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Lancia Astura Cabriolet Series III "Tipo Bocca" by Pinin Farina 1936, Itália
Fotografia
Debuting in 1931, the Lancia Astura carried on the marque’s reputation for innovation, performance, and production quality. The model featured independent front suspension with self-lubricating sliding pillars, and was powered by Lancia’s famous narrow-angle V-8. The third-series Astura arrived for 1933 with an enlarged engine rated at 82 horsepower, and for the first time it was offered in two wheelbase lengths: 908 were built as Tipo 233L “Lungo” models with a wheelbase of 131 inches, and 328 were constructed to “Corto”, Tipo 233C specification on a 122-inch wheelbase.
Though well-engineered, these chassis were often clothed in conservative bodywork. Those seeking something more exclusive enlisted the services of a coachbuilder—and when it came to crafting exquisite bodywork on the Astura’s advanced underpinnings, no one did it better than Carrozzeria Pinin Farina and stylist Mario Revelli di Beaumont. The design seen on this chassis, number 33-5301, would later come to be known as ‘Tipo Bocca’ in reference to Vittorio Bocca, an important North-Italian Lancia dealer at the time. He is said to have eventually commissioned a number of cars in this style: three on long-wheelbase chassis and three on short-wheelbase chassis.
According to the Lancia Classiche Certificate of Origin on file, Astura chassis number 33-5301 was completed on 30 June 1936. This bare short-wheelbase chassis was subsequently delivered to Pinin Farina, where it received its exquisite ‘Tipo Bocca’-style bodywork. Each ‘Tipo Bocca’ Cabriolet featured slightly different details, yet each possessed an aerodynamic profile with a strong horizontal emphasis fronted by a dramatic “waterfall” grille, a fold-flat windscreen, curved side windows, and a power-operated top—a novelty in the 1930s.
Research conducted by reputed Lancia historian Wim Oude Weernink reveals that chassis 33-3501 is the only example of the six ‘Tipo Bocca’ Lancia Asturas that was not road-registered, and was instead sent to the 1937 Berlin Motor Show. From a Pinin Farina advertisement in Motor Italia, it is possible to see that its exterior was finished in a two-tone colour. The Telefunken radio fitted to the Lancia is another hint of the car’s German past. Furthermore, a later American owner of the Astura wrote an article for the American Lancia Club journal in the 1970s, proclaiming that his car had originally been delivered—then fitted with a radio—by the German Lancia dealer, E. Uebel, in 1937. The engine fitted to this example, numbered 41122, is not the original unit but a replacement example from a 1938 Lancia Astura Series IV, sharing the same 2.9-litre V-8 design.
Eventually, the cabriolet made its way to the United States; photographs on file show that it resided in New York by the late-1950s, apparently complete though somewhat worn. Sadly, as later photos on file illustrate, its cosmetic condition would continue to deteriorate over the years.
Salvation arrived in late 1982, when a notable Swiss collector with a deep appreciation for Lancias rescued chassis 33-5301 from neglect. As documented by photos on file, a total restoration then commenced, which saw the Pinin Farina bodywork completely refurbished and finished in an elegant silver with a black top. The interior, too, is richly detailed, including intricate diamond-shaped basket-weave upholstery of red leather in the period Italian pattern known as intrecciato, an eye-catching feature visible in historic photos of the car. This remarkable restoration would take nearly 40 years to complete.
Acquired by the consignor in 2020, it is important to note that—while other ‘Tipo Bocca’ examples have won acclaim at the world’s most prestigious concours events—this Lancia has not yet been shown since the completion of its restoration. Offering an incredible opportunity for exhibition, this Astura Series III Cabriolet ‘Tipo Bocca’ embodies the very best of pre-war motoring—representing a moment when Lancia’s cutting-edge engineering and Pinin Farina’s unparalleled artistry combined to form a wonderful, rare, and truly timeless piece of moving sculpture.
