Lancia Gamma Pavesi

The Lancia Gamma Pavesi was a one-off custom coupé developed in the early 1980s, based on the second-series Lancia Gamma Coupé 2500. The vehicle was modified by Carrozzeria Pavesi of Milan, a specialist firm known for bespoke transformations of production vehicles, often commissioned by private clients for diplomatic or ceremonial use. This example was created to order for a Middle Eastern client and reflects the period’s increasing interest in highly individualized luxury automobiles. The base platform employed was the Lancia Gamma Coupé, produced by Lancia between 1976 and 1984. The standard mechanical configuration featured a 2,484 cc flat-four (boxer) engine mounted longitudinally at the front and driving the front wheels. In the Pavesi-modified version, the original Bosch L-Jetronic fuel injection system was removed and replaced with twin Dell’Orto DHLA 45 carburetors. The transmission was an automatic unit, a non-standard choice for the Gamma Coupé, indicating further custom adaptation. The exterior design retained the essential silhouette of the standard Gamma Coupé as styled by Aldo Brovarone at Pininfarina but incorporated modifications including prominent integrated spoilers at the front and rear, extended wheel arches, and a two-tone livery in white and light blue. A full-length electrically operated sunroof was installed, replacing the standard roof section. The interior featured substantial reworking. Seats, door panels, and other upholstery surfaces were trimmed in white and blue leather to match the exterior scheme. Wood veneer trim was applied to the dashboard and console areas. Additional equipment included a custom-built central armrest, a refrigerated compartment integrated into the rear seating area, and upgraded in-car entertainment components. The instrumentation cluster remained largely standard. Only one known example of the Gamma Pavesi was constructed. Following its initial delivery to the commissioning client, the car’s whereabouts remained unrecorded for an extended period. It resurfaced in France during the early 2010s and was later repatriated to Italy. The vehicle is presently preserved in a private collection. The Lancia Gamma Pavesi represents a rare instance of Italian coachbuilding applied to a modern unibody platform, reflecting individual patronage and low-volume customization practices of the early 1980s.