LANCIA DELTA TIPO 56
Vincenzo Lancia was an enterprising pilot and engineer whose career started at FIAT as chief inspector and sports car tester, at only 19 years of age. In 1906, he founded the Lancia & C. company noted for a continuous stream of technical and engineering innovation including the ground-breaking V6 engine, and for using letters of the Greek alphabet to name models.
The Lancia Delta was thus the company’s 4th model, based on the Lancia Gamma 20HP but powered with an enlarged Tipo 56 side valve monobloc inline-four engine with a cast iron block. This 4080cc engine produced 60hp at 1800 rpm giving a top speed of around 115 kms/hr (71mph).
303 Deltas were made in total with either a normal or short wheelbase. In 1911, a Lancia Delta finished second on the Targa Florio in Sicily.
This extremely original example had been owned by the same family living near Florence for over 50 years. It was regularly and enthusiastically driven and rallied by its owner, Conte Felice di Tocco, and featured in a film on Enzo Ferrari where the owner played the role of Nuvolari. The Lancia is shown being driven by him in a parade of several other cars, most of which he also owned.
Fantastically preserved, it was inspected by Thornley Kelham and then purchased on behalf of its new UK owner. The plan is to carry out a very sympathetic retrim of the seats and hood in original materials to the correct style; a complete mechanical restoration; and cosmetically, the bodywork is to be cleaned and protected where possible to preserve its current authentic condition.
