Lancia Aprilia
Encyclopedia
Lancia Aprilia is automobile manufactured by Lancia
, one of the first designed using wind tunnel
in collaboration with Battista Farina
and Politecnico di Torino, achieving a record low drag coefficient
of 0.47.
The berlinetta aerodinamica was first shown 1936.
Production commenced in February 1937, the month in which the firm's founder died: this was the last of Vincenzo Lancia
's designs, featuring four pillarless doors.
The first series (mod. 238, 10,354 units, 1937–39) featured a 1352 cc V4 motor providing 47 bhp. The second series (mod. 438, 9,728 units, 1939–49) had its engine capacity increased to 1486 cc which provided 48 bhp. A Lusso model of this second series was also offered as well as a lungo (lengthened) version (706 made, 1946–49).
A total of 20,082 cars and 7,554 additional chassis for coach built
bodies were produced in Turin along with about 700 in France
.
With the Aprilia Lancia followed their tradition of offering cars with the steering wheel on the right even in markets seen by other manufacturers as left hand drive markets. Outside the UK and Sweden customers increasingly picked the optional left hand drive versions, however.
Special designs include Ugo Zagato
(1938),
a Carrozzeria Touring
convertible,
the army's Torpedo militare (World War II
),
a Luigi Pagani-built barchetta
bodied by Riva di Merate (1946),
a Bertone convertible (1947),
one of Michelotti's first, while at Vignale
(1949).
Lancia
Lancia Automobiles S.p.A. is an Italian automobile manufacturer founded in 1906 by Vincenzo Lancia and which became part of the Fiat Group in 1969. The company has a long history of producing distinctive cars and also has a strong rally heritage. Some modern Lancias are seen as presenting a more...
, one of the first designed using wind tunnel
Wind tunnel
A wind tunnel is a research tool used in aerodynamic research to study the effects of air moving past solid objects.-Theory of operation:Wind tunnels were first proposed as a means of studying vehicles in free flight...
in collaboration with Battista Farina
Battista Farina
Battista "Pinin" Farina was an Italian automobile designer, the founder of the Carrozzeria Pininfarina coachbuilding company, a name associated with many of the best-known postwar sports cars....
and Politecnico di Torino, achieving a record low drag coefficient
Drag coefficient
In fluid dynamics, the drag coefficient is a dimensionless quantity that is used to quantify the drag or resistance of an object in a fluid environment such as air or water. It is used in the drag equation, where a lower drag coefficient indicates the object will have less aerodynamic or...
of 0.47.
The berlinetta aerodinamica was first shown 1936.
Production commenced in February 1937, the month in which the firm's founder died: this was the last of Vincenzo Lancia
Vincenzo Lancia
Vincenzo Lancia was an Italian pilot, engineer and founder of Lancia.Vincenzo Lancia was born in the small village of Fobello on 24 August 1881, close to Turin...
's designs, featuring four pillarless doors.
The first series (mod. 238, 10,354 units, 1937–39) featured a 1352 cc V4 motor providing 47 bhp. The second series (mod. 438, 9,728 units, 1939–49) had its engine capacity increased to 1486 cc which provided 48 bhp. A Lusso model of this second series was also offered as well as a lungo (lengthened) version (706 made, 1946–49).
A total of 20,082 cars and 7,554 additional chassis for coach built
Coachbuilder
A coachbuilder is a manufacturer of bodies for carriages or automobiles.The trade dates back several centuries. Rippon was active in the time of Queen Elizabeth I, Barker founded in 1710 by an officer in Queen Anne's Guards, Brewster a relative newcomer , formed in 1810. Others in Britain included...
bodies were produced in Turin along with about 700 in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
With the Aprilia Lancia followed their tradition of offering cars with the steering wheel on the right even in markets seen by other manufacturers as left hand drive markets. Outside the UK and Sweden customers increasingly picked the optional left hand drive versions, however.
Special designs include Ugo Zagato
Ugo Zagato
Ugo Zagato was an Italian automobile designer, known for establishing and running the Zagato coachbuilder, famous for its lightweight designs....
(1938),
a Carrozzeria Touring
Carrozzeria Touring
Carrozzeria Touring is an automobile coachbuilder established on March 25, 1926 in Milan, Italy by Felice Bianchi Anderloni and Gaetano Ponzoni...
convertible,
the army's Torpedo militare (World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
),
a Luigi Pagani-built barchetta
Barchetta
A barchetta was originally an Italian style of open 2-seater sports car which was built for racing. Weight and wind resistance were kept to a minimum, and any unnecessary equipment or decoration were sacrificed in order to maximize performance....
bodied by Riva di Merate (1946),
a Bertone convertible (1947),
one of Michelotti's first, while at Vignale
Vignale
Vignale was an Italian automobile coachbuilder company. Carrozzeria Alfredo Vignale was established in 1948 at Via Cigliano, Turin by Alfredo Vignale in Grugliasco, near Turin ....
(1949).