Lancia Aprilia Supergioiello

The Lancia Aprilia Berlinetta “Supergioiello” by Ghia, chassis 439S-12249, was a one-off vehicle built in 1949 on the final evolution of the Lancia Aprilia platform. The car was constructed by Carrozzeria Ghia and presented at the X Concorso d’Eleganza at Villa Olmo, Como. Its design is attributed to Giovanni Michelotti, who at the time was working for Ghia under the direction of Mario Felice Boano. The vehicle was entered in Class XII for custom-bodied 2/3-seaters up to 2000cc, with competition from similar Ghia-bodied examples like the Fiat 1500. The chassis used was the 439S-type, developed as a late iteration of the Aprilia model introduced by Lancia in 1937. It was equipped with an articulated steering column, allowing for a lowered dashboard and improved cabin ergonomics. The drivetrain consisted of a 1,486?cc V4 engine with narrow-angle configuration, water-cooled, and mated to a four-speed manual gearbox. Output was approximately 48 horsepower. The gear selector was supplied by SIATA and mounted on the left side of the steering column. The vehicle retained the Aprilia’s independent front suspension, trailing-arm rear layout, and hydraulic drum brakes. The berlinetta’s body featured a hand-formed steel and aluminium structure with a tapered roofline and minimal ornamentation. The frontal design closely resembled that of the Fiat 6C1500D Supergioiello, also built by Ghia on a Michelotti design and which received a class award at the same event. Entry number 86 was reserved for the Aprilia, which did not receive a class prize. The vehicle was originally commissioned through the Lancia dealership Franco Bocca & C. of Biella, operational since 1937. Only one example of the Lancia Aprilia Supergioiello was constructed. It remains among two known surviving Aprilia berlinettas bodied by Ghia. Following a complete restoration, chassis 439S-12249 was exhibited at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in 2022, where it received a class award. The car’s design and construction are representative of postwar Italian coachbuilding trends, combining Lancia mechanical engineering with individually commissioned, limited-production bodies executed by specialist carrozzerie. The Supergioiello body form also appeared on other marques, underscoring its stylistic adaptability within early postwar European automotive design.