Vincenzo Lancia was the youngest child of a wealthy Turin soup manufacturer.  As a young man, he was a chief inspector and test driver for F.I.A.T. as well as a successful racer.  In 1906, he formed his own company.  Initially, Lancia produced luxury cars but by the 1930s, they saw a need to mass-produce a family car.  The specifications given to designers of the Aprilia were:  weigh less than 900 kilograms (2,000 pounds), have five comfortable seats, independent suspension, not over 4 meters (13 feet) long, maximum speed of 130 kph (80 mph), and consume 10 liters (2½ gallons of gas per 100 kilometers (62 miles).  The demands to cut consumption and increase speed called for an aerodynamic body.  Entering the Aprilia is easy due to the lack of the central upright typically installed between the front and rear doors.  The Aprilia sold better than any previous Lancia.

Specifications:
Manufacturer:  Fabbrica Automobili Lancia & Cia
Country of Origin:  Italy
Drivetrain Configuration: Front Engine, rear wheel drive
Engine:  148cc, V4, 47hp
Transmission:  4 speed manual
Top Speed:  80 miles per hour
Years of Production:  1937-49
Number Produced:  27,642
Original Cost:  ____