LANCIA, PININ FARINA, AND ONE SPECIAL APRILIA The Aprilia was a pivotal model for Lancia, and the last model completed before Vincenzo Lancia’s death in 1937.

Entering production that year, the factory berlina had an advanced unit body, four-wheel independent suspension, and a remarkably compact narrow-angle V-4.

With a structural engine bay and cowl, and a unitized sheet steel floor and rear, the platform provided torsional stiffness while allowing enormous design freedom for coachbuilders—including, of course, Pinin Farina.

As noted by the research of Lancia marque historian and former Pininfarina historical consultant Paolo Giusti, chassis 439-11844 was completed by the factory on 27 March 1947.

Two weeks later, it was purchased by SVAM—the Lancia dealership in Modena, Italy—for the sum of 556,480 Lire.

SVAM then immediately forwarded the bare chassis to Pinin Farina with the special commission to provide it with unique "2+2" cabriolet coachwork.

Giusti notes that the design b...