Vehicle Description
Hyman Ltd. is thrilled to offer this remarkable machine; the 2016
Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance Best in Show winning 1936 Lancia
Astura Tipo Bocca Cabriolet by Pinin Farina. We are honored to
welcome this very special automobile back into our fold, as we
proudly sold it to the current owner in 2009 prior to his
commission of what is a truly breathtaking restoration. Lancia's
flagship Astura debuted alongside the Artena replacing the
venerable and groundbreaking Lambda. Lancia had extended his lineup
with the two-model approach, the Artena powered by a robust four
cylinder of under two liters, and the Astura a grand and luxurious
affair with a spectacular 2.6 liter, narrow angle V8 engine.
Vincenzo Lancia was a brilliant and creative engineer, though when
it came to matters of style, he preferred his automobiles to wear
conservative coachwork. But conservative lines weren't always best
suited to his highly advanced chassis, and Lancia dealers wanted
more flamboyant coachwork to offer buyers who desired style that
reflected the cutting edge mechanicals beneath the skin. Lancia
trusted his dealers, and in particular, the Bocca Brothers,
themselves highly successful Lancia agents and fellow Piedmontese.
The brothers persuaded Vincenzo to allow the commission of a
handful of Third Series, 2.9 liter Astura cabriolets to be styled
by Pinin Farina with newly fashionable streamlined coachwork; each
example slightly different from the next, on a common theme of
stunning streamlined elegance. It is believed that no more than six
of these "Bocca" cabriolets were built, our subject car finding its
way to England early in its life. Research by David Burgess-White
of Octane Magazine revealed the registration plate to be from
London, November 1936, right after the final Olympia Motor Show
(subsequent exhibitions would take place at Earl's Court). It is
surmised that this very car was the one shown on the Lancia of
England stand at Olympia alongside two examples of the newly
introduced Aprilia. The fascinating story of this very special
Astura Cabriolet picks up again in 1962 when 20 year old Michael
Scott, already owner of an Astura short chassis special, was
directed by his friend and fellow Lancia enthusiast Ronald "Steady"
Barker to a neglected, derelict and hedge-bound Astura that may be
suitable for spare parts. When Scott and Barker visited the car,
they immediately saw through the rust and filth to recognize it as
something quite special; a rare and breathtaking Pinin Farina
cabriolet. A deal was made to purchase the whole car for a scant 15
Pounds Sterling (!!) and Scott dragged the car home behind a Land
Rover and it sat dormant in his parent's garage for several months
while he figured out his next move. Fortunately for Michael Scott
and his newly acquired Lancia, his mate Steady Barker happened not
only to be mad for old Lancias but also a highly respected
journalist for The Autocar Magazine, and as such was quite well
connected in the industry. At the Turin Auto Show, Steady showed
photos of his friend's Lancia to Battista "Pinin" Farina - the man
who's own hand drew the stunning Lancia in the earliest days of his
firm Carrozzeria Pinin Farina, which he formed in 1930 after
breaking from his elder brother's shop, Stabilimenti Farina. Upon
seeing the photos, Signore Farina made a proposition: If Steady's
friend could get the Astura mechanically sound; Pinin Farina would
rebuild the body free of charge. This astounding gesture showed not
only how proud Farina was of his design but also his deep,
heartfelt fondness for the Lancia marque, a canvas where he created
some of his finest work. Michael Scott lived up to his end of the
bargain and spent considerable sums for the day rebuilding the 2.9
liter narrow angle V8 and restoring the chassis. More than a year
later, the Astura had a fresh MOT and 1000 flawless test miles
under its belt. Steady eloquently described the car as "sound in
wind and limb but shabby as a tramp" as Scott and a friend set off
for Italy. Despite initial protests by the manager of Pinin
Farina's warranty shop, work commenced and the Astura was gradually
restored to its former glory, by many of the hands who originally
built it, all of whom were overseen by the master himself; the man
with the beautiful mind that dreamed up this beautiful machine.
Bucks were made and missing and damaged panels hand crafted to
return them to original. Wheel discs were spun by the same man who
spun the originals. Restoration of the hydraulically operated roof
proved difficult, but finally after more than a year, the car was
completed and returned to original specification. Period photos
show Battista "Pinin" Farina proudly posing with the restored
Lancia in front of his workshops. The newly restored Lancia was
resplendent and Michael Scott was determined to keep the car
forever, using it regularly to promote his growing business and
entertain clients. However, life changes meant he was forced to
sell his beloved Astura. He initially offered it back to
Pininfarina, though they were unable to purchase the car at that
time. So in 1976, the car was sold for 10,800 Pounds Sterling to
one Eric Clapton who, despite his partiality to Ferraris, declared
the Lancia "the most fun I've had, off stage or out of bed!" Mr.
Clapton held on to the Lancia into the 1980s when it was eventually
reacquired by Pininfarina and displayed proudly in their collection
for decades. Approximately seven years ago, this fabulous Tipo
Bocca Cabriolet was acquired by Hyman Ltd. and passed on to its
current owner who in turn commissioned a world-class, nut and bolt
restoration to the highest of standards. The car was systematically
disassembled and every single component restored to as-original
quality. Incredibly, when Pinin Farina restored the car, they left
behind bits of original metal and upholstery which confirmed the
car was originally black over rich, cognac leather. Using a scant
scrap of leather as a sample, new hides were produced in Italy to
the exact original color and spec. The distinct basketweave
pattern, known as Intrecciato was a signature leatherworking
technique of the region. A piece of the original floor mat was
taken to Italy where a new die was produced and mats recast by the
original manufacturer. Jaeger instruments are restored to as-new
specification - an unusual mixture of Imperial calibration and
French lettering. For the body, original wooden bucks that support
the panels were carefully preserved and only those sections deemed
beyond repair were replaced using ash as original. The magnificent
V8 engine was removed and a full rebuild to factory specification
was performed by England-based Jim Stokes Workshops, the highly
respected engine builders and experts in pre-war Italian machinery.
JSW is no ordinary restoration shop, as their ability to reverse
engineer and manufacture complex components to exacting original
specification, including a foundry and full machining facility,
sets a standard few can match. The jewel-like narrow-angle V8
engine was meticulously rebuilt, with fresh internals and any
questionable components reproduced to factory-correct standards.
Following the build, the engine was fully dyno-tested to ensure
reliable performance. JSW's team of experts also restored the
transmission, hydraulic shocks and the complex hydraulic folding
hood mechanism to perfect working order. The complex 3-position
windscreen proved quite difficult to restore to operating
condition, and the original, unusual curved side windows were
painstakingly polished to restore their original clarity - that
task alone consuming over 100 hours, per window! One of the
greatest challenges was finding a craftsperson capable of restoring
the intricate en...for more information please contact the seller.
