THE VEHICLE AT A GLANCE
Model dossier
- Manufacturer
- Lancia
- Base model
- Aprilia
- Coachbuilt version
- Berlinetta Ghia flamboyant
- Coachbuilder
- Ghia
- Production period
- 1948
- Body style
- Berlinetta
- Engine
- V4 a V stretto — donor/base Lancia Aprilia II serie
- Type
- One-off
- Production
- 1
- Displacement
- 1,486 cc
- Power
- 48 CV
THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE CAR
Coachbuilding, design & conversions
PRICE & SALES RECORD
Vehicle value
- Original price
- Not documented
- Latest recorded sale
- Not documented
01 / THE STORY
History & context
The Lancia Aprilia Berlinetta Ghia made a dazzling debut at the 1948 Turin Auto Show, showcasing a perfect blend of cutting-edge engineering and artistic flair. Designed in a period of postwar optimism, this stunning creation exemplified the innovative spirit and craftsmanship that defined Italian automotive design in the late 1940s. At the heart of the Berlinetta Ghia’s charm was the remarkable bodywork by Felice Bianco, a designer renowned for his ability to combine elegance with practicality. The car’s streamlined silhouette featured flowing lines and sculpted curves, embodying both modernity and sophistication. Every detail was carefully considered to create a harmonious balance of beauty and performance, ensuring the Berlinetta Ghia stood out in a sea of automotive excellence. One of the car’s most distinctive features was its mobile wheel arch covers, a bold innovation by Umberto Capalbi. Designed in a “flamboyant” style, these unique covers moved in sync with the wheels, preserving the car’s clean, uninterrupted profile even as it navigated turns. This detail not only added a futuristic touch but also highlighted the creative risks designers were willing to take during this vibrant era of automotive history. It was an inventive flourish that captivated audiences and left a lasting impression. Beneath its stunning exterior, the Berlinetta Ghia was built on the advanced chassis of the Lancia Aprilia, ensuring it performed as well as it looked. The Aprilia’s innovative V4 engine, paired with independent suspension, delivered a dynamic and smooth driving experience. Lightweight construction further enhanced its agility, making the Berlinetta Ghia a true technical marvel of its time. The unveiling of the Lancia Aprilia Berlinetta Ghia was a moment of celebration, marking a high point in postwar automotive design. It encapsulated the creativity and ambition of its creators, leaving a legacy that continues to inspire admiration today. A true masterpiece, the Berlinetta Ghia remains a timeless example of Italian design and engineering at its finest.
02 / TECHNICAL IDENTITY
Specifications & construction
Production & construction
- Production
- 1
- Production type
- One-off
Engine & performance
- Engine configuration
- V4 a V stretto — donor/base Lancia Aprilia II serie
- Displacement
- 1,486 cc
- Power (CV)
- 48 CV
- Engine speed
- 4,300 rpm
- Transmission
- Manual 4-speed
- Drive
- Rear-wheel drive
- Specification notes
- DONOR_BASE_PROJECTION — base-model technical fields projected from BORSANI-LANCIA-APRILIA-CAB-1948 because make/model/year match exactly. This does not assert that the coachbuilt/special vehicle retained identical tuning or performance. | Source-backed donor/model-level baseline for Lancia Aprilia second series (1940–1949 in this projection): narrow-angle V4, 1486 cc, 48 CV at 4300 rpm, 4-speed manual, rear-wheel drive. Coachbuilt-body dimensions, weight and maximum speed are intentionally not inherited.
Design & manufacture
- Coachbuilder / Body Builder · Documented
- Ghia
- Manufacturer · Documented
- Lancia
- Designer · Documented
- Fedele Bianco
- Design features · Legacy attribution
- Flamboyant
06 / EVENTS & AWARDS
Events & awards
31° Salone Internazionale dell'Automobile – Torino General · legacy_preserved
- Date
- 1948
- Chassis
- General
Preserved CI 1.0 relation. Evidence field: _yoast_wpseo_primary_events. No award inferred.
Torino General · From the historical archive
- Date
- 1948
- Chassis
- General
07 / THE VEHICLE IN DETAIL
Photo gallery 2 photographs
08 / FROM THE ARCHIVE
Archive
References held in the vehicle dossier. Their inclusion does not establish that every historical claim has been independently verified.
| Reference | Source type |
|---|---|
| MAUTO — Storia, tecnica e stile Lancia Aprilia www.museoauto.com | Museum technical history |












THE CONVERSATION
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