LOT 208 - 1959 Lancia Appia Series 2

ABOUT THIS CAR

Please note, viewing is strictly by appointment and will take place on Thursday 17^th and Friday 18^th July. Bidding will close from 7.45 pm on Monday 21^st July.

Please contact us on info@berlinetta-auctions.co.uk or 07976 707395 to arrange a viewing or discuss the cars. Alternatively please click on “CONTACT US” at the top of the page. As the owner does not have access to emails, please do not use the “CONTACT THE SELLER” tab.

Successful bidders should note that lots are to be collected by Friday 25^th July, unless alternative arrangements have been agreed with us.

SUMMARY:

The Appia’s 1^st owner in the UK was an Italian gentleman, Augusto Da Prati. A Hotel Manager, he bought the Lancia in Italy and the address he registered it at on 16^th May 1967 was “Via Pietro Fortunato Calvi, 30, Mantova” (now the Four Star Hotel Pex). The Appia was imported by Signor Da Prati via Dover on 4^th June 1969 and it was allocated (as was often the case in those days) a ‘69 Registration Number (DXF 418G); doubtless he was delighted to be driving around Torquay, where he was now living, in what appeared to be a new car! Over the next few years he apparently returned to Italy in the Lancia on a fairly regular basis, often coming back to the UK with a boot full of spare parts and it is quite possible that it is his last consignment which is still in the car today.

Having moved to Nottingham, Augusto sold the Appia to the vendor in 1978 and the relevant paperwork for its registration in Italy, importation and change of ownership in the UK is all on file, along with a V5C and copies of a previous V5. An Appia Series 2 Handbook (in Italian, complete with drawings of Appias in use including one rounding what was then ‘Station Hairpin’ in Monaco!), a large-scale copy of blueprints of the front suspension and some Lancia Motor Club Journals/Newssheets are also present.

Lancias of this era were beautifully designed, engineered and built, with top quality materials employed throughout; the Appia’s door fit and action are still exemplary while components such as the cast aluminium door handles and switches are a delight to operate.

The interior is trimmed in beautiful Italian cloth (referred to by Road and Track magazine as “pre-Mussolini Italian broadcloth”) with a woven headlining. The seats have been protected with rugs for many years and though there is some light ‘water marking’, they remain in lovely condition. The trim on the front doors has been similarly protected by what may well be the Factory fitted plastic covers. The steering wheel, gear knob and switches have acquired a light coating of a white ‘dust’ though we were able to clean a small area of the wheel rim with nothing more abrasive than a licked finger (see photo).

At some stage the body has been repainted and where the more recent finish is flaking off, it looks to be a good colour match for the underlying (possibly original) paint. The sills have had a skim of filler on them and are now a little ‘crusty’, though the upper body (a fair proportion of which is aluminium) and floors appear to be encouragingly solid. All the hard to find exterior trim items are present and mostly in good condition. The front grill and bumper will require work and the rear bumper is just resting in place.

The boot contains not only the box of spares previously mentioned but also the spare wheel and an original tool bag along with the majority of its Factory supplied contents. The delightful ‘M Riganti’ pillar jack is also present and in wonderfully original condition; quite a find when one considers virtually identical examples as found in the boot of Ferrari 250 GTOs often change hands for £6,000 to £7,000...

The ignition key (which sensibly also operates the door, boot and fuel filler flap locks) is also present along with a spare blank ready for cutting.

This delightful Appia is both highly original and complete; in our opinion a fantastic opportunity; offered without reserve.

• Registration number: DXF 418G
• Chassis Number: C10S 29298