• Lightweight aerodynamic aluminium Zagato coachwork • One of the most desirable Appia variants • Present ownership since 2019 • Italian registration document Lancia's new small saloon, the Appia, arrived in 1953.

The company's tradition of innovation was exemplified by the Appia's ultra-compact engine: a narrow-angle 1,089cc V4 whose inclined overhead valves were set in hemispherical combustion chambers and operated by twin, block-mounted camshafts.

Complementing the saloon was a series of limited edition models on a separate chassis bodied by leading carrozzeria: Pinin Farina being responsible for the coupé, Vignale the cabriolet, and Zagato the GTE coupé.

Power was eventually increased to 60bhp for these more sporting Appias which, when equipped with Zagato's lightweight, aerodynamic coachwork, could touch 160km/h.

Three different series of GTEs were made, including 167 cars with covered headlights and 144 with recessed open headlamps.

Zagato's GTE coupé is one of the rarest an...