Skip to content
THE ITALIAN COACHBUILDER SITE

Lancia Aprilia Cabriolet Speciale Pininfarina

1949Coachwork by Pininfarina

THE VEHICLE AT A GLANCE

Model dossier

Manufacturer
Lancia
Base model
Aprilia
Coachbuilt version
Cabriolet Speciale Pinin Farina
Coachbuilder
Pininfarina
Production period
1949
Body style
Cabriolet

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 Cabriolet Speciale, an exquisite example of post-war Italian automotive craftsmanship, was unveiled by Pininfarina at the 1949 Villa d’Este elegance concours. Built on chassis #539-21418, this one-of-a-kind cabriolet captivated both judges and spectators with its elegant, streamlined bodywork and refined proportions, earning it the category prize at the prestigious event. With its flowing lines, delicate chrome accents, and impeccable attention to detail, the Aprilia Cabriolet Speciale embodied the grace and innovation that defined Pininfarina’s post-war design philosophy. The car’s design seamlessly blended Lancia’s advanced engineering with Pininfarina’s masterful aesthetics, resulting in a vehicle that exuded both sophistication and performance. Following its success at Villa d’Este, the Cabriolet Speciale continued its tour of Europe’s most distinguished automotive showcases. In 1949, it was exhibited at both the Geneva and Paris Auto Show, where it was celebrated as a benchmark of Italian elegance and coachbuilding excellence. The following year, in 1950, the car made an appearance at the Concours d’Elegance in Montecarlo, further solidifying its reputation as one of the most stunning and exclusive Lancia models of its time. Today, the Lancia Aprilia Cabriolet Speciale by Pininfarina remains a rare and cherished symbol of post-war luxury and bespoke craftsmanship, representing a golden era of Italian automotive artistry and the enduring legacy of Lancia and Pininfarina’s collaboration.

02 / TECHNICAL IDENTITY

Specifications & construction

Production & construction

Production type
Limited
Production notes
Exact chassis 539-21418 is one physical car. Legacy production_units=3 is unsupported as a body-family census and is cleared from this chassis-specific record. Do not substitute the separate ten-car Pinin Farina Cabriolet family count: that evidence concerns a different cabriolet body programme.

Engine & performance

Engine configuration
V4
Displacement
1,486 cc
Power (CV)
48 CV
Engine speed
4,300 rpm
Transmission
Manual 4-speed
Drive
Rear-wheel drive
Specification notes
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.
Gearbox
Manual 4-speed
Drivetrain
RWD
Power RPM
4300 rpm

03 / DESIGN, BODY & SUPPLIERS

Design, body & suppliers

Design & manufacture

Manufacturer · Documented
Lancia
Coachbuilder / Body Builder · Documented
Pininfarina

Body form & construction

Body style
Cabriolet

04 / EVENTS & CHRONOLOGY

Events & chronology

Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este General · legacy_preserved
Date
1949
Chassis
General

Preserved CI 1.0 relation. Evidence field: _yoast_wpseo_primary_events|list_of_awards_0_events. No award inferred.

Villa d’Este General · From the historical archive
Date
1949
Chassis
General

CHRONOLOGICAL RECORD

General chronology

Chronological history2 dated records
  1. Unassigned chassis · Event

    Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este

  2. Unassigned chassis · Event

    Villa d’Este

06 / CHASSIS REGISTER

Chassis register

Chassis 539-21418
Chassis number
539-21418
Year
1949

09 / PERIOD ARCHIVE

Period photographs & advertising

THE CONVERSATION

Comments 0

Share a memory, a period photograph or a documented detail about this car.

Join the conversation