Description
Lancia's new small car, the Appia, made its debut in 1953 with a design similar to that of its big sister, the Aurelia B10. Lancia's tradition of technological innovation was exemplified by the Appia's ultra-compact engine, a narrow-angle (10 degrees) 1, 089 cm3 V4. The inclined overhead valves are located in hemispherical combustion chambers and are driven by two camshafts mounted on the block. The chassis construction adopted from the pre-war Aprilia was retained, as was Lancia's traditional independent sliding-post front suspension.
In addition to the standard Appia saloon, a series of limited edition models were produced on a separate chassis, bodied by renowned coachbuilders. Pinin Farina (later Pininfarina) designed the coupé, Vignale the cabriolet, and Zagato the GT coupé. The sportier Appias, with their lightweight bodywork, reached speeds of up to 160 kilometres an hour, thanks to an engine whose power was increased to 53 bhp.
This rare and desirable Appia convertible boasts elegant bodywork by Carrozzeria Vignale. Founded in 1948 by Alfredo Vignale, one of Italy's most illustrious coachbuilders, Carrozzeria Vignale has made history with successful projects on chassis such as the pre-war FIAT Topolino. A favourite of Enzo Ferrari in the early years of Maranello, Vignale also designed cars for Lancia and Maserati, before going into independent car building in the 1960s.
This very rare S version, imported from France in 2002, has been fully restored. It has covered just 55 km since then and is in exceptional condition, both in terms of bodywork, chassis, interior and mechanics. It is fitted with a Nardi steering wheel and comes with full technical documentation.
