Please do NOT restore this Lambda! (Upd. Okay, just a little touch-up)

I think the important issue here is that there is a dwindling pot of unrestored original vehicles which are sound enough to use without a full body rebuild.
If this car fits the bill and is then unfortunately rebuilt, it will be one more which will have lost its originality, when a tatty poorly restored none original vehicle could have been rebuilt in just the same way.
The vehicle which gets the most attention in a line of gleaming cars is usually the scruffy original or is this just my perception? When out and about in my old WW1 truck I have lost count of the number of times people have asked for confirmation that the paint will not be renewed and is left just as it is.
I agree entirely with the previous references to wheels, I have been fortunate to have two such vehicles and my first action is always to re-spoke and fit new tyres. Mechanics are rebuilt as problems become apparent through driving as hard as they would have been in their day, although 90 mph seems to be out of reach!

I await it’s fate.

It's interesting that only one of 7 comments mentions mechanical restoration; another deplores trailered cars. Our hobby is a broad church: some prefer showroom 'concours' condition, preserved by driving minimally if at all. Others like the completely 'as-found' or 'as-bought' car, unrestored and perhaps tatty. While we should be free to enjoy our hobby in our own way, we're obliged by a sense of history to preserve particularly those cars which are rare or endangered, neither to run them into the ground, nor to over-restore when conservation is the better road. Thus the whole car should be conserved, to a state which will ensure its overall preservation, even if it is to be an static museum display. But if driven at all, I believe that cars should be driven in accordance with the intentions of the designer & builder.

I also agree totally with Ralph Cook. Over restored cars are pretty deplorable, but "barn find/ oily rag" ones are just as bad. A car should look as thoough it has been used all it's life by careful owners who have maintained it lovingly, not abused it then shoved it in a barn to rot away. If the Lancia was mine I would have the wheels checked and repainted in their original colour and I would also repaint the wings. The coachwork and interior would soon respond to tender loving care, and new carpets would help. Obviously a full mechanical overhaul would be undertaken as well!

Must agree- as noted the required look is moving away from over-restored to my preference - a well cared for original. Judicious use of old carpet and upholstery cleaning would work wonders. I do think that the wheels would need a very good going over to confirm they were still solid, but no chrome please!!

Very interesting reading the responses to the unrestored Lambda. In the previous article on PWC my old 30-98 Vauxhall was shown at the Scottish Vintage Vehicle Extravaganza at Glamis Castle in July this year. It’s a pretty scruffy car but still has it’s original upholstery and clearly has never had a cosmetic restoration. It is however in first class mechanical condition and stil capable of 90mph. I’m certainly not into “pot hunting” at vintage car shows, but I was annoyed that the judges walked right past it in favour of a Ford Model T which was probably 70% brand new, arrived and left on a trailer. Appreciating originality from reproduction, whether in vintage cars or antiques sorts out the sheep from the goats!

I do agree, but would add that it looks to me that the spokes are pretty rusty, which, if left untouched, can be a bad idea.

I completely agree with Mr. Cook. I too much prefer an unrestored car but there is no reason it can't be given the appearance of having been well taken care of rather than neglected. Also... I applaud PWC for taking this stance. One of the things that drove me away from the old car collecting world many years ago was the complete indifference, even hostility to well preserved original cars. Thats changed a great deal in the last few years, but unfortunately its often "locking the barn after the horse is stolen."

I agree with Ralph just redo the interior with as much as possible material that is already there. The only thing I would do (and did when my totally original and very rare Auto Union arrived from Portugal) is a spray of oil inside the A and B-frame and to put the underside of the car in Waxyol to prefend it to deteriorate in places where I can't see it. After a recondition of engine and gearbox the car was ready to hit the road. I'm just enjoying it.

I am amused by Coys use of the word 'patina' to describe an interior which is, frankly, pretty shabby! I agree that this one, with its unique British Mayhorn coachwork, should probably be left as it is, but my own preference is for well conserved cars, as distict from restored ones. When everything is ripped out and replaced, the period flavour is completely lost. It is surprising, however, what can be done without replacing anything original. Here, the original upholstery could be professionally 'fed' and reurned to its original colour,(I had that done to my own Talbot with amazing results) the 'baggy' pockets could be tightened up. The workwork can be cleaned and oiled without being repolished. There are no carpets at all, so fitting correct new ones would do no harm. When new, this was a very smart car. In my view, it can be that again without spoiling it. I know there is a strong following nowadays for 'barn finds' and 'oily rag' cars- but to my mind if they are left in a totally shabby state they just look rather sad, and will certainly soon deteriorate further. This is just my view- I know many will disagree.