Lancia Augusta

Lancia Augusta
1934 Lancia Augusta
Overview
Manufacturer	Lancia
Also called	Lancia Belna
Production	1933–1936 17,217 vehicles
Body and chassis
Body style	4-door saloon 2-door cabriolet
Layout	Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive
Powertrain
Engine	1,196 cc Lancia V4
Transmission	4-speed manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase	265 cm (104.3 in)
Kerb weight	850 kg (1,874 lb)
Chronology
Successor	Lancia Ardea

The Lancia Augusta is a small passenger car produced by Italian car manufacturer Lancia between 1933 and 1936. It made its première at the 1932 Paris Motor Show. The car was powered by a 1,196 cc Lancia V4 engine.

During the 1920s, Lancia had been known as producers of sports cars and middle sized sedans: the smaller Augusta represented a departure from that tradition, and contributed to a significant growth in Lancia's unit sales during the 1930s. Nevertheless, in terms of volumes sold, the Augusta was overwhelmed by Fiat's much more aggressively priced 508 Ballila.

Lancia Belna

Lancia started its French operations on 1 October 1931. At its first factory outside of Italy, at Bonneuil-sur-Marne, Lancia built the Augusta and later Aprilia models, although named them Belna and Ardennes. Approximately 3,000 Augusta/Belna and 1,500 Aprilia/Ardennes were built.

Of the approximately 3,000 Belnas built between 1934 and 1938, 2,500 were saloons and 500 bare chassis.

Georges Paulin had invented the retractable hardtop and had shown his designs to French coachbuilder Marcel Pourtout. Carrosserie Pourtout built several bodies based on the French-built Lancia Belna.

Lancia Belna cabriolet 1935 Pourtout

Lancia Belna roadster Pourtout

1934 Lancia Belna "Eclipse" coupé-convertible Pourtout

References

Bibliography

• Frostick, Michael (1976). Lancia. ISBN 0-901564-22-2.

External links

• Lancisti.net — Community for Lancia owners and enthusiasts
• Article on the 75th anniversary of the Augusta/Belna, with period and contemporary images of the French factory