Lancia Motor Club

Here is short story about my Aprilia including few pictures:
My Aprilia Chassis no 439-10855, telaio no 5229 is probably since 1945 in Poland.
In early fifties was belong to famous Polish race and rally driver, Michal Nahorski as a daily driver. Nahorski used too this time a custom build race car with Aprilia engine - see one of black and white photos. He was tragically killed in car accident in 1959 (he was drove Triumph TR 2).
After this, car was bought by Italian car enthusiast from Upper Silesia, Poland named Bargiel. He was used this car till very late 70-ties. My father bought this car in 1980 ( i was 9 years old). Because we were at the wrong side of iron curtain, there was no spares or literature for such one exotic, like Aprilia. Therefore car was heavily modified with local Polish parts, but in theory was drivable. For a long time was send to storage. In around 1992 we became a contract from Denmark to restore from scratch similarly Aprilia convertible, but first series from 1937. We restored together both bodies, this danish and our. Thanks this job (except body we restored mechanical parts too in this danish car) we know a little Aprilia specification. Because lack of spares, our car was sent back to storage.
In 2002 we found via Lancia Club Deutschland a donor car in Switzerland - a Aprilia Berlina with almost complete technic, but with totally destroyed body shell. With those parts (engine, axles, complete dashboard etc) we were able to thinh finish this car.
All plans was stopped again in 2007 because my bad car accident, but now i feel better and i will finally finish this project in few next years. This year i was put together engine, see short film http://youtu.be/8l69fyX3El0 (http://youtu.be/8l69fyX3El0) and front axle.
I will inform yours about my progress.
Here are some pictures:

That was a truly wonderful history and story Maciek, a real labour of love and devotion to the Lancia marque.

What is the Lancia scene like in Poland currently, are there many Lancias of the pre 90's era, many being restored?

Do keep us informed of your progress and remember, you can never take enough photos of your pride and joy!

Dziękuję!

P

Thank you for nice words.
Old Lancias are pretty rare in Poland.
i know three Aprilia Berlinas, few Fulvias, few Flavias, one Stratos and few Beta Montecarlos
Here are some clubs too, for example http://www.lanciaklub.pl/ (http://www.lanciaklub.pl/) or http://www.lanciapolska.org/ (http://www.lanciapolska.org/), but basically classic Lancias are exotique in Poland.
Best regards

Thats good to know Maciek. thats quite a nice selection, feel free to post any any all photos of your meet ups or cars.

Was the Stratos an original Polish bought car? If so do tell us all about it.


P

No, this Stratos was imported in perfect condition few years ago from abroad. Is in road specification, dark blue painted. See picture

But was two new Stratos in Poland around mid 70-ties. Both was bought by our communist government for Polish racing driver Andrzej Jaroszewicz, son of very important person in communist hierarchy. Both cars were with racing specs, one was for practice and one for racing. Unfortunatelly both were destroyed soon in accidents. One total, but second mainly body shell. Mechanical parts were reusable. Prototype division of FSO factory in Warszawa took this second damaged Stratos. They repaired suspensions, chassis etc ant put over chassis modified body from polish car, Polonez in coupe form. This custom was called Stratopolonez. This car survived and is now displayed in Technical Museum in Warszawa, but is in not running condition. See pictures.
Kindly regards
Maciek