(from Zagato Press
Release) This “car of the future” could aptly be described
as an original 1930s design brought to life using the technology of
the third Millennium.
To celebrate the
centenary of Lancia and the long standing affiliation between the
marque and the Milanese coachbuilder for its Sport versions, Andrea
Zagato decided to create a Lancia Aprilia Sport identical to the car
built by his grandfather Ugo in 1938.
The complicated process
did not start from hand drawn sketches, as with today's cars, but
from two faded monochrome photographs – the only remaining source of
accurate information.
As the original car no
longer exists, state of the art digitalisation, CAD modelling and
CNC machining technologies were used to reconstruct the plans for
this version of the Aprilia Sport, which most effectively expressed
the aeronautical themes of the 1930s.
The sheet metal of the
bodywork was then skilfully hand crafted by master panel beaters,
working on a solid, machined buck.
The final result is a
symphony of perfectly taut lines and seamless highlights, impeccably
resolving the limitations of prewar construction techniques in
putting a concept into reality.
Shaped like the cross
section of a wing, in a single volume undisturbed by external
fenders, this car is a milestone in the almost 90 years of history
of Zagato.