1957 Lancia Appia Convertible (Vignale)

With no less than three coupes in their catalogues, Lancia complemented their range of Appia cars with a convertible directly derived from the successful Lusso coupe. From 1957 to 1962, 1584 convertibles were built in two series: the first series cars were two seaters while the later cars were 2+2 seaters.

The Appia arrived in 1953 and was the last new Lancia to use the automaker's innovative sliding pillar front suspension design. This robust but effective setup gave the Appia sportier handling than their handsome but sedate four-door styling might have suggested. It wasn't until the Vignale-designed and -built cabriolet range was introduced in 1957 that the little car truly lived up to the Lancia badge. The Giovanni Michelotti-designed Cabriolet was based on the second series Appia platform, and it was the first to be offered as a two-seater, before it was reconfigured into a neat 2+2. A small number of coupes were also built.