Unveiled in 1953 and named for an ancient Roman road, the Appia was the last in a long line of Lancias that featured sliding-pillar front suspension, a narrow-angle V-4 engine, unitary construction, and rear-wheel drive. Zagato built approximately 700 lightweight, performance-oriented Appias between 1956 and 1963, accounting for a small fraction of the 107,000-car production. Zagato’s prototype, nicknamed Cammello for its double-bubble design, showcased the Appia’s dual-purpose nature, winning a prize at the 1956 Cortina Concours d’Elegance and then securing a 1-2-3 class sweep for Lancia at the 1957 Mille Miglia. At the 1958 Torino Motor Show, Lancia introduced the updated Appia GTE, standing for Gran Turismo Esportazione. This landmark model was the first Zagato-bodied Lancia illustrated in factory sales literature and sold through authorized dealers. The GTE underwent myriad aesthetic and mechanical refinements through 1962, when it was replaced by the more standardized Appia Sport.

The Appia GTE presented here, chassis 812.01.4636, is a late-production Series III example, which benefits from a variety of model improvements including a more powerful engine. Finished in an elegant gunmetal gray over beige color scheme, this Lancia was restored approximately 20 years ago and resided in several Italian collections before it was exported to the US in 2016. Tastefully and accurately presented, this is surely among the finest surviving examples of this rare Zagato-bodied GT.