Information
- Absolute winner 1936 Targa Florio.
- Elegible for Mille Miglia and major re-enactment events.
- As a prewar it has the benefit of positioning early on the starting line.
- Lancia style and innovation in a pre-war compact vehicle.
- Original registration plates.
ASI
Documents
Registration and Italian license plates in order.
Eligibility
- Mille Miglia. Eligible.
- Giro di Sicilia. Eligible.
- Targa Florio. Eligible.1st overall at Targa Florio 1936.
- Goodwood Revival. Eligible
- Coppa d’Oro delle Dolomiti. Eligible.
- Vernasca Silver Flag. Eligible.
- California Mille: Eligible.
- Nürburgring Classic. Eligible.
- Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. Eligible.
- Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance. Eligible.
- Chantilly Arts & Elegance Richard Mille. Eligible.
- Concorso d’eleganza Villa D’Este. Eligible.
Provenance
The Augusta was a product designed for that moment. The heir of the Lambda would have been big but what was needed was a small, inexpensive car which was nonetheless comfortable and fast: a sort of utilitarian car (according to the canons of the time) but of the elite. The new car was designed with rear-hinged rear doors to facilitate accessibility, with central mass distribution with respect to the axles. The shape is narrow for easy handling, compensating for its increased height, it has large windows. The line is slender but classic, for everyone. It is quiet, fast and reliable. The Augusta was loved by contemporaries and then forgotten, with less sporting glories than other Lancias (with some notable exceptions) but leaving many memories in every family that had owned one. It was the first Lancia built on an assembly line and turned out to be the first truly modern designed vehicle, built by welding the sheets into a single non-deformable structure. In 1935 the Augusta represented 90% of Lancia's industrial activity, with excellent economic results. Its presentation took place in 1932 at, as was customary with Lancia, the Paris Motor Show. For the French market, the machine was called "Belna". When it was presented at the Salone di Milano in April 1933, the official name was Augusta, decidedly more important and "littorio". It featured many innovative or unusual features, such as the narrow V-cylinder engine, independent front suspension with helical springs, insertable freewheel, transmission with shaft and “Hardy” flexible couplings. The braking came from the new "Lockheed" hydraulic system. Even the trunk included in the body shape was a novelty. The dashboard was very complete by the standards of the time and category. Among those who admired the Augusta, buying and using it, were three famous driving champions: Tazio Nuvolari, Achille Varzi and Luigi Fagioli. The 1,195 cc and 35 hp V4 engine with overhead valves, according to surveys carried out by Autocar magazine, pushed the Augusta sedan to a top speed of 65.22 mph (104.96 km/h), accelerating from standstill to 50 mph (80.5 km/h) in 22.6 seconds. Although a sparkling performer, the Augusta was not designed for racing, although its palmarès remains appreciable. Confirmation of the success of the Augusta came in 1934, at the backbreaking 1st Giro automobilistico d'Italia or Coppa d'Oro del Littorio where the car, which had practically no rivals in its category, endured hours on the limit of 100 km/h. It’s the most important performance occurred at the 1936 Targa Florio with 4 Lancia Augustas in the top 4. The Augusta also participated in the 1935 Mille Miglia with 10 cars and in 1937 with 5, exemplary results in that year, Vittorio Mazzonis of Pralafera and Enrico Nardi: 17th absolute. In the early post-war years, some examples of the Augusta appeared in the races. In total 17,217 vehicles were manufactured, of which 2,950 in 1933.
The car
The Lancia Augusta, chassis no. 317067 is an example from 1933. It is perhaps the most important example of the Lancia Augusta in existence or, in any case, among the most important. It is in fact the exemplary responsible for the greatest sporting enterprise carried out by the Lancia Augusta: the victory at the Targa Florio. The event took place at the Targa Florio held on 20th December 1936. Financial difficulties and problems related to the participation of the constructors had led to the decision to suspend the event. Pressed by the media and lovers of the race, the organizers, R.A.C.I. of Palermo decided “in extremis” to present a Targa of two laps with limited participation in touring cars. The race has remained in the annals due to the relentless pouring rain. There were 11 cars in the race, 4 Fiat of the recent six-cylinder 1500 cc model, 1 Fiat 514, 1 Bianchi S9 with 1.5-litre displacement, and 5 Lancia Augusta (1200 cc). The final classification saw 4 Lancia Augusta cars, which had a lower displacement, prevail over the Fiat and occupy the first 4 places. The best of the 4 was Costantino Magistri driving the Augusta no. 317067, proposed in this lot, winning the race, at an average of 67.087 km/h, a remarkable speed, given the conditions of the road surface and the tortuous Sicilian Madonie track. The car is in excellent condition, having been restored in the past, careful maintenance and all the details correct and present. Two-tone paint black/amaranth with white threads, chrome work needs some attention, wheels with black spokes and interior in beige cloth/leather in good condition. The plates, beautiful and very precious, are original: PA7033. The Michelin Supercomfort low-pressure tires are correct. State of the art. Excellent conservation, following not a recent restoration.
State of the art: Excellent conservation, following not a recent restoration.
Literature
- Wim Oude Weernink, La Lancia, Motor Racing Pubblications, UK 1979.-Ferruccio Bernabò, Alfio Manganaro, Lancia Catalogue Raisonnè 1907-1990, Automobilia, Italia 1990.