Lancia Appia GTZ

Vehicle Overview

The Lancia Appia Zagato represents the sporty coupé version of the Lancia Appia, manufactured by Lancia from 1956 to 1963. Initially, the earliest Appia Zagatos, up until December 1958 when the GTE was released, were considered as “special edition” versions of the Appia, not yet a model officially built or marketed by Lancia. Originally, Pininfarina was tasked with constructing a coupé, while Vignale was assigned to produce both a 2+2 Lusso and a convertible. Subsequently, Zagato entered the scene, crafting Appia bodies such as the GTZ in 1957 and the GT in early 1958, based on chassis provided by Lancia’s customers. The pioneering Appia Zagato, unveiled at the April ’56 Turin Motor Show, painted in a striking two-tone scheme (with the roof and lower part of the sides in light blue, and the rest in dark blue), immediately intrigued onlookers with its distinctive “humps” (on the roof, hood, and trunk lid), earning it the nickname “Cammello” (Camel). This model birthed a series of sporty berlinettes that would remain prominent on both the racing and street scenes for nearly a decade. The Lancia Appia GTZ made its debut at the 1957 Geneva Motor Show but didn’t receive official Lancia approval until late 1958, coinciding with the launch of the GTE (Gran Turismo Esportazione) and the final Sport model. While the rear design of the Sport Zagato mirrored that of the GTE, the Appia Sport was constructed on a shortened chassis of the Appia third series, enhancing its agility and performance.

Photo courtesy of Bonhams