Lancia Theme 8.32 (1989) – Enthusiast Wanted

Exchanging a base between different manufacturers is very common today, even less so in the 80s. Nevertheless, Alfa Romeo, Fiat, Lancia and (as the only non-Italian brand) Saab decided to join forces for their new top-class sedans. The basis for this was already laid in 1978 and eventually the Lancia Thema, Saab 9000, Fiat Croma and Alfa Romeo appeared in the 80s (in that order). Although the cars had the necessary external similarities, they all had their own sauce poured over the project. Not only that: Lancia teamed up with Ferrari, which took the Thema to a level the other three could only dream of.

Lancia was allowed by Ferrari to supply the atmospheric 2.9-liter V8 from the Quattrovalvole versions of the Ferraris 308 and Mondial in its top sedan. As the name implies, this was a further development of the V8 with four valves per cylinder, dating from the early 1970s. A power source that in the Thema 8.32 (named after the number of cylinders and valves) was initially good for a power of 215 hp, later with a catalytic converter, 205 remained. Not much power from a V8 by today’s standards, but you can bet that it turned the Thema into a wolf in sheep’s clothing. The Thema 8.32 distinguished itself on some badges and an electronically conjure up rear spoiler (!) After hardly any of the milder variants. With a 0 to 100 km/h time of 6.8 seconds and a top of 240 km/h you came out surprisingly from the corner. The more so with the fact that you heard a big roar coming from the exhausts.

Well, we may have to disappoint you somewhat with the fact that this Lancia Thema 8.32 is one of the second batch and therefore already has a catalytic converter. That lowers the performance slightly, but not extremely. This spears (on paper) in 7.2 seconds from 0 to 100 km/h and reaches 235 km/h. Not very impressive nowadays, but you can count on it that you will still get surprised looks with it. You experience it all from a special interior: the Thema 8.32 received, among other things, leather upholstery from the Turin furniture maker Poltrona Frau, there is also plenty of wood in the interior and the headliner is covered with Alcantara. Of course, this top version is also equipped with all the gadgets that you could think of at the time with a Lancia.

Just to answer the question that has undoubtedly been on your mind for a few paragraphs: the asking price is €20,950. Is that a lot? Yes, for a 33-year-old Lancia with technology that can make you stare at your wallet in tears if something is wrong with it. Is it a lot for a Theme 8.32? That’s okay again. The Themes that we encounter further on are also approximately at such a price. If they’re noticeably cheaper, they’ve run more. Moreover, this example is executed in ‘Winner Red’, perhaps the most beautiful color for the 8.32.

There is already a small disadvantage for the real purist: the car only came to the Netherlands in 2012, before he camped in Switzerland. The provider seems to suggest that a few things have been documented, so hopefully that will also provide a clue about the fairly low mileage of 85,291 km. Is there anything else that doesn’t necessarily speak in his favor? Yes, of course. Since its arrival in the Netherlands, the car has had only one owner for a short time, from the summer of 2012 to the fall of 2013, after which the car went back and forth between car companies. That does not sound very favorable, but this is really a car for which an enthusiast (who dares) has not been found 1-2-3. Do you dare?

Next weekend we will come back to the Lancia Thema, but then we are also mainly talking about the model in general. Brand adepts already thought the first Thema was ‘not a real Lancia’. You can read how that happened on Sunday.