1954 | Lancia Appia C10

Registration number: PM-78-13


*Lancia Appia Series 1: the baby Aurelia with the highest quality
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Sometimes you see a car and think: how can this even exist? So beautifully built, so refined, so thoughtfully engineered, and yet so understated. That perfectly sums up this Lancia Appia Series 1.


*Series 1: the mini Aurelia
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This is the very first version, the very first series. The Appia as Lancia originally intended it. Think of it as a scaled-down Aurelia, not a budget-friendly entry model, but a no-compromise interpretation of its big brother. Built with the same integrity, the same attention to detail, just in a smaller package.

This Series 1 features several aluminum body panels, including the rear fenders (exclusive to the earliest batch), hood, trunk lid, doors, and window frames. Why? For weight savings, naturally. The entire car weighs just around 800 kilograms. That makes it not only nimble but also highly eligible for events like the Mille Miglia.


*Lightweight, but full of technology
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That low weight, combined with Lancia’s patented "sliding pillar" front suspension system (first introduced on the Lambda and used here for the last time), delivers a driving feel that few cars from its time—or even after—can match. The ride is silky smooth, soaking up imperfections with grace, yet it retains a sporty, agile character. It is remarkable how sophisticated it feels on the road.

And here’s a fun fact: the chassis is so rigid that you can lift the car on both sides with the doors open—despite the absence of a B-pillar—and there’s no flex. That speaks volumes about its build quality. The paintwork has been resprayed in the past and still presents very well. Chrome parts are clean and shiny, and the aluminum bumpers are in great shape. The glass shows only minimal signs of use. This Appia has spent most of its life in and around Turin, its birthplace.


*Highly original interior
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Inside, you’ll find the original wool upholstery largely intact and in fantastic condition. The front seats are individual, a hallmark of Series 1, and the entire cabin is bathed in that quintessential early Lancia atmosphere: ivory finishes, an elegant steering wheel reminiscent of the Aurelia, everything lightweight, tactile, and built with care.


*Lancia’s V4: small in size, big in spirit
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Under the hood lives a jewel of an engine. A compact but lively V4 with real character. It sounds fantastic, responds eagerly, and thanks to the low curb weight, it feels surprisingly spirited. The gearbox is spot-on, just as you’d expect from Lancia. Another little gem: an Italian magazine tested an Appia in the 1950s and clocked more than 150,000 kilometers. When the engine was finally opened up, everything was still within factory specs. That’s what we’re dealing with here because, don't forget, this is a car from the 1950s!


*Lancia’s philosophy
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This is a car for true connoisseurs. Not loud, not flashy, but built with vision and intelligence. There is a quiet nobility in its design. Lancia built the Appia in the same era as the Aurelia and later the Flaminia, with the same philosophy and standards, just for a different audience. For those who value substance over show.

And perhaps the most remarkable thing? It still drives as if it were built yesterday. No rattles, no fuss. It glides over cobblestones, keeps pace effortlessly with modern traffic, and simply feels at home—whether in the city or out on winding country roads. It’s a car for those who value quality without the need for image.

This Appia is not a relic. It is a tribute to what Lancia once stood for: ingenuity, durability, lightness, and elegance. People whisper its name in the same breath as Bentley, and that is no exaggeration. Except the Appia isn’t elitist. It is refined but humble. Crafted, yet approachable.


*Contact Gallery Aaldering
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Interested in this little automotive gem? Get in touch with Gallery Aaldering today. We have been active since 1975 and have many years of experience exporting fine automobiles around the world. Ask us about the possibilities.