Vehicle Description
When the Astura debuted in 1931, Lancia was already
well-established as one of the most respected automobile
manufacturers in the world. The brilliant engineer Vincenzo Lancia
gave life to such vehicles as the Kappa, Lambda, and Dilambda - all
revered for their advanced engineering, superb build quality, and
revolutionary design features. Because Lancia was a small company,
new models often overlapped with outgoing ones, as was the case
with the Astura, which sold alongside the Dilambda for the first
few years. Like the Dilambda, the Astura featured a separate
chassis rather than the stressed unitary body of the Lambda. While
arguably a step back technologically, this allowed Italy's finest
coachbuilders to work their magic on the otherwise brilliant
platform. The design was shared with the four-cylinder Artena,
though the Astura served the flagship role thanks to the superb,
ingenious narrow-angle V8 engine. The Astura formed the basis of
some of the most spectacular of all pre-war Lancias, favored by
Italy's cultural and political elite throughout the 30s. For the
Series III, the Astura gained the three-liter version of the V8
engine, hydraulic brakes, and the option of short or long-chassis
variants. The final Series IV version, built between 1937 and 1939,
featured the same mechanical spec but was only available in a
long-wheelbase form. Coachbuilders across Europe made the most of
Lancia's superb flagship, and stunning designs came from the likes
of Pourtout, Castagna, Stabilimenti Farina, and the fledgling Pinin
Farina - which would go on to create many breathtaking creations
based on the Astura. As one of the last Asturas built, chassis
number 413195 is a long-wheelbase fourth-series example, wearing
sophisticated and elegant one-off cabriolet coachwork by Pinin
Farina. According to the marque historian and collector Herve
Charbonneaux, himself a past owner of this car, S/N 413195 was
completed on November 17, 1938, bound for Carrozzeria Pinin Farina.
The chassis was said to be a special order by Count Galeazzo Ciano,
Benito Mussolini's son-in-law, and his right-hand man as the chief
propagandist in the fascist government. Like many high-ranking
Italian officials, Ciano was a Lancia connoisseur and had at least
one other Astura in his private stable. But just as 413195 arrived
at the coachbuilder's workshop, Italy's involvement in World War II
interrupted all of Italian industry, meaning Pinin Farina would not
complete the job until after the war. Unfortunately for Count
Ciano, he would never take delivery of his Lancia. When he
suggested Italy may be on the losing side of WWII, Mussolini
summarily stripped him of his post for what he saw as the ultimate
betrayal of trust. In 1944, Ciano met his fate by firing squad on
Mussolini's orders. The Astura remained at the Pinin Farina
workshop through the end of the war. With auto production in Italy
at essentially zero, coachbuilders were desperate for work. They
began pushing the boundaries of design to attract what few buyers
still had the means for bespoke coachwork. In 1947, Pinin Farina
completed the striking body for 413195, debuting it on their stand
at the Turin Auto Show the same year. It was apparently purchased
by noted art collector and French aristocrat Baron Napoleon
Gourgaud, where it lived a gentle life as part of his Paris museum.
In 1971, Philippe Charbonneaux and his son Herve purchased the
Lancia from the Gourgaud collection and displayed it at their
museum near St. Dizier. The collection still exists as theMusee
automobile Reim-Champagne, and a film on their website from 1972
momentarily captures the Astura, appearing to remarkably sound and
in original condition at the time - albeit a bit dusty. It is
understood that the next owner was Marco Gastaldi, who acquired it
from the Charbonneaux collection in 1977 and owned it through 1992.
In 1993, Gastaldi sold it to Carlo Montorfano, who commissioned
Italian restorer Mario Galbiati to perform a mechanical overhaul
and cosmetic freshening, preserving the car's original interior. It
changed hands again in 2007 and has since been in the care of
devoted enthusiasts who have maintained it in superb condition. The
imposing and grand Astura possesses a remarkable presence. Pinin
Farina's brilliance is on full display, making the most of the
137-inch wheelbase with a graceful and sophisticated
fully-enveloped design that was years ahead of its time. The lack
of excessive trim or finicky grille designs is in stark contrast to
many early post-war cars, and the car exudes quiet elegance. It is
strikingly finished in black, with black wheels, black-wall
Michelin tires, and finely restored brightwork. The interior was
recently restored, with the rich burgundy leather true to original
specifications and providing a perfect contrast to the understated
livery. Paint and coachwork are superb, with exquisite panel
alignment and detailing. It might be a surprise to the casual
onlooker to learn the Astura has a V8 under the bonnet. Topped with
a single cylinder head, it is astonishingly compact and a stunning
display of engineering, particularly since it was designed nearly a
century ago. The engine compartment is clean and well-detailed,
reflecting some occasional use and remaining true to original
specifications. This astonishing Lancia Astura participated in the
2021 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, where it completed the road
tour without fault and took First in Class in a highly competitive
grouping of European open coachbuilt cars. It has also been shown
at the highly prestigious Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este and is
accompanied by a FIVA passport and Automoclub Storico Italiano
registration papers, ensuring its eligibility for a wide range of
road events and concours. This is a rare opportunity to acquire a
significant piece of Lancia and Pinin Farina history that is sure
to be a breathtaking centerpiece to any collection. Offers welcome
and trades considered For additional details please view this
listing directly on our website
https://hymanltd.com/vehicles/7016-1938-lancia-astura-cabriolet/
