In my late teens, I drove a Fulvia berlina and learned to appreciate the build quality. Closing the doors sounded the same as a Jag! Later, when visiting a classic car show, I was lusting after an Appia and my friend thought I was crazy to even give it a second look. Clearly a car for those in the know.
I think the rationale for RHD in Italy was knowing exactly where your right front wheel was when you were on a mountain road with a sheer drop-off and no guard rail on your right. My favorite Lancia is the Fulvia, but all due respect to the Appia.
One of the reasons that convinced Lancia to continue the production of right hand drive cars up to the end of the 50s was the same reason that caused italian trucks to also be rhd: Small mountain roads! Lancia is a car company from Turin, Northern Italy, and they knew very well that their cars will probably need to squeeze to the edge of the road as much as possible to permit to other cars to drive in the opposite way on those tight gravel roads. And the best way to do it was having the driver near the external limit of the road instead than in the center. P.S I apologize for my not-so-good English but it is not my original language. Greetings from Bergamo, northern Italy.
Until your P.S. I hadn't realised your English was not native and upon re-reading I cannot see any clues. You have super second language skills. The car is beautiful too. I used to own a more modern Lancia and thoroughly enjoyed driving it. A real shame about Lancia today.
I don't remember any Appias here, but a surprisingly good number of Aurelias and Flaminias. From the late 60's, I had a Flavia coupé while my mother had a Flavia sedan - both with the 1800cc engine. Neither car was very large, but rather comfortable. Good around Sydney and fantastic on country roads with brilliant ride and road handling. Performance was reasonable for the time. They lacked the acceleration of a Holden/Falcon/Valiant but could cruise all day well into the 80's (still mph then). The quality of construction and design was of the top level. The biggest seller here was the little Fulvia with either the standard coupé or Zagato body; very few sedans.
Lancia Appias were known for being extremely high-quality and exceptionally reliable cars. They were very expensive to build, and they were made with top quality materials. It is said that pre-production cars had to be tested in a specially designed water basin, as doors were declared as 100% waterproof up to I think 1 meter of water.
From Canada: loved this video as these are very unfamiliar cars in North America. What a beautiful, simple, elegant design. Thanks for sharing. Now, off to the interwebs to discover more about this car!
I do like how competent these always seem to be and would love to experience on first hand. While still obviously an old car now, they also manage to look a little bit timeless, in that way very good quality mid-century things often do.
Very much agree. I reckon you’d love it, all the lovely little details. I should have done more close up photography really, but was very pushed for time.
Just to be pedantic, the Aprilia was not the first uni-bodied car, the Lancia Augusta of 1934 pre-dated it, and technically speaking the 1921 Lambda was one too! That is my Series One Appia at 1.40.
What an amazing car, Martin. Great video, this is you at your best 👌🏼👏🏼😀 I understand that RHD was always preferred in the mountains, like you said. Not only if you were driving next to a ravine, but also if you wanted to drive as close as possible to a rock wall. It doesn't matter of the turn is left or right. And overtaking was probably not that important as you were supposed to drive in P1 anyway 😂
Fantastic story, and lovely car! Column change looks like it means business.. Lancia is a much underutilised brand, briefly re-booted with badge engineered Chryslers to which a former Italian colleague complained he was "ashamed to be Italian" when unveiled at the Geneva MS. PS only Italy could be LHD and RHD at the same time.... brilliant!!
Just found your channel. Great work. Wish you were in the States, I have quite a few cars that would be great for review. I own a 1966 Fulvia Coupe, they are amazing with the high quality of materials and comfortable ride with good performance. People ask what is it like to drive, I say not Italian at all, much more like a 1960s Mercedes. I suspect the Appia is like a 1950s miniature Mercedes therefore.
As a 77'Scorpion and 81' Zagato SE owner here in N.America I really appreciate these videos keep up the great content! I have a channel as well and will be doing some videos on at least the Scorpion soon- Cheers
My mom had an Appia II in a depressing blue later she got a III in a lovely light metallic blue where I learned to drive when I was 14. Let me tell you, I had no idea how sexy was the I series. IMO they shoulda worked on the Fist series, some more cc et cetera. Ciao.
The Appia Zagato I saw in a film about Bobby Darin looked and sounded Bella. It was called Mack the knife with Kevin Spacey. My dad had Flavia HF 2000 coupe and Fulvia 1.3 coupe. I had '62Flamina coupe, '77 Beta hpe2000,'82 Gamma coupe
Certainly the Italian car I'd most like to own. The narrow angle v4 is a thing of beauty. Bravissimo! Forza Lancia!! NB: fab historical factoid: Whilst Mussolini didn't make Italian trains run on time and was an appalling human being who ruined italy and caused the deaths of a million plus people through his various policies whilst sowing a legacy of authoritarian hatred for pretty much anyone that the hater wants to hate, he DID ensure that all Italians drove on the same side of the road (officially).
It does have a faint Space Hopper vibe, you’re right 😊 Not sure if they’re all like that or just this one, which has probably been reupholstered at some point.
Un gran coche, muy bien construído y novedoso para su época. Lo felicito, yo también tengo uno y lo disfruto conduciendo; toda nuestra juventud condujimos Appias y Flavias, en nuestra familia teníamos varios de ellos y en este momento conservamos dos Appia y un Flavia.
Beautiful little car! Lancia, in it’s prime, introduced some exquisite cars - very much ahead of their time. Thanks for a very informative video - really enjoyed that!
Thanks Andrew 😊 I don’t think I’ve ever seen one in the wild, and rarely at shows (not that I go to many). Lancias were pretty exotic in the UK until the 1970s.
Great car! ..and ahead of you on the road video there's another fantastic car to drive and of quality: The Lancia 2000 HF... much better 2000cc coupè than any alfa or bmw
Another lovely video, enjoyed every single second. As a Lancia guy, who has to drive an Audi, because Lancia literally does not exist anymore and was not able to replace my Kappa adequately, I am lead to a question or two. When do we see a video on the Gamma and why do you pronounce Lancia correctly? I mean, as a native English speaking person. 🙂 Cheers, Christian
Thanks Christian! Prompted by a friend I have at last started to organise some help getting the Gamma to run, maybe - so when that happens I’ll let you know 😊 As to Italian pronunciation, I’ve worked in Italy (and Germany, Switzerland, Netherlands…) and always used to think of myself as European 💔😢
@@GrandThriftAuto Okay, gamma-wise, I count on you. Should never have sold my Gammas. And the Themas. And the Delta, Kappa and all the other fiftyish cars. 😊 Martin, you are located in the south of Wales, right? Have been on the isle this summer, England, Oxfordshire, but Wales seemed to be too far away for a short visit. Next time. Would love to meet you in person. Cheers, Christian
@@workshop_deluxe2493 I’d love to meet up. Maybe next time we’re visiting my wife’s family in Flensburg I could drop down the A7 🤔 And you’d be welcome here in Wales 😊
And yes, right until the late 1950s Lancias were known to be preferred as RHD, as they were considered 'driver's cars', who would seemingly prefer to be facing the side of the road during sporty driving on curvy Italian roads...
Ha! Yes, fair point...from my limited knowledge of Morgans, they're set up to be rather more, er, intimate with the contours of the road surface, so maybe that puts reviewers in a less forgiving mood.
Geek point: after some googling, it seems Morgans are strictly speaking 'sliding axle', as the pillar is fixed and the hub moves up and down on it. I assume this reduces unsprung weight for better handling.
I don't think it mattered much in Italian city traffic, that had the town left- or right-handed traffic. Only a very trained eye could spot the difference. 😉
Very interesting question - I did have the Minor 1000 in mind as I was driving it. Quite similar engine outputs between them, certainly, though I would imagine the Appia being aimed more at customers of the (posher but Minor-derived) Wolseley 1500/Riley One Point Five in the British market. The ‘people’s car’ Minor would have been closer to a Fiat 1100, I think. A group test would be fascinating!
@@GrandThriftAuto that’s ok. I’ve coveted them since my design tech teacher had one in the early eighties in the same colour as yours. Renault 16 is on my short list to own too…
In my late teens, I drove a Fulvia berlina and learned to appreciate the build quality. Closing the doors sounded the same as a Jag! Later, when visiting a classic car show, I was lusting after an Appia and my friend thought I was crazy to even give it a second look. Clearly a car for those in the know.
I think the rationale for RHD in Italy was knowing exactly where your right front wheel was when you were on a mountain road with a sheer drop-off and no guard rail on your right. My favorite Lancia is the Fulvia, but all due respect to the Appia.
Lancia - may is rise from the ashes like the Phoenix, with all of it's engineering, design, quality and uniqueness. The world craves it.
One of the reasons that convinced Lancia to continue the production of right hand drive cars up to the end of the 50s was the same reason that caused italian trucks to also be rhd: Small mountain roads!
Lancia is a car company from Turin, Northern Italy, and they knew very well that their cars will probably need to squeeze to the edge of the road as much as possible to permit to other cars to drive in the opposite way on those tight gravel roads. And the best way to do it was having the driver near the external limit of the road instead than in the center.
P.S I apologize for my not-so-good English but it is not my original language.
Greetings from Bergamo, northern Italy.
Until your P.S. I hadn't realised your English was not native and upon re-reading I cannot see any clues. You have super second language skills.
The car is beautiful too. I used to own a more modern Lancia and thoroughly enjoyed driving it. A real shame about Lancia today.
Your English is impeccable
Used to learn to drive in appia's dad when I was 12 on lonely country roads.. Amazing the red arrows light spy remember
I don't remember any Appias here, but a surprisingly good number of Aurelias and Flaminias. From the late 60's, I had a Flavia coupé while my mother had a Flavia sedan - both with the 1800cc engine. Neither car was very large, but rather comfortable. Good around Sydney and fantastic on country roads with brilliant ride and road handling. Performance was reasonable for the time. They lacked the acceleration of a Holden/Falcon/Valiant but could cruise all day well into the 80's (still mph then). The quality of construction and design was of the top level. The biggest seller here was the little Fulvia with either the standard coupé or Zagato body; very few sedans.
Lancia Appias were known for being extremely high-quality and exceptionally reliable cars. They were very expensive to build, and they were made with top quality materials. It is said that pre-production cars had to be tested in a specially designed water basin, as doors were declared as 100% waterproof up to I think 1 meter of water.
From Canada: loved this video as these are very unfamiliar cars in North America. What a beautiful, simple, elegant design. Thanks for sharing. Now, off to the interwebs to discover more about this car!
I do like how competent these always seem to be and would love to experience on first hand. While still obviously an old car now, they also manage to look a little bit timeless, in that way very good quality mid-century things often do.
Very much agree. I reckon you’d love it, all the lovely little details. I should have done more close up photography really, but was very pushed for time.
Just to be pedantic, the Aprilia was not the first uni-bodied car, the Lancia Augusta of 1934 pre-dated it, and technically speaking the 1921 Lambda was one too! That is my Series One Appia at 1.40.
Perfect car. Pillarless, benches, seatbelt deleted…All the best from NZ
What an amazing car, Martin. Great video, this is you at your best 👌🏼👏🏼😀 I understand that RHD was always preferred in the mountains, like you said. Not only if you were driving next to a ravine, but also if you wanted to drive as close as possible to a rock wall. It doesn't matter of the turn is left or right. And overtaking was probably not that important as you were supposed to drive in P1 anyway 😂
Ah yes, that does make sense, being able to judge how close you are to the rock wall / ravine. Thanks very much Frank!
Fantastic story, and lovely car! Column change looks like it means business.. Lancia is a much underutilised brand, briefly re-booted with badge engineered Chryslers to which a former Italian colleague complained he was "ashamed to be Italian" when unveiled at the Geneva MS. PS only Italy could be LHD and RHD at the same time.... brilliant!!
Just found your channel. Great work. Wish you were in the States, I have quite a few cars that would be great for review. I own a 1966 Fulvia Coupe, they are amazing with the high quality of materials and comfortable ride with good performance. People ask what is it like to drive, I say not Italian at all, much more like a 1960s Mercedes. I suspect the Appia is like a 1950s miniature Mercedes therefore.
As a 77'Scorpion and 81' Zagato SE owner here in N.America I really appreciate these videos keep up the great content! I have a channel as well and will be doing some videos on at least the Scorpion soon- Cheers
Excellent, looking forward to watching those!
Loved the hyacinth bucket comment! 😂🎉
😁
My mom had an Appia II in a depressing blue later she got a III in a lovely light metallic blue where I learned to drive when I was 14. Let me tell you, I had no idea how sexy was the I series. IMO they shoulda worked on the Fist series, some more cc et cetera. Ciao.
The Appia Zagato I saw in a film about Bobby Darin
looked and sounded Bella.
It was called Mack the knife with Kevin Spacey.
My dad had Flavia HF 2000 coupe and Fulvia 1.3 coupe.
I had '62Flamina coupe,
'77 Beta hpe2000,'82 Gamma coupe
Oof!
I just love these. Such elegant cars just like the Fiat 1100’s of the time.
I’d love to do a group test with a Fiat 1100! And maybe a Wolseley 1500 or Morris 1000 (with the 1098cc engine).
Worth knowing their relative prices when new though, Lancia weren't cheap, but having seen the door gaps upon an Appia saloon you can see why!
The quite power of the simple things.
Certainly the Italian car I'd most like to own. The narrow angle v4 is a thing of beauty. Bravissimo! Forza Lancia!!
NB: fab historical factoid: Whilst Mussolini didn't make Italian trains run on time and was an appalling human being who ruined italy and caused the deaths of a million plus people through his various policies whilst sowing a legacy of authoritarian hatred for pretty much anyone that the hater wants to hate, he DID ensure that all Italians drove on the same side of the road (officially).
The way you're bouncing on that seat makes it look super comfortable.
It does have a faint Space Hopper vibe, you’re right 😊 Not sure if they’re all like that or just this one, which has probably been reupholstered at some point.
I am fairly sure that the upholstery is original.
Great car and video! Really enjoyed that, thanks.
Un gran coche, muy bien construído y novedoso para su época.
Lo felicito, yo también tengo uno y lo disfruto conduciendo; toda nuestra juventud condujimos Appias y Flavias, en nuestra familia teníamos varios de ellos y en este momento conservamos dos Appia y un Flavia.
Beautiful little car! Lancia, in it’s prime, introduced some exquisite cars - very much ahead of their time. Thanks for a very informative video - really enjoyed that!
WAtched from Jamaica,just discovered your channel.
I have never seen one of these before 😍😍 It's absolutely stunning and looks sensational from every angle.
I love it! Great video, again 👍🏻
Gorgeous little car, isn’t it? Thanks Will, glad you enjoyed it!
@@GrandThriftAuto it really is something else. Once again, Italian design showing the world that being practical can be sexy too 😂😂
Oops tablet!
Also '83 Beta Hpe 2000, first car I bought in 1985.
Sold the last one in'95,the Flaminia it went to a collector who restored it.
No one was 'appia to see this video come out than I was...
🤦🏼♂️
I enjoyed that too, thanks
Just lovely!
more of this kind of thing
A Great Review. Thank You.
Thanks, glad you enjoyed it!
@@GrandThriftAuto Yes, I am sure that all of us did so.
Interesting video. Wasn't familiar with these cars at all and until now, had never seen one.
Thanks Andrew 😊 I don’t think I’ve ever seen one in the wild, and rarely at shows (not that I go to many). Lancias were pretty exotic in the UK until the 1970s.
Great car! ..and ahead of you on the road video there's another fantastic car to drive and of quality: The Lancia 2000 HF... much better 2000cc coupè than any alfa or bmw
Yes indeed! And the good news is that I drove that too, so it’ll feature in another video before long.
@@GrandThriftAuto Wow! great news!
Another lovely video, enjoyed every single second. As a Lancia guy, who has to drive an Audi, because Lancia literally does not exist anymore and was not able to replace my Kappa adequately, I am lead to a question or two. When do we see a video on the Gamma and why do you pronounce Lancia correctly? I mean, as a native English speaking person. 🙂 Cheers, Christian
Thanks Christian! Prompted by a friend I have at last started to organise some help getting the Gamma to run, maybe - so when that happens I’ll let you know 😊
As to Italian pronunciation, I’ve worked in Italy (and Germany, Switzerland, Netherlands…) and always used to think of myself as European 💔😢
@@GrandThriftAuto Okay, gamma-wise, I count on you. Should never have sold my Gammas. And the Themas. And the Delta, Kappa and all the other fiftyish cars. 😊 Martin, you are located in the south of Wales, right? Have been on the isle this summer, England, Oxfordshire, but Wales seemed to be too far away for a short visit. Next time. Would love to meet you in person. Cheers, Christian
@@workshop_deluxe2493 I’d love to meet up. Maybe next time we’re visiting my wife’s family in Flensburg I could drop down the A7 🤔 And you’d be welcome here in Wales 😊
@@GrandThriftAuto Let me know when you are in Flensburg, just 140 km away from my home. Or next year in Wales. We'll find a way.
@@workshop_deluxe2493 Definitely!
And yes, right until the late 1950s Lancias were known to be preferred as RHD, as they were considered 'driver's cars', who would seemingly prefer to be facing the side of the road during sporty driving on curvy Italian roads...
All Lancia cars have this class. technically so advanced for the time (how did it all go wrong)?? Cheers Bob
Shsss ! Don't tell everyone til I've bought one !
it's funny isn't that on a Lancia sliding pillar suspension is innovative yet on a Morgan it's achaic!😁
Ha! Yes, fair point...from my limited knowledge of Morgans, they're set up to be rather more, er, intimate with the contours of the road surface, so maybe that puts reviewers in a less forgiving mood.
Geek point: after some googling, it seems Morgans are strictly speaking 'sliding axle', as the pillar is fixed and the hub moves up and down on it. I assume this reduces unsprung weight for better handling.
Classic
I don't think it mattered much in Italian city traffic, that had the town left- or right-handed traffic. Only a very trained eye could spot the difference. 😉
Ferrari automobili was bought completely in 1969 also.
50-50 split with Il Commendatore Enzo Ferrari I think, but yes, Gianni Agnelli was on a march in ‘69.
@@GrandThriftAuto Scuderia was owned by Enzo. Automobili by FIAT.
Is the upholstery alcantara? Lancia favored this material.
Not on this one - Lancia’s Alcantara phase came later.
The seats are covered with a mixture of a hardwearing broadcloth and vinyl.
so is it a lamp thing a yellow wall thing or is it self promotion re rear drive vauxhall :D
All of the above 😉 Actually that picture of the Victor is just my regular laptop wallpaper, it’s been on there for years.
Like comparing Hedy Lamar with Hyacinth Bucket...😕....it's Bouquet!
🤦🏼♂️😁
at 3.40 I spy with my little eye a 2000HF?
You do! And it’ll be in its own video in the new year 😊
@@GrandThriftAuto Fond memories 19 years old (1987) owning one of these beauties.
@@desmondrobinson169 VERY cool! They’re gorgeous cars, and surprisingly ’under the radar’.
Similar in spec to a Morris minor 1000?
Very interesting question - I did have the Minor 1000 in mind as I was driving it. Quite similar engine outputs between them, certainly, though I would imagine the Appia being aimed more at customers of the (posher but Minor-derived) Wolseley 1500/Riley One Point Five in the British market. The ‘people’s car’ Minor would have been closer to a Fiat 1100, I think.
A group test would be fascinating!
@@GrandThriftAuto please could you do some Matra Rancho content!
@@adamknopp6631 Soon! It won’t be driving around for a long while though, sadly.
@@GrandThriftAuto that’s ok. I’ve coveted them since my design tech teacher had one in the early eighties in the same colour as yours. Renault 16 is on my short list to own too…
It's looks ambassador.
Ah pi ah!
Oldest car you’ve ever driven ?…. You must reach deeper, you’re missing out !
The Italians changing sides again...oh sorry just the steering wheels nevermind....
Ontario Canada there is one for sale