Lancia Ardea Promiscuetta

The Lancia Ardea Promiscuetta was a coachbuilt multipurpose vehicle produced in 1951 by Carrozzeria Albanesi of Brescia. It was based on the Lancia Ardea 800 Furgoncino, a commercial derivative of the fourth series Ardea, which had entered production in 1949. The Promiscuetta configuration represented a hybrid form designed to accommodate both passenger and cargo functions within a single compact utility platform. The mechanical specification was consistent with the standard Ardea series. The vehicle employed a front-mounted, narrow-angle V4 engine of 903 cubic centimetres displacement. The overhead-valve engine was mated to a four-speed manual gearbox and produced approximately 28.8 metric horsepower. Power was delivered to the rear wheels. The front suspension utilised independent coil springs, while the rear employed a live axle with semi-elliptical leaf springs. Hydraulic drum brakes were fitted at all four wheels. The conversion executed by Albanesi featured a fully enclosed steel and aluminium body with multiple side windows, a two-tone paint finish, and a flexible cabin layout. The interior was adapted to provide seating for four occupants, with the rear bench capable of folding to increase cargo space. The rear compartment floor was wooden and designed for utilitarian durability. The coachwork was characterised by smooth contours and restrained ornamentation, in keeping with the functionalist ethos of early 1950s Italian commercial design. Only one known specimen of the Lancia Ardea 800 Promiscuetta by Albanesi is documented. The vehicle was built as a special commission or extremely limited production run. It remained in private use for an extended period and retained its original number plates. The chassis number has been cited in auction records as 6855. No additional units are known to have been constructed.