Lancia Astura Berlina Stabilimenti Farina

The Lancia Astura Berlina constructed by Stabilimenti Farina on a fourth-series chassis represents a formal interpretation of Lancia’s luxury V8 model produced during the late 1930s. The fourth series of the Astura was manufactured between 1937 and 1939 and was fitted with a narrow-angle V8 engine of 2,606 cubic centimeters. This power unit, operating with an overhead valve configuration, delivered approximately 72 horsepower and was paired with a four-speed manual gearbox. The chassis employed semi-independent front suspension and a live rear axle, reflecting standard mechanical design practices for Lancia at the time. The Berlina version differs from the more frequently commissioned open or convertible configurations often intended for official use. In this instance, the bodywork was realized in a closed sedan format, emphasizing spatial continuity and conservative aesthetic choices. The example attributed to Stabilimenti Farina is associated with the early design output of Pietro Frua, who at the time held the position of head of styling within the firm. Frua’s design contribution is evident in the smooth integration of body surfaces, minimal use of decorative elements, and a balanced distribution of visual mass across the vehicle’s length. The body construction was of all-metal type, departing from the Weymann flexible composite methods used in earlier periods. The fixed roof and extended wheelbase enhanced the formal presentation of the vehicle. Of the 423 fourth-series Astura units produced, only a limited number received Berlina coachwork, and very few examples are known to have been bodied by Stabilimenti Farina. The Lancia Astura Berlina in this configuration is of particular interest for its historical placement at the intersection of advanced Lancia engineering and Italian coachbuilding traditions. It also holds significance as an early example of Pietro Frua’s design work prior to his independent career.