1932 Lancia Astura

The Lancia Astura was considered one of the most refined and technologically progressive automobiles of its time, owing much of its innovation to the exceptional talents of renowned automotive engineer Vincenzo Lancia. Founded in 1906, the company reached the pinnacle of automotive excellence by the 1930s, thanks in part to the Dilambda which had been introduced near the close of the 1920s. The first of the company's large eight-cylinder models, the four-liter Dilambda had exceptional performance, outstanding handling, and precise steering.

The arrival of the Astura and Artena in 1931 marked a switch from a system of model designation that used letters of the Greek alphabet in favor of one using Italian place names. The Artena had four cylinders, and the Astura had twice as many; both were introduced in 1931 at the Paris Motor Show.

The Lancia Astura was in production from 1931 to 1939 and through four series, with the first two equipped with the company's proven 2,606cc SOHC monobloc 'narrow-vee' V8 unit of 72bhp. The coolant was circulated by pump, fuel was fed by a downdraft Zenith carburetor, and ignition was via coil. The four-speed manual gearbox had a 'silent' third gear. By the time production ceased in 1939, displacement had grown to 2,973cc and wheelbase had gone through two size increases.

The First and Second series resided on a 125.2-inch wheelbase and were powered by the 2.6 liter, narrow-angle V8 engine. The first series was built through 1932 and 496 examples were built; the second series was built from 1932 and 1933 with 750 units made. The second series had modifications to its engine mountings to reduce vibration and nose.

The third series had short and long wheelbase sizes, with the former measuring 122 inches and the latter at 131.1 inches. The final series, built from 1937 to 1939, had the longest platform at 137 inches.

The third series, built from 1933 to 1937, introduced a larger, 2,973cc V8 SOHC engine that had a single Zenith carburetor and produced 82 horsepower at 4,000 RPM. The Astura, depending on its body style, was capable of achieving speeds exceeding 80 mph. Its mechanical components complemented the engine's capabilities, ensuring outstanding handling, road grip, and braking efficiency.

Befitting an automobile of this stature, the Astura was clothed by the greatest Italian carrozzeries of the era, such as Pinin Farina, Castagna, and Viotti of Torino. Affluent customers preferred the combination of luxury and engineering refinement, and although they were not primarily a competition car, the 3rd Series Asturas did achieve some motorsport success, placing 10th in the Mille Miglia by Mario Nardilli and Carlo Pintacuda. The same duo won the Giro d'Italia later that year, finishing the grueling, six-day, 3,534-mile circuit around Italy in 65 hours, 57 minutes, and 6 seconds at an average of 53.58 mph.

by Daniel Vaughan | Sep 2024