Four ladies and a mysterious Lancia

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Four young women, a sunlit courtyard and a striking Italian convertible: this charming photograph from the 1930s contains all the ingredients for a delightful summer story. Its leading character, however, still refuses to reveal its identity.

The photograph was purchased this spring at Retro Classics by Raoul Rainer, a collector of historic images showing motor cars together with their owners and users. It came from an Italian dealer and also appears to have been taken in Italy.

The two-tone convertible stands out for its low profile, long front wings, narrow radiator grille and twin headlamps. It is probably fitted with a special body by an Italian carrozzeria, but on which chassis?

Rainer initially thought it might be a Lancia Aprilia. Other enthusiasts suggested the more compact Augusta, while the larger Astura has also been mentioned. Its styling incorporates recognisable Lancia elements, yet differs sufficiently to make any quick conclusion impossible.

We therefore invite the experts among our readers to examine the photograph. Do you recognise the chassis, the bodywork or perhaps even the location where it was taken? Do you know which Italian coachbuilder was responsible for this remarkable convertible? Let us know in the comments. Perhaps, by working together, we can finally reunite the four ladies with the correct motor car.

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