Lot 267: 1947 Lancia Aprilia Berlinetta Bertone

Lancia was never short of pioneering new technologies for their cars, as their Lambda was one of the most innovative cars of the Twenties being the first production car to feature a load-bearing monocoque body, a form of chassis construction which would be adopted by almost every manufacturer some thirty years later. Vincenzo Lancia personally envisioned the Lambda after considering ship design and the strength that a hull needs to battle the great seas. Many innovations were to come and the Lancia Aprilia, which was in production from 1937 to 1949 was no exception, being one of the first designs using a wind tunnel. 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 featured a 1352 cc V4 motor providing 47 bhp (35 kW). The second series had its engine capacity increased to 1486 cc which provided 48 bhp (36 kW). A Lusso model of this second series was also offered as well as a lungo (lengthened) version. 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. Chassis no. 439S/12000 is very special indeed as it left the Lancia factory on 1st September 1947 to be fitted by Bertone of Turin with this attractive special Berlinetta body. A letter from Bertone to the previous owner confirms that they designed and fitted this body to the car in 1948; at the same time two more of these attractive carrozzerie were fitted to Aprilia chassis, but their fate today remains unknown. Offered, according to the owner, in good to excellent condition throughout, this most handsome four seater has been subject to a comprehensive restoration in 2004 and has remained since in an exclusive private collection in Italy. An important piece of Italian motoring history.