Lancia Motor Club

I bought this photo at the Bicester Heritage Meeting on Sunday, I'm sure it's an Augusta, but what body?
And what's the big saloon next to it.
Brian
8227 8)

I have no idea .... but I cannot stop asking myself the question, 'did he buy a photograph or a car'? Please advise.

                                    Andy

Having now stopped being silly, I have had another look at the photograph. Is the bonnet not a little too long for an Augusta. Then it does not look imposing enough to be an Astura. Someone must know, a little help please.

                                         Andy

Looks like Ron Francis' Astura...

Brian,

I think this handsome car is a Bianchi.

Cesare

Not an Augusta.
Too long bonnet to be an Artena on wire wheels. My first thought because of the seemingly small wheel spinners.
Assume it is a 3rd series Astura, around 1935. Pillarless Pinin Farina 4 door sedan.
Some other Pinin Farina 3rd series have exactly the same bonnet, with 5 openings.

Cesare may be right!
Not a Lancia! The radiator is not Lancia like at all (top part)!
And this would explain the too small wheel spinners for an Astura.

For comparison, here is a photo of the 'Ron Francis Astura' as it was on the Sliding Pillar Rally in 2002.

Colin

I  must admit my recognition of the older models isn't what it could be, but I thought it looked like an Augusta Grille ???

It certainly didn't look like the few Asturas I've ever seen,  which seemed somewhat bigger.

Cesare, looking again at the photo with a glass I still think it's a Lancia, it's not clear enough to see the badge to say definitily it's Lancia, but it's a round badge and it looks similar to other Lancia badges i've seen, but thats about as far as I'm prepared to go.
I'll try to remember to bring the photo with me to Brooklands tomorrow if anyone wants a closer look at it.

Brian
8227 8)

Here for comparison the Astura I was thinking about.

Definitely not Lancia I think Cesare is right, see link below.

https://www.motorbase.com/picture/profile/2008/09/22/bianchi-s9/

Don

Although it may be a Bianchi, and the wheel spinners do seem similar, I notice that a lot of Bianchi' of the period had very similar bodywork to contemporary Lancias. Also Ron Francis' Astura shows not all coach built Lancias has the corporate grille.

Here are some Bianchi pictures, the earliest one has a round badge with an imperial eagle but ones contemporary with Brian's picture seem to have gone over to an oblong badge.

Distinct likeness, although the grille is definitely different to my photo.

Brian
8227 8)

Sorry Don, but I don't see the likeness to my photo ??? ???

Brian
8227 8)

Cesare,
Have you a particular photo of a Bianchi in mind?

Brian
8227 8)

Brian,
 I do not have a particular photo in mind, but the proportions and the radiator grille seem very much like the Bianchi fours of the mid- thirties, as shown in Frank's pictures. The round badge though may suggest otherwise, as might possibly the doors in the bonnet sides. To my eyes though the bonnet is  too long to be an Augusta, and the whole car not big enough to be an Artena or Astura, which leaves Bianchi as the prime suspect.
Cesare

I'm a bit late to this party, but I agree it is not quite right to be an Augusta; also, I would suggest the coachwork is by Stabilimenti Farina, not Pinin Farina.
Here's a 2-door Stab. Farina Augusta for comparison:

(http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q136/vernonderby/Coachbuilding/1934%20Lancia%20Augusta%20Stabilimenti%20Farina%20copy_zpsnpzndxmp.jpg)

For what it's worth, I agree it isn't an Augusta. Going back to the initial post, I think the car next door might be a Daimler. Probably not big enough to be a 35-120, but quite a large car.
Regards, John

And here's another Farina Augusta (owner says it's Pinin designed/built, but he might well be wrong).

There is a 1935 Bianchi S9 for sale on PrewarCar.
http://www.prewarcar.com/classifieds/ad201754.html

I shall let you decide if it is the same radiator cowling as the one shown on the original photo!