The Birthday Present

On November 29, 1906 the two Italians Vincenzo Lancia and Claudio Fogolin decided to set up their car plant. As a company name the went for the surname of Vincenzo – Lancia.

The Aprilia type, which went into series production from February 1937, was also the last development in which Vincenzo Lancia was able to actively participate, as he died of a heart attack in February 1937 at the age of 55. Based on the Lancia Aprilia, a unique conversion was built in 1938, about which almost no documents have survived to this day. But even if very few facts are known, it is certain that the streamlined vehicle was designed by Ugo Zagato. 

Andrea Zagato, whose grandfather Ugo once designed the racing car, suggested to Lancia to rebuilt the car, true to original, for the company’s 100^th anniversary. Among the motto ‘Sanction Lost’, the project was implemented supported by a financially strong sponsor. Firstly, the historical black-and-white photographs were retouched computer-assisted and the dimensions were extrapolated to create exact technical blueprints. In the next stage, the technicians transferred drawings into a precise wooden model – as it was state of the art back then in the 1930s – above which the aluminum car body was shaped. The replica car was also supposed to be drivable and in running condition. Finally, after a construction period of almost exactly two years, the replica of the former unique car shone in its full splendor in 2008. With its 80 hp front drive, the car accelerated/ accelerates to almost 130 km/h.