Styled like its Aurelia B10 big brother, Lancia’s new Appia small car arrived in 1953.

The Lancia tradition of outstanding innovation in automotive technology was exemplified by the Appia’s ultra-compact engine, a narrow-angle (10 ° ) 1,089cc V4 whose inclined overhead-valves were set in hemispherical combustion chambers and operated by twin camshafts in the block.

The unitary chassis construction adopted on the pre-war Aprilia was, naturally enough, continued, as was Lancia’s traditional sliding-pillar independent front suspension.

Notchback-style Series II cars came with a lengthened wheelbase and more power (up from 38 to 43bhp) while the final (third) series boasted further styling revisions and 48bhp.

Complementing the standard Appia saloon were a series of limited edition models produced on a separate chassis and bodied by leading carrozzeria, Pininfarina being responsible for the Coupé, Vignale the Cabriolet and Zagato the GT Coupé.

Engine power was increased to 59bhp for t...