Lancia Astura GS Torpedo Viotti

The Lancia Astura GS Torpedo by Carrozzeria Viotti was a limited-production open touring car constructed on the third-series Lancia Astura short-wheelbase chassis, type 233C. Produced in 1934, the model combined Lancia’s refined mechanical engineering with bespoke coachwork by Viotti, intended for clients seeking a performance-oriented yet elegant open car suitable for long-distance touring and concours presentation. Only six examples of this specific Viotti-bodied Gran Sport Torpedo variant are known to have been built. The chassis employed was the Astura Series III short-wheelbase configuration, offering improved rigidity and revised suspension geometry over earlier versions. The engine was a Lancia-designed 2,973 cc narrow-angle V8, equipped with a single downdraught carburetor. Output was rated at approximately 72 horsepower at 4,000 rpm. The powertrain included a four-speed manual transmission transmitting power to a live rear axle. Suspension utilized semi-elliptic leaf springs at the rear and independent front units, in conjunction with hydraulic drum brakes on all four wheels. Viotti’s coachwork adhered to prevailing Gran Sport aesthetics of the period. The body featured long front fenders, exposed running boards, and a narrow, upright grille flanked by twin headlamps. The body was formed in steel over a wooden frame and configured as a two-seat torpedo with a folding soft top and separate rear compartment. Decorative elements included two-tone paint schemes, chrome-accented body lines, and tapered rear coachwork terminating in a modest luggage platform. Cockpit details comprised full instrumentation, leather upholstery, and a split windscreen. One of the six cars constructed, chassis number 33-5116, has a known history of delivery to a Dutch client in the mid-1930s. It subsequently passed through the ownership of Count Vittorio Zanon in Turin, followed by Giuseppe Bosio of Brescia, and later entered the Louwman Collection in the Netherlands. In 2012 it was acquired by Swiss collector Christoph Ringier, and subsequently sold in 2016. The vehicle participated in major historic events, including a class win at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este in 2021. The Lancia Astura Gran Sport Torpedo Viotti represents a convergence of refined mechanical engineering and limited-production coachbuilding. It remains notable for its rarity, craftsmanship, and preserved historical documentation.