1933 Lancia Astura Aerodinamico Coupe

The narrow-angle, V8-engined Lancia Astura, named after a river that flows to the south of Rome, was conceived as a luxurious alternative to its direct competitor, the Alfa Romeo 8C. Castagna, the coachbuilder of this Lancia Astura Aerodinamico, who featured it on his company brochure, said it was 'designed by wind' - and it certainly could have been! The body on this Series II Astura was originally built for an Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Lungo chassis; it was shown on it at the 1934 Salon de Milano and then taken off. Then the Astura chassis was shortened to fit it, and in 1935 the completed Astura was raced in the 24 Hours of Pescara and shown at the Concorso d'Eleganza Coppo d'Oro Principessa di Piemonte. It is the only corto (short) chassis of the three or four similar Lancia Asturas with aerodinamico coachwork by Castagna, including one example that appeared at the 1936 London Motor Show.