1959 LANCIA APPIA GTE 
No reserve



Refined, light and fun to drive car

First …
Description

1959 LANCIA APPIA GTE

No reserve Refined, light and fun to drive car First Zagato body distributed by Lancia Sold new by the famous American importer Max Hoffman American registration title Chassis n° 812.01 - 2474 Of course, the Appia saga is not limited to sedans. In addition to the 99,000 Appia sedans, nearly 8,000 special models were produced. Among them, utility vehicles but also coupes and cabriolets. Independent coachbuilders such as Pinin Farina, Vignale, Allemano, Ghia, Boano or Como offered their models. True to its reputation, in 1956 Zagato presented its first prototype coupe directly intended for competition. It was the first in a series of four Zagato-built Appia Coupes. In the great tradition of the company, they offered a body that took the form of an aluminum skin - with the typical double bubble roof on the first version - stretched over a boxed steel chassis, for a contained weight. The first Appia coupe by Zagato was named GTZ, followed by the GT 2+2 and the Sport. The GTE, for Gran Turismo Esporto, was presented at the 1958 Turin Motor Show. It was the first Zagato model to be sold directly through the Lancia network. Thus, Zagato officially moved from being a body shop and chassis buyer to being an official supplier of special coupes. Compared to its predecessors, the GTE is characterized by its even lower and more aerodynamic bodywork. The nose is longer, the headlights are covered and set deeper into the fenders and the rear lights are also partially recessed.  Production figures for the Appia Zagato vary according to the source, but it is estimated that the four versions (1957-1962) represent 721 examples, 167 of which were GTEs with the first 53 HP engine and 134 with the last 60 HP engine. It should be noted that Zagato did not keep detailed records and that multiple differences can exist between two Appia GTEs. The model offered for sale has an atypical history as it is one of the rare examples sold new by the famous distributor Max Hoffman, importers of high-end European cars based in New York. Pale blue in color, our GTE is the last car of the first series of five sold in the United States. It remained there for forty years before returning to Europe and becoming part of the Anna-Lisa collection. If it was repainted, the interior shows the inimitable and delicious patina of time. The engine is not blocked, and the car will need a mechanical restoration before being driven again. Appia Zagatos are rare on the market, and the price of Zagatos keeps rising: don’t miss your chance.

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1959 LANCIA APPIA GTE

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