Fobello: 60 Lancia Lambdas and only one trailer!

Thomas Edison and Henry Ford were born in places that even a hundred years later had hardly more than 1000 inhabitants and so there are  many examples. So it may not come as a surprise that Vincenzo Lancia was born in Fobello, even today still a mountain village with a mere 250 inhabitants. Together with Frederick Lanchester, Henry Ford, Ferdinand Porsche and Alec Issigonis he counts among the most important innovators in the automobile history.
Even more astonishing is his group of admirers today. Only very few grand marques like Bugatti and Lancia cars can count on aficionados regularly making a pilgrimage to their heroes place of production (Molsheim) resp. birthplace (Fobello) . Noteworthy is that both gentlemen were born with in one month from each other in 1881 with only 131 km distance between their birthplaces.
Every five years a group of some 60 (out of some 450 still in existence) owners of 1920's produced Lancia Lambdas(*)  gather in the Valsesia. This mountain valley between Milan and Turin, leading up to the Monte Rosa features the small village of Fobello, where up a twisty road through majestic beech forest one discovers the grand villa of the Lancia family (still in their possesion) where Vincenzo was born. This year the Valsesia Lancia history club again organised a great event with Lambdas coming from as far as Australia as well as from Britain, Germany, The Netherlands, Belgium, the USA and of course Italy itself.
What makes the difference between 'Lambdisti' and other owners of century old cars is that most come from far on their on power. I have only seen one trailer! All can - and do -repair and fiddle with their own cars. I did not see a single professional mechanic. A far cry from similar events. Slightly worrying however is that the average age of the participants seems well over 70! Perhaps that the newly available engine blocks with more power will convince youngsters to become Lambda aficionados. The drive up to the Lancia family villa where a fabulous lunch was served and the most friendly  reception by locals in and around Fobello will hopefully also create enthusiasm for this wonderful car.
Hope to see you in Fobello in 2021 when Lancia is clebrating its centennial! 

(*) the Lambda is considered to be Vincenzo's masterpiece, being the first production car with independent front suspension, monocoque body and remote control gearbox

text & photos Hugo Modderman

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