Lancia Dilambda Cabriolet Pininfarina

The Lancia Dilambda Cabriolet designed and built by Pininfarina in 1931 is an example of early Italian custom bodywork applied to a high-capacity chassis. Built on the Dilambda platform introduced by Lancia in 1928, the car is powered by a 4,940?cc narrow-angle V8 engine delivering approximately 100?hp, coupled with a four-speed manual transmission. The chassis was characterized by a robust construction and independent front suspension, developed to accommodate large, formal coachwork suitable for high-end clientele. The cabriolet coachwork reflects the transitional aesthetic of the early 1930s, where vestiges of upright prewar styling coexist with early signs of streamlining. The body features a vertical windscreen, straight running boards, and pronounced front and rear fenders with integrated chrome-trimmed edges. The soft top is constructed with a double layer of cloth and leather, in keeping with period construction practices for convertible models. The configuration seats four and was likely chauffeur-driven in formal contexts. A notable detail includes a shoe-cleaning device mounted on the running board, a feature occasionally found on luxury vehicles of the period. This example participated in the Monte-Carlo Concours d’Elegance held on 22 March 1931, where it was entered in Category E and awarded first prize. The car was at the time owned by engineer Nino Herlitzka, a figure associated with high-profile motoring events of the era. The body was produced in very limited numbers and is not known to have been part of a broader production series. Pininfarina’s work on the Lancia Dilambda Cabriolet prefigures the firm’s later developments and reflects an early phase in its transition from traditional coachbuilding to a more integrated, modern design practice. The car is representative of luxury coachbuilt automobiles of the interwar period in Italy, constructed with an emphasis on proportion, material quality, and restrained stylistic treatment.