It’s easy to understand why one PHer has proudly owned a Lancia Montecarlo for 37 years. This is a Pininfarina-designed, mid-engined Italian sports car with connections to the legendary 037 rally car. It’s tenuous, but the internal name is Type 137, which is just enough to add some real kudus – plus only 2,203 were built between 1980-81, and many have succumbed to tin worm as per Lancia tradition.
That makes PHer CallThatMusic’s Montecarlo really rather special. Not only has it refused to turn to dust and retained its original angular form, the car’s also been in the OP’s custody since 1983, having replaced his Orange Ford Capri 2.0 S after a gearbox failure and electrical problems. The story from there, pleasingly for this PHer, hasn’t involved as many issues as you might imagine. In fact, the thread suggests it’s been really rather lovely, although not without plenty of maintenance, culminating in a full restoration.
The Montecarlo’s seen plenty of use, too, and the OP provides fantastic photographic evidence of it. We particularly like the snaps from a nineties Italian car meet; equally, the input from other PHers illustrates the ongoing passion for Lancia. Really though, it’s great to see a 37-year-long ownership of a car still providing plenty of smiles for both the OP and anyone who appreciates his faithfulness. Which includes us...
