1937' Lancia Aprilia Cabriolet Carr.Eagle R

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION:
One of just 3 examples known to still exist. robably less than ten built when new and this particular car comes with a very interesting past. s it was once the property of famous actor. riter and raconteur. eter Ustinov.

A brief history of the Aprilia.
The Lancia Aprilia Berline was introduced in 1937. he last Lancia to have Vincenzo Lancia's input before his death.
Sliding pillar front suspension was carried on from previous models. he engine was a narrow angled V4 1300cc unit (one cylinder head). Rear suspension was trailing arm with a transverse leaf spring mounted onto the rear differential.
Brakes were hydraulic. ront and rear drums. he rears being inboard.
The original Berline bodyshell was a monocoque construction. ith a pillarless. front and rear door opening.
All very advanced and all of which made the car a revelation in it's day and still a fantastic car to drive today.
Coachbuilt Aprilia Specials
As was the practice at this time. any manufacturers. ncluding the main Italian marques would offer chassis based on current production cars to independent coachbuilders. uch as Pinin Farina. agato etc for them to place their own creations onto.

Lancia's at the time were being distributed in the UK by Lancia. lperton. The Aprilia was offered as the standard Berline and also in a few coachbuilt designs. ne of these was as the Aprilia. agle Tourer.

Eagle Tourer.
Built on an Aprilia platform chassis. he Eagle Tourer was built by a company called Newns. ased at Thames Ditton. urrey.
Newns had built their own versions of cars. uch as British Salmsons. ailton Hudson. All these cars were labelled as Eagle cars.

The Aprilia Eagle was on offer. irca 1938. Built up with an ash framework. lloy body panels and steel wings. onnet and engine side panels. The interior is typically English. ith wood door and quarter panel cappings and leather upholstery.
It would appear they also adopted Lucas electrics.
Otherwise the cars were mechanically all Lancia.
No official production figures exist (that I'm aware of). ut if they made more than 10 I'd be surprised. I would of course be delighted to hear from anyone who has more information in this respect.
Today we do know that two currently reside in the UK. ur car included. One also is known of in Holland.
Further details on other survivers are limited.

FLE 852
FLE 852. hassis number 39/1096 is an early Aprilia chassis number. First UK registered on 19/01/1939. t retains it's original registration number.
Known history is that it spent a period of it's life in Scotland. ut has also lived in London and the Surrey area and more latterly spent a period in a Motor museum in Devon as a display vehicle. efore being unearthed by it's last owner. ho re-commissioned the car in the early 1990's. sing it on UK rallies and a trip to France on the Aprilia 50 celebrations.
Around 2001 it was laid up again and remained in dry storage until recently.
FLE 852. ow presents as a largely. ery original car inside and out. It is also a very sound car. ll four steel wings are very solid. he aluminium panelwork is sound. All four seats retain their original leather. part from the passenger seat base which has unfortunately been lost. The interior shows signs of use and patina and age but would. n my opinion be a great shame to replace.
Underneath. part from a repair made in the early 90's to the offside floor. ll looks very original. The boot floor and spare wheel well look original and completely sound. ikewise the front end of the car. Possibly a bit of attention is required to the nearside floor. ut this looks pretty minor.
The engine bay presents as very original and unmessed with. The original tool box and battery cover are still present as are the correct electrical cable covers.
The car is not currently a runner. owever the engine turns freely. ll five gears select and the clutch operates freely.

Clearly. fter a period of 10 years or so in storage. he's going to need re-commissioning work. he brakes will need looking at. ll fluids changing. o start with.
Whilst the bodywork is very sound and quite presentable. f you like the used look (which I do). here is room for improvement. The hood will definitely require renewing. ut the original is there to use as a pattern.

The paintwork has a decent shine to it. ut there are imperfections.
As is always the case. hat is acceptable and actually quite liked by one person. ay not be acceptable to the next.
So. f you are seriously interested in the car I would strongly recommend viewing. here's no better way to assess the car and judge if it's for you.

The Peter Ustinov connection.
Most out there will know of Peter Ustinov and seen many of his films. erhaps most famously known as Agatha Christies. ercule Poirot?
His connection with FLE started in 1944. hen having just purchased a Fiat Topolino from Brookland Motors. ond Street in London. e was left stranded in the middle of Hammersmith Broadway. hen the gearstick of the Fiat broke at the stem on his first outing!
The Fiat was immediately taken back and exchanged for FLE.
FLE was subsequently used for filming trips. n one occasion on a trip up to Liverpool. hilst working on the film School for Secrets. On this trip the car apparently had four punctures. hich were in Peter's words "due to wartime re-treads!"
The car was eventually traded in by Mr Ustinov for an Alvis Speed 20.


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