Lancia

At the April 1953 Salone dell'Automobile di Torino Lancia introduced the Appia as a replacement for the outdated Ardea. The body resembled the bigger Aurelia, Lancia's first new post-war car design. Under the bonnet there is a 38 hp 1,091 cc engine. At the rear the Appia had suicide doors, effectively eliminating the B-pillar. To save weight the doors and rear fenders of the first few thousand examples were aluminium. The bumpers were also aluminium, making them easily dented. Rubber stripping was added later, to protect them from minor impacts. In addition to the saloon, a number of special bodied Appias were produced, including a coupé by Pinin Farina, a convertible and two-door saloon by Vignale and an aluminium-bodied GT by Zagato, as well as light commercial vehicle variants. In total 107,000 Appia were built: 98,000 saloons, 3,863 commercial vehicles and 5,161 chassis supplied to coachbuilders.

In March 1959, the third series Appia was introduced at the Geneva Motor Show with a new front end, inspired by the Lancia Flaminia. Engine power went up to 48 hp and the braking system was improved. With 55,577 saloons being made, it was the most successful Appia series until it was replaced by the Lancia Fulvia in 1963.