In 1934, Vincenzo Lancia briefed his designers to create a new model. He wanted a car capable of carrying five in comfort, with good roadholding and weighing no more than 900kg. Following the example of American manufacturers, Chief Designer Battista Falchetto carried out aerodynamic testing in a wind tunnel at the Turin Polytechnic and the result was the Aprilia, named after a town near Rome.  

On its launch in 1937, the Aprilia was a revelation with its streamlined body and compact V4 engine. Independent suspension all round provided the roadholding qualities Vincenzo had specified. Connoisseurs appreciated the car’s advanced design and superior build quality, but sadly Lancia himself died shortly before the car’s launch and never saw his original vision come to market. With the Aprilia, Lancia followed their tradition of offering cars with the steering wheel on the right, even in countries seen by other manufacturers as left-hand drive markets. 

This one here is a very solid example that has been owned by successive Lancia enthusiasts. Mechanically, it’s in fine fettle and I'm sure you will agree it looks very good indeed with just a few cosmetic issues, but is nonetheless ready to be driven and enjoyed. 

The vendor purchased the car in 2016 from a long-term owner and Lancia enthusiast in Sweden, where it had been in family ownership for many years. He has decided to sell as he has a number of other cars, including another Aprilia, so this one has had limited use. With storage space an issue he has decided to concentrate his efforts on the other car. 

There is limited paperwork with the car but it does include the necessary documents from the car’s export from Sweden and its first registration in the UK. 

The seats are finished in brown leather: the rear seats are entirely original and patinated but sound. The front seats appear to have been renewed with matching brown leather. The vendor believes the headlining on the roof may be original, but the roof side-panels and the door cards have been recovered in the 1980s in brown leather cloth, well-matched in terms of colour to the seats. 

The carpets were in poor condition and have been removed, but the vendor has made templates for new carpets that will be supplied with the car, and the original Lancia rubber mats are present in the front of the car and in the boot. The previous owner had fitted a non-original indicator switch that has been replaced by a correct original.

However, the non-original one has left two screw-holes in the dashboard panel and there are a couple of warning lights that are larger than the originals, therefore using larger holes. The vendor has a perfect ‘new/old stock’ spare dashboard panel that would be made available to purchase via separate negotiation with the lucky new owner.

The central instrument panel fitted is metric and unrestored, so although the kph speedometer functions, the fuel gauge doesn’t and other instruments cannot be warrantied. However, there are modern temperature and oil pressure gauges mounted below the dashboard.

The vendor has a restored original Imperial instrument panel, and fuel sender that again could be purchased via separate negotiation.

In the boot is a sound spare wheel and tyre plus a jack, while under the rubber mat the boot floor is clean and rust-free.

Renowned for its aerodynamic shape and pillarless doors, the Aprilia is a pretty car that looks good from every angle; it was a design very much ahead of its time, and it’s easy to see why it has such a firm reputation with enthusiasts.  XBV 748 is painted in dark green cellulose with a yellow coachline: the vendor believes this was probably done in the 1980s and is still sound, although somewhat past its best. 

According to contemporary Lancia brochures the original paintwork was probably metallic grey, as that is the specification that went with the brown leather interior as seen in this car. The vendor had intended to have the car repainted in the original colour, had he kept it. There is some slight surface rust along the rear edge of the bonnet and the front edge of the scuttle. All the windows appear to be original and in good condition, and the aluminium trim around the windscreen, windows, between body and wings and on running-boards is unusually good for a car of this age. Door handles and lock are correct and in good order. 

The front and rear bumpers, and the chromed radiator shell, are all in good condition. Wheels are painted in the correct cream colour that was originally used on all wheels of this model but they lack the lugs for attaching the chromed hubcaps that come with the car. Door gaps are good, as is the underside of the car and altogether the body is remarkably sound.

The car has its original headlamps and the correct round central tail-lamp, as well as the lamp above the rear number-plate with its amber plastic lenses, which is in perfect condition. The chrome trim on the headlamps and this rear lamp is excellent. Non-original stop/tail lights are mounted on the rear wings. 

The ‘trafficator’ indicators work, but there are small screws above and below on each side where the previous owner had mounted them incorrectly. These are not prominent and could easily be dispensed with and the holes filled if the car is repainted.

The car’s previous owner told the vendor that it had been fitted with one of the very special Pagani cylinder heads, which his father had sold in the 1980s to a fellow Swede who had kept it on the shelf ever since. The vendor tried unsuccessfully to purchase that head, and can provide the details of its owner if the purchaser wishes to pursue that matter. 

When the Pagani head was sold, the original Series-2 engine was replaced by a Series-1 engine, bored out to the same 1500cc capacity. During the vendor’s tenure, the car has been maintained by a very experienced professional mechanic and restoration specialist, tuning work has been done to improve the car’s running, the exhaust system has been replaced and the electrics have been converted to 12v. The engine is currently fitted with a standard Zenith carburettor. 

The car starts readily and idles smoothly, and the vendor says that it ‘runs well and is quite lively’. He reports that a fellow Aprilia owner took it out for a drive recently and was impressed and rather envious as he felt it ran better than his own car, which has been fully restored at great expense. 

Under the bonnet, it’s clear that this is a car that has been carefully looked after and maintained – everything is clean and well-ordered. The engine bay, cylinder head and key components are finished in smart black paint.  

Lancia is a brand long associated with design innovation and engineering excellence, and the Aprilia more than lived up to that reputation. The first European car to be designed with the aid of a wind tunnel, it was a car ahead of its time and is held in high regard by Lancia aficionados. 

XBV 748 is a sound example of the model, and while it has a few issues to be addressed it’s mechanically excellent, it drives well and looks good. This is a great opportunity to snap up a rare and distinctive Italian classic.

This item is sold on an ‘As is Where is’ basis. The condition of this item is the opinion of the seller and may differ from your own opinion. Photos and listing descriptions are for guidance purposes only. Car & Classic do not warrant listing accuracy. Full inspection is recommended. Viewings are at the seller’s discretion. Buyer is responsible for delivery and collection of any item purchased.

UK-registered cars and motorbikes on Car & Classic are run through an online HPI check. On the HPI report, this vehicle shows no insurance database markers for damage or theft. It is currently not covered by a finance agreement.