Lancia Thema SW Zagato | 1985

Lancia Thema SW Zagato | 1985

Highlights:

– 2.5-litre 4-cylinder diesel engine, 5-speed manual transmission

– Mileage: 149,000 km

– One of only two Thema station wagon prototypes built by Zagato, before Lancia selected Pininfarina’s design for production

– Owned in period by today’s Zagato CEO, who drove the car during his studies

– Still wearing its first paint, with no rust

The seller offers for sale this 1985 Lancia Thema SW Zagato, powered by a 2.5-litre four-cylinder diesel engine, paired with a 5-speed manual transmission. This car is one of only two station wagon prototypes built by Zagato for Lancia’s Thema project, created in 1985 as the coachbuilder’s proposal for an estate version of the saloon, before Lancia ultimately selected Pininfarina’s design for series production. Following its debut, the car remained with Zagato itself, before passing to the man who is today the company’s CEO, who drove it during his student years. A third owner, a member of the Zagato Car Club, subsequently added the car to his collection.

The bodywork remains in its first paint with no rust to report, and around €3,000 was invested in the injection system in 2024; the clutch remains usable but is nearing the end of its life and should be budgeted for in the near future. The car is sold with Italian registration documents and a full history file documenting its unusual ownership.

The Lancia Thema, styled by Giorgetto Giugiaro and launched in 1984, shared its underpinnings with the Fiat Croma, Alfa Romeo 164 and Saab 9000 under the so-called Tipo Quattro programme, while carrying a distinctly Italian sense of executive style. When Lancia began exploring an estate version of the Thema, both Zagato and Pininfarina were invited to submit proposals; Zagato unveiled its interpretation at the 1985 Geneva Motor Show, ahead of Pininfarina’s design at Frankfurt later that year. Lancia ultimately put the Pininfarina-designed Thema Station Wagon into production, leaving Zagato’s take on the theme as one of the rarest and most historically significant one-off Lancias of the 1980s. For collectors of Italian coachbuilt prototypes, a genuine Zagato Thema wagon such as this one represents a rare opportunity to own a piece of the model’s development history.

Condition of the bodywork & paint

4 — Very Good. Clean with minimal wear; might need minor replacements for small missing or broken parts.

Condition of the interior

3 — Good. Bodywork or mechanical repairs needed; drives.

Technical condition

3 — Good. Bodywork or mechanical repairs needed; drives.

Overall condition

4 — Very Good. Displays only minimal wear and can hit the road any time.

This item is sold on an as-is basis. The condition of this item is the opinion of the seller and may differ from your own opinion. Photos and descriptions of the listing are for information purposes only.

We encourage all potential bidders to inspect the vehicle before placing a bid. Please contact us by phone or email to schedule an appointment.

All auction cars offered have a reserve price. You have only won the item if the seller accepts your bid.

Price changes and errors reserved. The 14-day right of withdrawal does not apply to this auction.

This car is currently located in: Baden-Württemberg state, Germany.

This car drives, brakes and shifts.

The car has an Italian registration. The buyer is responsible for registration in his own country and responsible for delivery and collection of any vehicle purchased at the auction.

The description of this car is, to the best of the seller’s knowledge, accurate and not misleading. Route 66 Auctions requests a range of detail about the car from the seller and performs a level of due diligence. However, potential buyers must independently satisfy themselves as to the accuracy of the description. We strongly advise potential buyers to view or arrange inspections as well as conduct any research they feel is necessary before committing to bid or buy.

Please note that it is not uncommon for classic or collectible cars to have received cosmetic repairs in the past, to rectify damage or refresh appearance, and this work may be hard to see even upon visual inspection. Unless there is an explicit statement by the seller to the contrary, please assume that any vehicle could have had bodywork or paintwork. Photographs may not reflect the exact true colour or exact full condition of the vehicle. It is a bidder’s responsibility to assure themselves of the colour and condition of a vehicle, including its interior and the existence of any remedial bodywork or paintwork, before committing to bid or buy.

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