Lancia Appia

The Lancia Appia was a car manufactured by the Italian manufacturer Lancia between 1953 and 1963.

Lancia Appia: how and why

Like all the car manufacturers, after the bracket of the second world war, the production taken again with the old prewar models while waiting for the new projects. Lancia made in the same way with its models Aprilia and Ardea, but prepared already the future and the cars which were going to replace them. In 1950 it is the Lancia Aurelia which was presented, the B10 truck of 1754 Cm3 which replaced the Lancia Aprilia, then it was it tower of Lancia of small the Lancia Ardea.

As of the beginning of the studies, the new car was envisaged with a line close to elder key its, Lancia Aurelia. After a serious work of development, in 1953, the engineers chose a new engine of 1090 Cm3.

The first series

The new car, baptized Appia, was presented to the International fair of the Car of Turin of April 1953. Its direct competitor was the news FIAT 1100 - 103, which had begun a few weeks before. The price difference between the two cars was very important (975 000 Liras the FIAT - and even 945 000 Liras in its version of line entry - against 1 331 500 Liras of Lancia Appia, is a third in more).

A little with the great surprise the observers, and although that was very with the mode at that time still, any carriage-builder did not use the mechanical base of Lancia Appia for the creation of model " fuoriserie" , but the reason was very simple, Lancia never marketed this not fitted with body car. It was Lancia which marketed as of 1954 the derived versions.

The success of the first series of Lancia Appia - manufactured in hardly 20.025 specimens of the truck, was not exceptional. The FIAT 1100-103 was really a too strong competitor, its sales were at least twenty times higher. Then it was with the turn of Alfa Romeo of launching in 1955, the Alfa Romeo Giulietta truck. The Lancia direction then decided to renew the car while making it more competitive.

The second series

It is in March 1956 that Lancia exposed to the Motor-show of Geneva the second series of Lancia Appia. Wanted and conceived by Prof Antonio Fessia (arrived at Lancia recently), the new series was equipped with a new body to the lines lengthened with a more marked trunk and an upheaval with dimensions mechanical. All the bodies had been worked over again, direction, brakes, gear box but also the engine whose power passed from 38 to 43,5 CV with definitely improved services. This second series had made of Appia a literally new car, very successful from all points of view, comfortable, aesthetically pleasant and motorized well. During the test by the Quattroruote specialized magazine in 1957, it was underlined the reliability and the resistance of this car which had traversed more 160 000 km without incident none. The second series of Lancia Appia was marketed until February 1959, and was followed third series.

The third series

Although the sales of Appia second series continued good progress, the Lancia direction decided to present, in March 1959, at the time of the Living room of Geneva, the third series of Appia, which began again before sumptuous Lancia Flaminia, the car of the top of range of Lancia, launched in 1957. The engine output was further increased up to 48 CV and the new car adopted the double brake system, a pledge for active safety. The body did not achieve the unanimity of criticisms because of a rupture in the harmony of the unit. In 1961 the sales started to drop, in 1962 the chutte sales was done more important especially because of very hard competition.

The heiress of Appia was already ready, Lancia in April 1963 presented her news Lancia Fulvia, a traction before intended for a great destiny especially in her legendary Coupè version.

The last Lancia Appia left the factories Lancia de Chivasso on April 27th, 1963; it was the number 103 161 which broke up into: 98 000 trucks and 5 161 derived. If one includes commercial releases with the number of 3 863 vehicles, they are really 107 024 Lancia Appia which was manufactured, 109 438 if the external carriage-builders are included.

Derived versions

It is in 1956, shortly after the presentation of the second series that Lancia provides for the pemière time 13 frame of Appia to selected Italian carriage-builders. While some construirent " fuoriserie" , others carried out derived versions which were going to be directly manufactured by Lancia in the following months. Been driven by more powerful engines, 53 CV instead of 43,5, it were the case of the Half-compartment of Pininfarina and Spider de Vignale, marketed in May 1957, but also of the sporting berlinette of the Milanese specialist Zagato.

Lancia Appia and races

Although Lancia Appia was intended for customers more sensitive to comfort than to the services and the speed, Appia was also a large car in competition.

In 1953, year of its launching, small 1100 Lancia was not approved in the Tourisme category, by decision of Lancia. In spite of this choice, Mrs Mimi Schiagno had courage to take part with her own mass-production car in several competitions, in the category Grand Tourism and obtained notable results.

In addition to this common case not very, one should not especially forget the prize list of Lancia Appia during one decade with the cars worked out by Zagato. In its class, 1150 Cm3 category Great Tourism, Appia Zagato cut the lions share while making it possible its pilots, which one will quote certain Cesare Fiorio, to conquer not less than 9 Italian Championships, between 1959 and 1965. The engine of Appia was also used by small Italian manufacturers for single-seaters in Formula Junior.

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