1936 Lancia Astura Tipo Bocca Third Series (233C) Cabriolet by Pininfarina
- Engine
- Nearly 3.0L SOHC V8, increased displacement third-series development
A Lancia Astura third-series tipo 233C cabriolet bodied by the young Battista 'Pinin' Farina at the behest of the Bocca brothers, Piedmontese Lancia dealers who commissioned a short run of bespoke streamlined convertibles around 1936. One of no more than six such cars built, chassis 33-3277 was exhibited at the 1936 Olympia Motor Show before passing through distinguished hands including guitarist Eric Clapton and the Pininfarina factory collection. A meticulous six-year restoration by Jim Stokes Workshop culminated in Best of Show at the 2016 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance — the first such honour ever awarded to a Lancia.
Ownership
- —Auction saleSold US$2,205,000
- 1936 →Private saleBritish private enthusiast with registration DLM 727partial documentation
Purchased following the Olympia show; subsequent activity over roughly 26 years is undocumented.
- → 1936-10-01Factory deliveryLancia Englandpartial documentation
Chassis was allocated to the UK distributor and exhibited at the Olympia Motor Show in October 1936 before being sold on.
- 1962 → 1976Private saleMichael Scottfull documentation
Discovered the car on a private estate in a near-abandoned condition; spearheaded a full mechanical and coachwork restoration completed by mid-1965, documented by a Pininfarina letter on file. Sold due to a divorce settlement.
- 1976 →Private saleEric Claptonfull documentation
Celebrated guitarist who retained the car into the 1980s; a signed check serving as payment evidence is part of the documentation.
- → 2009Private salePininfarina collectionpartial documentation
Coachbuilder acquired the car for its own in-house museum after Clapton parted with it.
- 2009 → 2017-03-01Private saleRichard Matteifull documentation
Arizona-based owner who commissioned an extensive six-year ground-up restoration using specialist firms in the UK, culminating in the 2016 Pebble Beach Best of Show award.
- 2017-03-01 →Private saleCurrent consignorfull documentation
Returned the car to the restoration workshop for a further two years of refinement costing over $100,000, supported by invoices and correspondence on file.
Competition
- 19371937 San Remo Concours d'EleganceAward winner (reported)
The Tipo Bocca cars as a group were reportedly recognized at this event; specific award details are not documented in the prose.
- 20162016 Pebble Beach Concours d'EleganceBest of Show; class winner; Gwenn Graham Most Elegant Convertible Award
First Lancia ever to achieve Best of Show at Pebble Beach; the result received wide coverage in the specialist automotive press.
Maintenance & restoration
- 1965RestorationBowman's Garage (engine, by Louis Giron); Pininfarina (bodywork)
Full mechanical restoration including a complete engine rebuild, followed by painstaking coachwork refurbishment carried out by Pininfarina's own team. The project was completed by June 1965.
Restoration was initiated by owner Michael Scott with encouragement from Battista Farina himself, who had recognised the car as his early work. A period letter from Pininfarina to Scott confirming completion is on file.
- 2009RestorationJim Stokes Workshop Ltd; Ken Dickson / Kinetic Design (interior)
Comprehensive no-expense-spared restoration over approximately six years covering the engine, all mechanical components, and the coachwork, plus a full re-trimming of the interior in cognac intrecciato leather to the period Italian pattern.
Commissioned by Richard Mattei; the restored car subsequently won Best of Show at the 2016 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance.
- 2017ServiceJim Stokes Workshop Ltd
Two further years of detailed fine-tuning and refinement following the Pebble Beach victory, representing an additional investment of over $100,000.
Work commissioned by the consignor after acquiring the car in March 2017; supported by invoices and correspondence on file.
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