No, we didn’t mean to make this “Lancia Week,” but when we come across such extraordinary examples, we feel compelled to share them — to bear witness to a world that no longer exists.

Especially when it comes to unique pieces like this one, built by Bertone on the chassis of a first-series 1939 Lancia Aprilia. It is, in essence, one of the cars crafted by the Turin coachbuilder when the company was still led by Giovanni, father of the more famous — and equally brilliant — Nuccio, who had begun his career as an apprentice at Lancia itself. The styling given by Bertone is perfectly in tune with the era, yet not without distinctive touches such as the elegant front grille and a dashboard that would still look coherent in a modern high-end automobile. Some facts: The Lancia Aprilia, introduced in 1937, was one of the most technically advanced cars of its time. Designed under Vincenzo Lancia himself, it featured an aerodynamically efficient body whose shape was refined through early wind-tunnel experiments carried out at the Politecnico di Torino and at the Guidonia Aeronautical Research Center near Rome. These pioneering tests — almost unheard of in the automotive industry of the 1930s — reflected Lancia’s obsession with precision engineering and craftsmanship.

The Aprilia combined an all-independent suspension system, a compact aluminum V4 engine (1.352 cc, later 1.486 cc), and a four-speed transaxle layout that gave it remarkable stability and balance. With around 47 horsepower and a top speed exceeding 120 km/h, it offered both performance and refinement that rivaled far more expensive cars. This perfect synthesis of aerodynamic innovation, engineering integrity, and build quality made the Aprilia a landmark in automotive design — and a clear expression of Lancia’s philosophy that true luxury lies in intelligent construction and uncompromising attention to detail. Find it for sale at €89,950 (today $104,000) here in Nijkerkerveen, Netherlands.