Lancia Aprilia Berlina Viotti

The Lancia Aprilia Berlina (1938) was a series-produced sedan based on the Lancia Aprilia chassis and completed by Italian coachbuilders under factory commission. A significant portion of production was assigned to Viotti, with body design attributed to Mario Revelli di Beaumont. Parallel commissions for comparable bodies were also granted to Pininfarina. Lancia commissioned Viotti to construct approximately 200 sedans configured with six or seven seats, available with or without an internal partition. These vehicles were intended primarily for professional rental and chauffeur services, which were widespread in major Italian cities including Milan, Turin, Rome, and Naples during the 1930s. The body layout prioritized passenger capacity, accessibility, and durability for intensive urban use, while maintaining restrained styling consistent with contemporary aerodynamic principles. The Aprilia Berlina retained the technical characteristics of the standard Aprilia platform. The chassis featured a lightweight yet rigid structure and independent front suspension, contributing to improved road holding and ride quality relative to conventional designs of the period. Power was supplied by Lancia’s narrow-angle V4 engine, a defining element of the model, offering a balance between compact packaging, efficiency, and adequate performance. Interior space was efficiently utilized, reflecting Lancia’s emphasis on structural integration and functional design. During the Second World War, many of these vehicles were adapted to operate on alternative fuels, including methane gas tanks or gasogeno systems, due to petrol shortages. A large number were requisitioned by military authorities, resulting in extensive losses. Consequently, survival rates are extremely low, with fewer than ten examples believed to remain.