Lancia might be quieter now, but its concept cars once made serious noise at auto shows. Collaborating with the best Italian design houses, they pushed the envelope—sometimes gracefully, sometimes wildly. These concepts were glimpses into alternate futures for Italian motoring.

Aprilia Pinin Farina Cabriolet

This 1947 Cabriolet had postwar charm by the mile. The long hood and soft top turned the upright Aprilia into something sultry. Pinin Farina didn’t just build a convertible—he reimagined a car’s character. It was elegance on wheels, not built for speed, but for arriving like you owned the place.

Ardea Pinin Farina

A tiny car with a tailored suit, the 1947 Ardea Pinin Farina wore sculpted fenders and two-tone paint like a Milanese dandy. Even with modest power, it looked expensive. It proved that postwar Italy could make even the smallest sedan feel luxurious—and that good proportions always beat brute force.

Florida I

Pinin Farina’s 1955 Florida I concept rewrote the Italian executive sedan. Long, graceful lines and thin pillars made it look powerful without shouting. The Flaminia shaped the tone for Italian luxury: confidence through calm design. No chrome overdose, just quiet control in tailored sheet metal.

Raggio Azzurro I

Michelotti’s 1955 Raggio Azzurro, built by Vignale and Nardi, felt like a pebble sculpted by wind. Named Blue Ray for the metallic finish and playful lines, it was a looker. Happiest on coastal switchbacks, this lightweight, low-slung vehicle was more of a weekend escape than a weekday commuter.

Appia Cammello

Zagato’s 1956 Appia had a roof hump that earned it the nickname Cammello. It wasn’t pretty, but it was practical. With its raised roofline, it looked like a cross between a fastback and a fishbowl, but that made it memorable. It challenged the idea that form has to follow beauty.

Florida II

This was Battista Farina’s personal car. Built in 1957, Florida II had rear-hinged doors, no B-pillar, and a clarity of design that whispered wealth. It wasn’t flamboyant; it was composed. The fact that it never entered production didn’t matter. It shaped how Lancia, and later Cadillac and Peugeot, approached executive luxury.

Flaminia Spider Amalfi

The 1962 Amalfi concept by Boneschi and Rodolfo Bonetto wasn’t trying to steal spotlights—it was too relaxed for that. With clean surfacing and an open top, it looked more like a vacation car than a concept. No weird lines or tech gimmicks—just easygoing style with Riviera energy built in.

Fulvia Sport Spider

Zagato’s 1968 Fulvia Sport Spider concept showed up at the Turin Motor Show with pop-up headlights and razor-cut panels. Built on the Fulvia base, it looked exotic. Its clean, modern lines had just a whiff of motorsport. Too bad it never made it beyond the show floor.

Stratos Zero

Marcello Gandini’s 1970 Stratos Zero looked more like a doorstop that achieved sentience. Just 33 inches tall, with entry through the windshield, it was bold even by concept standards. It didn’t drive well, but it didn’t need to. It challenged the entire idea of what a car was.

Stratos HF Prototipo

Before it became a rally legend, the 1971 Stratos HF was just a prototype with Ferrari DNA and Gandini’s unmistakable touch. Still wild-looking but more refined than the Zero, it had flared arches and real performance potential. It was Lancia’s next chapter already in motion.