Lancia Aprilia

The Lancia Aprilia (1937–1949) is a family car manufactured by Lancia, one of the first designed using a wind tunnel in collaboration with Battista Farina and Politecnico di Torino, achieving a record low drag coefficient of 0.47. The berlinetta aerodinamica was first shown in 1936.[1]

Lancia Aprilia
Lancia Aprilia 1937
Overview
ManufacturerLancia
Also calledLancia Ardennes
Production1937–1949
Body and chassis
ClassLarge family car (D)
Body style4-door saloon, 2-door cabriolet
LayoutFR layout
Powertrain
Engine1,352 cc V4
1,486 cc V4
Dimensions
Wheelbase2,750 mm (108 in)
Length3,960 mm (155.9 in)
Width1,470 mm (57.9 in)
Curb weight900 kg (1,984 lb)

Production commenced in February 1937, the month in which the firm's founder died: this was the last of Vincenzo Lancia's designs, featuring four pillarless doors. The first series (mod. 238, 10,354 units, 1937–39) featured a 1,352 cc V4 motor providing 47 PS (35 kW). The second series (mod. 438, 9,728 units, 1939–49) had its engine capacity increased to 1,486 cc which provided 48 PS (35 kW). A Lusso model of this second series was also offered as well as a lungo (lengthened) version (706 made, 1946–49). A total of 20,082 cars and 7,554 additional chassis for coach built bodies were produced in Turin along with about 700 in France.

With the Aprilia Lancia followed their tradition of offering cars with the steering wheel on the right even in markets seen by other manufacturers as left hand drive markets.[2][3] Outside the UK and Sweden customers increasingly picked the optional left hand drive versions, however.

Special designs include those by Ugo Zagato (1938),[4] a Carrozzeria Touring convertible,[5] the army's Torpedo militare (World War II),[6] a Luigi Pagani-tuned barchetta bodied by boatbuilders Riva di Merate on a pre-war chassis (1946),[7] a Bertone convertible (1947),[8] one of Michelotti's first, while at Vignale (1949).

French assembly

Lancia had opened their first plant outside Italy at Bonneuil on the south side of Paris in 1931, and the Aprilia was assembled here between 1937 and 1939. The French version was badged as the Lancia Ardennes, but apart from the name and slightly larger headlights (possibly to compensate for the dimming effects of French legislation requiring headlight bulbs to be yellow) the French Lancia Ardennes was indistinguishable from the Turin built Lancia Aprilia. Curiously, the models assembled in France made it to the market ahead of the Italian cars, being sold from Autumn 1936, whereas the Italian cars were not sold till early 1937, after the worst of the winter was over.[9] Despite being well regarded by enthusiasts, the Lancia Ardennes was overshadowed in the French market place by the pioneering and aggressively priced Citroën Traction. In the context of heightened nationalism and increasing political tension between the political classes in Italy and in France, only 1,620 Lancia Ardennes models had been produced before war put an end to its production.

1946 Aprilia Corsa Sport by Riva/Pagani.

The Lancia Aprilia is featured in Land of Black Gold, one of The Adventures of Tintin, in the story's car chase scene. Driven by Tintin with Captain Haddock and Snowy as passengers, they chased the villain Prof. Smith, alias Dr. Müller, who kidnapped Prince Abdullah and tried to run away in the desert.

1947 Lancia Aprilia Gran Sport by Ghia.

See also

References
  1. "Timeline 1930". pininfarina.com. Archived from the original on 2008-02-16. Retrieved 2008-02-18.
  2. Gloor, Roger (2007). Alle Autos der 50er Jahre 1945 - 1960 (1. ed.). Stuttgart: Motorbuch Verlag. ISBN 978-3-613-02808-1.
  3. "Lancia and left hand drive". ritzsite.net. Retrieved 2008-02-18.
  4. "Zagato Recreates Lancia Aprilia Masterpiece From Faded Photos". windingroad.com. Archived from the original on 2008-07-19.
  5. "Lancia Aprilia 1300". negri.it. Archived from the original on 2007-10-10. Retrieved 2008-02-18.
  6. "Torpedo Militare Lancia Aprilia". miniatures.de. Retrieved 2008-02-18.
  7. Vaughan, Daniel. "1946 Lancia Aprilia Pagani Barchetta Corsa". conceptcarz.com. Retrieved 2008-02-18.
  8. "Lancia Aprilia Cabriolet". bertone.it. Archived from the original on 2007-12-17. Retrieved 2008-02-18.
  9. "Automobilia". Toutes les voitures françaises 1937 (salon [Oct] 1936). Paris: Histoire & collections (3): Page 51. 1997.
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