EARLY Lancia’s are rare in Australia with only a handful of models on the roads. Most enthusiasts link the name with the more common models, including the Fulvia, Aurelia and later Beta.

Steve Boyle isn’t new to the marque. He owns a few Lancias, including a Flavia coupe and sedan, and a first-series Beta.

His Augusta is one of three that he knows are still running in Australia, along with one that’s not on the road. But he has the only cabriolet.

The car is one of about 17,200 Augustas made between 1933 and 1936. This is a 1935 example and was built during a period when the Lancia name was being revived, with sales rising thanks to the Augusta.

The model was a departure from the large and mainly luxurious models made previously, and when introduced, immediately drew favour from buyers who appreciated the quality and name of Lancia but were unable to afford the larger models.

Like the Lambda of a decade prior, the Augusta has a monocoque body and independent front suspension, and a narrow V4 engine featuring a single head and an overhead camshaft. Drive was through a four-speed manual to the rear wheels.

The V4 engine was first seen in the Lambda of 1922 and made for this model until 1931. Lancia made the 20-degree V4 in three capacities — 2.1-litres, 2.4-litres and 2.6-litres — before the design was redesigned with an all-new V4 developed specifically for the Augusta in 1933 (first shown in 1932).

The Augusta has a 1.2-litre version of the V4 engine that develops 35hp (26kW). Its benefits include the short length which allows for greater space for the cabin and luggage. It is also well balanced and rigid, ensuring crankshaft strength and reliability.

The small dimensions of the engine also means it can be placed further towards the centre of the car to improve weight distribution. The engine mounts are shock absorbers and leaf springs which gave the engine a smoothness that critics of the time equated too a six-cylinder engine.

In conjunction with the independent front suspension and precise steering system, the mid-engine layout also gave the Augusta a reputation for excellent roadholding and ease of driving.

The car has Lockheed hydraulic drum brakes — aluminium with cooling vents — on all four wheels, which also boosted its reputation as a performance model despite Lancia targeting the average motorists.

This car owned by Steve Boyle was bought already restored and he said its is a superb cruiser — Lancia said it could sit on 60mph (100km/h) for a long time — remains a reliable and very enjoyable car to drive.

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