Another Aprilia Project

[Jay]

Although still half way through a total Fulvia Sport restoration, which I haven’t seen since last March due to lockdown, and having always wanted an Aprilia. I bit the bullet and ended up with one of Christo’s projects. Consisting of a pile of boxes and a rolling shell, I am hoping to collect later this month, once I had cleared my late father’s workshop. Then hopefully I can work out what’s missing and what spares I have, for swaps etc. 

Firstly I have to say what a great section of the forum this is with some great threads and will try to keep up the consistency although historically I am not a great contributor.

I know my car is an early S1, don’t know the chassis number yet, I am trying to work out the differences between the S1 standard and Lusso, as searching the net there seem to be no consistency. Understandable these cars are now 80+ years, some having multiple restorations plus Lancia wasn’t always consistent with parts during production. What I have gathered

All early S1 models had round dials, although later S1 Lusso had 1-piece instruments (there were subtle colour changes for the S2) 
All initial S1 models didn’t have running boards, although fitted to later S1 Lusso and then standard cars
UK cars had the flat type bummers
Early round dials lusso had a small chrome strip around glove box and instrument panel.
Did only Lusso have an ashtray, I have seen both black plastic knobs as well as silver caps
When was the air vent at the bottom of the windscreen introduced?     

Does anybody know any other differences between S1 Standard and Lusso, I would imagine the interior trim would vary, but all the ones on the net seem to be the same.     

Many Thanks

Julian

[DavidLaver]

Congratulations !!!

[Sliding Pillar]

Good luck with your project.

One difference between early cars and the Lusso that you didn't mention is the type of wheel.
Early cars had solid disc wheels, with rolled rims, Lusso had Fergat scalloped wheels and for S2 the design changed slightly.

The reason English cars had the plain blade bumpers is because they were imported as unfinished cars and were painted, trimmed (That's why English cars had leather rather than cloth) and had bumpers fitted at Alperton. This reduced the amount of purchase tax payable, on what was already an expensive car.

[Mikenoangelo]

Curious that the Aprilai wheels seem to take a step backwards in design from the Augusta which already had the same style wheels as the late Aprilia, although the Augusta's were of the odd Michelin part well based design.

Mike

[donw]

Series 1 solid wheels have the same hub cap as late standard Augustas with Fregat slotted wheels.

[Jay]

I have  the original solid disc wheels with a set of hubcaps as well as the Lusso scalloped without caps. I found this in an original UK brochure
 
APRILIA STANDARD SALOON
Specification of Standard Saloon: - Built-in body-frame - Streamline pillarless body, flat under-carriage
- Passenger seats cradled within the wheels, the rear ones well in front of back axle.
- Sliding front seats
- Rear boot for 2 suit-cases (not supplied by the Manufacturers) and one spare wheel; or 1 suit-case and 2 spare wheels
- Rear blind controlled from the driver's seat - Pockets at front doors and at the back of front seats
- Two sun visors
- Twin windscreen wiper
- Chromium-plated fillets at the union of wings to the body - Aerator - Two interior lights - Direction indicators with time switch

The Standard Saloon is also manufactured with " deluxe" finishing, with the following particulars:
- Sliding front seats with adjustable back rest
- Heavier cloth or leather upholstery (the latter at an extra charge)
- Single-framed instruments and ash tray

So looks like I am going to end-up series 1 hybrid, not battery powered but a mixture of both standard and Lusso. 

[CesareFerrari]

Originality on Aprilia interior trim is perhaps something of a chimera, from what my researches showed, at least for Alperton supplied cars. I don't think the large rear door armrests that are common on British cars were ever used by the factory in Italy. On the other hand, Alperton seemed to omit the elasticated front door pockets.
I seem to remember seeing in on old Italian brochure online that bright metal fillets for the wings were listed by the factory as a distinguishing feature on the S1 Lusso. What they replaced was not said.
I think Jay and I are almost local to each other and I shall send a pm.