MELBOURNE.- An important collection of five rare Lancia Lambdas and an aero-engined Edwardian special is expected to create global interest when the cars go under the hammer at Donington Auctions, in Melbourne, Australia. Bidding opens on 13th November and concludes on 26th November 2023.

A highlight of the auction, which is expected to bring an unprecedented figure, is an unrestored 1927 Lancia Lambda Torpedo fitted with the factory option ‘Ballon Smontabile’ hard top (lot 3, estimate €200,000 -230,000). The car is believed to have covered a mere 61,000 miles since new.

Likely the most original and low milage Lambda still in existence anywhere in the world, it retains both its original paint and all original leather interior trim, just as it did when left the Torinese factory on the 14th of June 1927.

Brainchild of Vincenzo Lancia, the innovative Lambda single-handedly advanced early automotive design and technology when unveiled in France at the Paris Salon in 1922. Today, original examples are highly sought after by collectors.

Donington Auctions is Australia’s premier auctioneer of significant vintage, veteran and classic automobiles and automotive ephemera and collectibles, its timed on-line auctions attracting buyers from around the world.

Most of the Lancias being auctioned are from the long-held Jamieson family collection, headed by world Lambda authority Bill Jamieson, who wrote the definitive book on the model, ‘Capolavoro’.

As well as this most original Lambda Ballon Torpedo in existence, the auction includes two factory torpedo bodied tourers from 1924 and 1926. The early series tourer is a daily driver car by its elderly owner, and has participated at two Lancia rallies at Fobello, Italy in 2016 and 2022.

On the sportier front, is a beautiful 1927 Lambda 7th series which Bill Jamieson built as a ‘Garavini’ Replica (lot 4, estimate €80,000 -100,000) from mostly genuine parts.

All Lambdas are well known to local marque expert Iain Simpson, who has verified their provenance. Each is an outstanding and rare example of this most important automotive landmark. Two of the five cars are original, matching numbers examples.

“The Lambda really is a special car in automotive history and is highly regarded by collectors the world over,” Cameron Sabine from Donington’s explains

“These are particularly important examples because of their rarity, history, and condition, and while they are well known and desirable to local collectors, we are already fielding interest from abroad.It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the serious Lancia aficionado.”

Last but certainly not least the auction includes an Edwardian Masterpiece, a 1908 M.A.B Aero-Engined Saunders Special (lot 1, estimate €320,000-340,000), which is powered by a mammoth Packard-Liberty V12 27-litre engine. The car spent most of its time on display at the Binalong Motor Museum (NSW). The Dr. Stuart Saunders constructed special is certainly no stranger to use, being notably one of just 28 entrants to take on the Outback Stage of the 1988 Australian Bicentennial World Rally, campaigned at the first Targa Tasmania Rally in 1992, plus overseas events.

The Donington auction also includes original literature, sales material and memorabilia from the W. H Lowe family. Bill and son Ralph Lowe of W.H Lowe Pty Ltd was the long-time sole Australian distributor for revered Italian performance marques Ferrari, Lancia and & MV Agusta.