers.It had a Nardi floor change.When the Mille Miglia retro started in Italy I sold some of the bits to a well heeled German guy that pulled up with his chauffeur/man friday and paid a lot of spot cash.when I had my 'Silver machine' JMP 185K I remember an absolutely immaculate B21 on Diplomatic Plates over West London.It was so fab I stopped to have a good look,hopeing someone connected might appear,but no luck.The colour was Jet Black.Also,about 1970 at Meeting House Lane,SE15-it was a bombsite near the nick on the main road,a B21 with a B12 engine- I wonder what happened to that? Photo copyright Michael Clarke

[Richard Fridd]

Michael adds-My 4th series chassis number was/is 3363.My beautiful original 2nd series was UK registered 40BLH.I sold it to Peter Jackson(I think he was connected to the WSM-Douglas Wilson-Spratt company converting and racing Healey Sprites,etc.in the 1960's)At the time,c.1972,he told me he had a garage in Huntingdon.Do the clubs records know of the car?

[Richard Fridd]

Photo copyright Michael Clarke

[HF_Dave]

Will anybody be feeling the same about a few Thema's and beta's parked up in a back garden in an old photo  taken  in the 90's  when they look at the photo in the 2020's ?   I wonder ? . I passed a comment to Kevin Mc Bride a couple of years ago when we were moving a B20 from a garage in Rathmines in Dublin where the origional B20 block was thrown out in the undergrowth , kevin said "imagine throwing out a block off a B20" where I replied  " look in your own garden and you'l find a Thema 16V block in the undergrowth" Same as, same as.

[davidwheeler]

Yes, but a Thema is an undistinguished modern car, a badge engineered FIAT, with no distinguishing characteristics (though they do go quite well).  An Aurelia is like nothing else (apart from another proper Lancia).  Lancia used to be distinguished by unusual and innovative engineering.  Now they stick "Lancia" badges on American heaps.

[Parisien]

Yes, but a Thema is an undistinguished modern car, a badge engineered FIAT, with no distinguishing characteristics (though they do go quite well).  An Aurelia is like nothing else (apart from another proper Lancia).  Lancia used to be distinguished by unusual and innovative engineering.  Now they stick "Lancia" badges on American heaps.

Agree.....the uniqueness and individualism of marques is being forever squeezed out of existence, no one will be looking for a generic engines from a generic platform shared by two/three makers of the blandest appearance and design in 30 yrs time.


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[Kevin MacBride]

I know this is way off topic,and should probably have its own thread....but..(there's always a but)
No one would have guessed that way back when, certain cars would attain huge value in years to come. I've an old 'Mororsport' magazine from the late 50's. Its got a great ad in it where a punter wants to SWAP his 30's Bentley for a Ford Pop.....
My day job is supplying parts for Fiats and Alfas (modern). I supply genuine, aftermarket and used parts. Take a twin spark engine (used) from a modern Alfa. I can get more money if its for a 147 than a 156, and I can buy 156's for next to nothing, where 147's still have a decent value.I imagine the same would hold true for modern Lancias, as in a Thema engine is not worth that much for a Thema, but you could expect more for it, to an integrale customer. I know its not exactly the same engine, but is still worth more for the Delta application.
Exactly the same thing happened the Aurelia, Sedans were not as popular as Coupes, and which one attained the higher value later on.
I'm kind of beginning to appreciate the value of certain modern spare parts, V6 Alfa engines, chain driven Alfa Nord engines etc. That Thema block David mentioned was well past its sell by date (leg out of bed).

[davidwheeler]

Of course a 30s Bentley was not a real Bentley just a cheap Rolls.

[Angle Grinder]

Yes, but a Thema is an undistinguished modern car, a badge engineered FIAT, with no distinguishing characteristics (though they do go quite well).  An Aurelia is like nothing else (apart from another proper Lancia).  Lancia used to be distinguished by unusual and innovative engineering.  Now they stick "Lancia" badges on American heaps.

I know what you are saying, but the funny thing is that my LHD V6 Thema generates far more interest than my Flavia does. People seem to look at the Flavia and go "Oooh and old car, nice", but they never come up to ask me anything about it. Where as the Thema is always attracting comments about "What's that mister?" or "She's in great condition how old is she?". I guess they look at the Flavia and they know its a cherished and pampered old car, where as the Thema is my everyday transport and people seem to be genuinely amazed that a 22 yr old Lancia looks so good and has less rust than their Mazda / Merc / Honda / Rover / Vauxhall etc....

The 8.32 legacy also helps...

[Richard Fridd]

Another photo of Michael's Aurelia,albeit in the background, from The Michael Clarke Collection.