Lancia Astura Cabriolet Pininfarina

Vehicle Overview

The Lancia Astura Cabriolet 41-3195 by Pininfarina represents a pinnacle of pre-war Italian automotive engineering and design. Introduced in 1931 alongside the Dilambda, the Astura showcased Lancia’s commitment to advanced engineering and luxurious craftsmanship. Unlike the Lambda, which featured a stressed unitary body, the Astura retained a separate chassis, allowing renowned Italian coachbuilders to create bespoke designs. Powered by a sophisticated narrow-angle V8 engine, the Astura became a favorite among Italy’s cultural and political elite throughout the 1930s. It evolved through several series, with the Series III introducing a three-liter V8 engine, hydraulic brakes, and both short and long-wheelbase variants. The final Series IV, produced from 1937 to 1939, exclusively offered a long-wheelbase configuration, maintaining its status as Lancia’s flagship model. Carrozzeria Pinin Farina, a budding coachbuilder at the time, crafted striking designs based on the Astura chassis. Chassis 41-3195, built in 1938, originally intended for Count Galeazzo Ciano, underwent completion delays due to World War II and subsequent historical events. In 1947, Pinin Farina finally adorned it with an elegant two-door cabriolet body, which debuted at the Turin Motor Show on Lancia’s display. After being part of a Parisian collection, the car found a home with industrial designer Philippe Charbonneaux and his son in Saint-Dizier, where it remained until the late 1970s. Following refurbishments in Italy in 1993 and recent refreshing by its current owner in 2018, the Astura has maintained its pristine condition. It has graced prestigious events including the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este in 2019 and triumphed in the Pinin Farina Prewar class at the 2021 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. Adorned in a classic black exterior complemented by red leather upholstery, this Astura is propelled by a 3.0-liter V8 engine, featuring a shared cylinder head managing two sets of overhead valves. Its power is transmitted through a four-speed manual transmission, supported by sliding-pillar independent front suspension and hydraulic drum brakes, reflecting the era’s finest automotive technology. The Lancia Astura Cabriolet by Pininfarina epitomizes the intersection of engineering excellence and artistic design, embodying the grandeur and elegance of pre-war motoring that continues to captivate enthusiasts and collectors worldwide.

Photo courtesy of Hyman Ltd.