The Aprilia is one of the great Lancias. It started in production in 1937 and was made until 1949, with 20,064 sedans and 8,550 separate chassis made for coach builders, with total production numbering more than 28,000. Rarely seen in the US, but much admired by those who have driven them, they are known for advanced and innovative engineering solutions, in a delightfully compact, aerodynamic and throughly modern, monocoque.
The Aprilia story is full of interesting aspects: early aerodynamic models, it is a true compact and lightweight sedan weighing some 880 kg, growing up to 950 kg for the sedans (coachbuilt examples were significantly heavier). Engine was a narrow angle V 4, originally of 1352 cc, and finally of 1486 cc. And it has a little sister, the Ardea, looking almost identical but a bit smaller with a 903 cc engine. For more information, please seek out Wim Oude Weerninck's La Lancia or Nigel Trow’s Shield and the Flag.
The Aprilia story is full of interesting aspects: early aerodynamic models, it is a true compact and lightweight sedan weighing some 880 kg, growing up to 950 kg for the sedans (coachbuilt examples were significantly heavier). Engine was a narrow angle V 4, originally of 1352 cc, and finally of 1486 cc. And it has a little sister, the Ardea, looking almost identical but a bit smaller with a 903 cc engine. For more information, please seek out Wim Oude Weerninck's La Lancia or Nigel Trow’s Shield and the Flag.
Aprilias are fascinating technical cars. A few engine details, largely from Peter Renou and Noel Macwhirter (Aprilia)
