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THE ITALIAN COACHBUILDER SITE

Lancia Aprilia Berlinetta Ghia

1948Coachwork by Ghia

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

08 / FROM THE ARCHIVE

Archive

References held in the vehicle dossier. Their inclusion does not establish that every historical claim has been independently verified.

ReferenceSource type
MAUTO — Storia, tecnica e stile Lancia Aprilia www.museoauto.com Museum technical history

10 / CONNECTED HISTORY

Timeline

Chronological history2 dated records
  1. Unassigned chassis · Event

    Torino

THE CONVERSATION

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