Lancia Aprilia Cabriolet Special Prototype by Pinin Farina
LANCIA, PININ FARINA AND A SPECIAL APRILIA The Aprilia was a crucial model for Lancia and the last model completed before the death of Vincenzo Lancia in 1937. The factory berlina went into production that year and featured advanced bodywork, independent four-wheel suspension, and a remarkably compact narrow-angle V-4. With a structural engine bay and hood, and a unitized sheet metal floor and rear section, the platform offered torsional rigidity while providing enormous design freedom for coachbuilders, including, of course, Pinin Farina. As noted by the research of Lancia brand historian and former Pininfarina historical advisor Paolo Giusti, chassis 439-11844 was completed by the factory on March 27, 1947. Two weeks later, it was purchased by SVAM—the Lancia dealer in Modena, Italy—for the sum of 556.480 Lire. SVAM then immediately sent the bare chassis to Pinin Farina with the special instruction to fit it with unique "2+2" convertible bodywork.
LANCIA, PININ FARINA AND A SPECIAL APRILIA
The Aprilia was a crucial model for Lancia and the last model completed before Vincenzo Lancia's death in 1937. The factory Berlina went into production that year and featured advanced bodywork, four-wheel independent suspension and a remarkably compact narrow-angle V-4. With a structural engine bay and hood, and a unitized sheet-steel floor and rear, the platform offered torsional rigidity while offering enormous design freedom to coachbuilders, including of course Pinin Farina.
As noted by the research of Lancia brand historian and former Pininfarina historical advisor Paolo Giusti, chassis 439-11844 was completed by the factory on March 27, 1947. Two weeks later, it was purchased by SVAM – the Lancia dealer in Modena, Italy – for 556.480 Lire. SVAM then immediately forwarded the bare chassis to Pininfarina with the special instruction to equip it with unique "2+2" convertible bodywork.
Giusti notes that the design bears the direct influence of lead Pinin Farina stylist Fedele Bianco, who clearly used this opportunity to improve upon his previous 2+2 convertible treatment, which claimed top honors at the Monte Carlo and Cannes Concours d'Elegance in 1947. Appropriately named the "Speciale," this prototype was clad in a one-off aluminum body with sloping sides, open wheels, a swept-back windshield, and a low profile.
The driver and passenger have a dashboard that matches the upholstery and is set with a striking, unique composition in Bakelite and chrome. Because the spare tire took up most of the trunk, folding rear seats were necessary to provide adequate space for luggage.
With the lines of the windshield pillar and side window extending into the door cuts, it is just as beautiful with the top up as with it down. Pininfarina press images from 1947 are included in the file, generously provided from Giusti's collection.
TOO SPECIAL FOR PRODUCTION
After a disappointing interaction with Lancia's board of directors in late 1947 (who decided not to put the design into production), this Aprilia Special Cabriolet prototype was subsequently acquired by Roblou, a Lancia importer in Neuilly sur Seine, France, where it remained until 1965. Giusti complains that the manufacturer's suggested retail price of the car, when it was originally offered by SVAM, was reportedly 1.750.000 Lire.
The car was rediscovered in northern France in 2010 by Belgian dealer Bernard Marreyt and subsequently subjected to a thorough three-year restoration in northern Italy according to the striking color scheme presented today, with a slate gray-blue exterior of medium red leather upholstery .
Importantly, an accompanying Lancia Storico production certificate shows that the car's current V-4 engine matches the unit listed on the original factory documentation.
This Lancia Aprilia is a very important Pinin Farina post-war design, while its advanced engineering makes it as useful and rewarding to drive as it is to admire.