First owned by Piero Taruffi
1954 Lancia Appia Saloon
Registration no. not UK registered
Chassis no. 5894

Styled like its Aurelia B10 big brother, Lancia's new small car - the Appia - was premiered at the Turin Motor Show in 1953. The Lancia tradition of innovation in automotive technology was exemplified by the Appia's ultra-compact engine: a narrow-angle (10 degrees), 1,089cc V4 whose inclined overhead-valves were set in hemispherical combustion chambers and operated by twin, block-mounted camshafts. The unitary chassis construction adopted on the pre-war Aprilia was continued, as was Lancia's traditional sliding-pillar independent front suspension. Body styling was similar to that of the bigger Aurelia, and Series I cars featured aluminium doors, wings, and bumpers. In a tradition inaugurated by the pre-war Augusta, the front doors were hinged forwards, the rears aft, and there was no central pillar.

A Series I model, this Appia saloon is of right-hand drive configuration like the majority of Lancias manufactured up to the mid-1960s. Its first owner was Piero Taruffi, the Italian racing diver whose Formula 1 career included works drives for Alfa Romeo, Ferrari, Mercedes-Benz, Maserati, and Vanwall. A former motorcycle champion and holder of various speed records on both two and four wheels, Taruffi was also an accomplished sports car driver. In 1957 he won the last ever Mille Miglia while driving for Ferrari, and retired from racing immediately after this tragic event, which had claimed the life of Alfonso de Portago.

First registered as 'RA 20851' in Ravenna, the Appia appears to have changed hands by 1956 when it was entered in that year's Rally Lido di Venezia driven by Sergio Lipizer. The Lancia also competed in the Rally Sestriere in 1957. It is currently fitted with a FIAT twin-cam engine, though when this conversion was done is not known.

By 1978 the Appia was in the ownership the Scianna family of Padua, there being bills on file addressed to Dr Rosario Scianna (1978) and Dr Francesco Scianna (1994) together with an ACI registration document (issued December 2011) in the name of Emma Scianna. While in the Sciannas' possession the Appia has competed in the Targa Florio (1986), Vernasca Silver Flag (2006 and 2015), Grand Tour of Sicily 'Targa Florio' (2009), and Mille Miglia (2010). Copies of the car's original Italian libretto, various press cuttings, and the aforementioned bills may be found in the car's extensive history file (inspection recommended).