Lancia Ardea

Lancia Ardea
Overview
Manufacturer	Lancia
Production	1939–1953 approx 32 000 vehicles
Body and chassis
Class	Small family car (C)
Body style	4-door saloon 2-door pickup (Camioncino) 3-door van (Furgoncino) 4-door taxi (Tassì Roma)[1]
Layout	Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive
Powertrain
Engine	903 cc Lancia V4 Max. Power output 26 bhp (19 kW) at 4600 rpm
Transmission	4-speed manual (1939–1948) 5-speed manual (1948–1953)[1]
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,440 mm (96.1 in) 2,500 mm (98.4 in) (pick-up/van) 2,950 mm (116.1 in) (taxi)
Length	3,615 mm (142.3 in)
Width	1,380 mm (54.3 in)
Kerb weight	780 kg (1,720 lb) (saloon)
Chronology
Predecessor	Lancia Augusta
Successor	Lancia Appia

The Lancia Ardea is a small family car produced by Italian car manufacturer Lancia between 1939 and 1953. Its unusually short bonnet reportedly contained the smallest V4 engine ever commercialized in a small family car.

Nearly 23,000 of the Ardeas produced were standard bodied saloons but between 1940 and 1942 approximately 500 Ardeas were manufactured with lengthened bodies and a squared off rear cabin for use in Rome as taxis. After the war more than 8,500 commercial adaptations of the Ardea known as 'furgoncini' (light van versions) and the 'camioncini' (car based light trucks) were also produced.

The third series Ardea, produced from 1948, was the first mass-produced car with a 5-speed manual transmission.^[2] Ardea was named either after Ardea town (Lazio), or Via Ardeatina, Roman road leading from Rome to that town.