Cars

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 is exemplified by the Appia’s ultra-compact engine, a narrow-angle (10 degrees) 1,089 cm3 V4. The inclined overhead valves are housed in hemispherical combustion chambers and driven by two block-mounted camshafts. The chassis construction adopted from the pre-war Aprilia is retained, as is Lancia’s traditional sliding-post independent front suspension.

In addition to the standard Appia sedan, a series of limited-edition models was 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 Appia models, with their lightweight bodywork, reached speeds of up to 160 kilometers per hour, thanks to an engine output increased to 53 hp.

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 made history with successful projects on chassis such as the pre-war FIAT Topolino. A favorite 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 body, chassis, interior and mechanics. It comes with a Nardi steering wheel and full technical documentation.