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Lancia Thema Story

Discussion in 'Other Italian' started by RP, Jan 9, 2008.

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  1. RP

    RP F1 World Champ

    Feb 9, 2005
    17,667
    Bocahuahua, Florxico
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    Tone Def
    #1 RP, Jan 9, 2008
    In 1991, I rented a Lancia Thema when in Europe. I believe at the Frankfort airport. Drove my 16 year old daughter to Stuttgart to tour the Porsche Museum, then to Mulhouse for the French National Auto Museum. Somehow we fit in the Mercedes museum. Mulhouse was by far the best. Bugattis rule. All she wanted to see was Paris.

    So then on to Paris, as a base before the Vingt-Quatre Heures du Mans. The year the Mazda won.

    Early, on a Sunday morning, I got up to return the rental Lancia to Hertz on Avenue Malakoff in Paris. About 8 A.M. Our hotel was near the Place de la Concorde, so I am driving up the Champs Elysees. I stop at a light. Some Frenchman in an Alfa looks over at me, we smile, and then its a drag race to the next light. By then, we are both laughing. Another drag race. Then another. Four all together. I think it was pretty even all the way. What fun.

    I am thinking, none of my friends will believe I was drag racing up the Champ Elysees. Where the heck was my camera.

    Ranks as one of the 10 best times of my life. Maybe that Frenchman is on FChat?
     
  2. mrfissa

    mrfissa Karting

    May 27, 2005
    213
    #2 mrfissa, Jan 9, 2008

    Was it the 8.32 or the regular Thema. I'm wondering what type of Alfa could keep up with the 8 cylinder Lancia.
     
  3. Isobel

    Isobel F1 World Champ

    Jun 30, 2007
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    #3 Isobel, Jan 9, 2008
    A rental 8.32 ? Hmmm, I think it was prolly a V6 or turbo 2 litre....an Alfa would be an equal match imho...
     
  4. mrfissa

    mrfissa Karting

    May 27, 2005
    213
    #4 mrfissa, Jan 10, 2008
    You're probably right. There is a guy in my neck of the woods that has the engine from a Lancia 8.32 and he is the process of installing it into a Lancia Scorpion.

    BTW Isobel do they have many Italian cars in PEI?
     
  5. Zahiba

    Zahiba Formula 3

    Mar 29, 2005
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    Victoria, Canada
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    Malcolm
    #5 Zahiba, Jan 11, 2008
    Neat anecdote! One of those times that goes down in memory, full of feeling... :)
     
  6. RP

    RP F1 World Champ

    Feb 9, 2005
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    #6 RP, Jan 11, 2008
    Regular Thema, don't recall a turbo lag, with a 4 or 5 speed manual, can't remember which.

    I forgot the finish of the story. I had to turn off so I waved at the Alfa driver, while laughing he gave me the finger, I shot one back, then we saluted each other and I turned left while continued on west.
     
  7. bjwhite

    bjwhite F1 Rookie
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    Mar 17, 2006
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    Seattle, WA
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    Brian White
    #7 bjwhite, Jan 11, 2008
    Lancia Thema practically equals the Alfa Romeo 164. Same platform, probably engines.
     
  8. F1tommy

    F1tommy F1 World Champ
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    Dec 15, 2007
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    Tom Tanner
    #8 F1tommy, Jan 11, 2008
    I remember Joe M. used to have a Thema 8.32 in Chicago.He used to have it at the Como
    Inn and Chicago Historical Races at Road America every year.Nice sounding car with boring styling.Looks more like the Saab 9000 than a Alfa 164,although they are all based on the same Fiat floor pan.


    Tom
     
  9. Isobel

    Isobel F1 World Champ

    Jun 30, 2007
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    #9 Isobel, Jan 12, 2008
    I have no earthly idea to be honest. I would say though that if a tourist was visiting in his Alfa Spider, he'd probalby add to the total by a double digit percentage....LOL.

    Ron, Love the end of the story. That's exactly how I'd want it ti be.
     
  10. Mike 8.32

    Mike 8.32 Rookie

    Apr 4, 2018
    9
    Caledon, Ontario
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    Mike Eh
    #10 Mike 8.32, Apr 4, 2018
    mrfissa,
    Curious how your friend is doing with the Scorpion 8.32 ?
     

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