During the past 28 years, I’ve owned more cars – and more importantly; more classic cars – than I care to list. Yet only now have I finally purchased my first Italian car.
Inevitably, during those 28 years, I’ve repeatedly been reminded that you’re simply not a proper classic car enthusiast unless you own an Italian car. I seem to recall that remark always stemming from some self-confessed purist who had never owned anything but Italian cars. I wonder whether some deeper physiological analysis can be extracted from this?
Either way, I now own an Italian. Though I’ve probably managed to do something wrong again, as it’s not really a proper classic car. At 22 years of age, it’s a youngtimer at best. Oh, and it’s a Lancia – which I’m truly thrilled about as that’s my second favourite Italian marque only beaten by Maserati, which is of course entirely out of my financial reach. But I’m sure those aforementioned purists will now point out that it’s only a proper Lancia if it was built prior to FIAT taking over in 1969. Guess I just can’t win can I?
So what is it I’ve bought? Well, a new job here in Denmark meant I suddenly required a Danish registered car capable of delivering a degree of luxury and that difficult to quantify feel-good-sensation on a daily 160 km commute. Oh, and as always, my budget was rather restricted.
With no further ado, let me introduce you to my new 1998 Lancia Kappa 2.4 Coupé…
The Kappa range was Lancia’s flagship model and succeeded their aging Thema in 1994. Then, late in 1996 (effectively introduced as a ’97 model), Lancia added the Coupé to the Kappa range to celebrate their 100th anniversary. Remarkably, the Coupé differed quite significantly from the saloon and estate versions. For starters, the wheelbase was all of 12 cm (almost 5 inches) shorter, meaning that only the front of the Coupé was identical to its mass-produced siblings. Everything from the A-pillars and back was different. The styling benefitted from frameless doors while the rear track was also wider. Also, it was only the more powerful engines which were available in the Coupé, which coupled with the shorter wheelbase and the wider rear track meant that it was a more engaging and sporty drive than the regular saloon.
The design came from Centro Stile Lancia, but the cars were largely handbuilt alongside the FIAT Barchetta at Carrozzeria Maggiora who had previously built magnificent Italian classics such as the Maserati Mistral and the De Tomaso Mangusta. Of course this did nothing to keep costs down and the Kappa Coupé remained a rather exclusive product. Out of almost 120,000 Kappas built, only a mere 3,263 were Coupés. So for whatever it’s worth, it certainly has rarity on its side.
But to be frank, I’m not always sure how I feel about the styling. For a car wishing to portray that sleek coupé vibe, it’s really a bit too tall. Or perhaps the car is simply too short? Which is ironic considering how they shortened the wheelbase by those 12 cm. There’s also a bit too much metal around the rear wheelarch. Yet, despite all of this, the Kappa Coupé somehow manages to still exude an atmosphere of style, elegance and class. It’s almost as if that fabulous Italian arrogance is laughing in your face, throwing its arms in the air and stating that it’s clearly raised so far above its peers that it really couldn’t be bothered to try any harder. And there are also some gorgeous details present. The entire nose is quite a crisp and sharp interpretation of 90’s car design with slim headlights flanking the otherwise traditional chromed Lancia grill. Moving further backwards, the brightwork surrounding the side windows looks excellent and I’m totally in love with those discrete buttresses mimicking the style of the opulent 1959 Lancia Flaminia Coupé designed by Pininfarina. The overall design of the Kappa Coupé may not be entirely harmonious, but it certainly has presence and character.
My particular Kappa was built in ’97 but not registered until ’98 as one of not much more than a handful of Coupés which came to Denmark from new. There’s a not insignificant 257,00 km (or 160,000 miles) on the clock, but you really wouldn’t know as it’s clearly been looked very well after. The drive is still taut and comfortable while that 2.4-litre 5-cylinder engine pulls strong while omitting that typically gruff and slightly off-beat note which gives all 5-cylinder engines real soul. Granted, it’s not near as brutal as the 240hp force-feed 2.3-litre which I so adored in my old ’99 Volvo C70 T5 which I sold a bit more than a year ago, but the FIAT/Lancia engine is still a fabulous lump of a 5-cylinder engine.
To be fair, the bodywork does have a few crusty scabs which I’ll have to see to at some point, but it’s purely cosmetic so I’m not too worried about it. A bit of fresh paint here and there and the exterior will look just as tasty as that luscious interior. It’s got all the bells and whistles which one might expect of a late 90’s luxury coupé including climate control and even electrically adjustable and heated Recaro seats, all of which has been covered in Oxblood red leather from the renown Italian furniture maker Poltrona Frau – which was an option if the standard Alcantara interior wasn’t luxurious enough for you. However I was slightly disappointed to find that the vast wooden centre console and those wooden door cappings are in fact the purest of plastic. In its defence though, it’s among the most convincing faux wood I’ve come across – until you tap it of course. But plastic wood or not, I must say that the Kappas interior is a hugely pleasing place to spend time while travelling to and from my new workplace.
But what say you dear ViaRETRO reader? What’s the verdict? Is the Lancia Kappa Coupé worthy of the ViaRETRO pages? Is the Kappa an upcoming classic? Is it even a proper Lancia? And is it sufficiently Italian to make me a better classic car enthusiast? Or – alternatively – am I simply completely deranged to buy such a heap of trouble? Do I need help?
