Lancia Augusta Items

Sir,
It was with much interest that I read your supplement to Mr. Foeman’s Lancia article—especially as it mentioned Augustas.

I had the pleasant experience of owning an Augusta up to the end of last year, when I sold it, with much regret, to Tony Rippon.

The brakes were of Lockheed manufacture, using, as you said, a cast-iron liner in an aluminium drum. This had a finned outside, and was painted a dull black on the fins.

What I did find of greater interest was your illustration. This shows a Type A Augusta which had bolt-on disc wheels, a flat radiator grille, and rather abbreviated front wings which revealed the front suspension.

I have spoken to the owner of a Type A which he claimed to be the only Type A to have come into England. He lives somewhere in Birmingham. As you know, the more usual Type B had Rudge wheels, a slightly “V” radiator and wings which joined below the radiator grille.

Whilst I had my Augusta I had a stack of spares which included axles for bolt-on wheels and a radiator grille with opening slats controlled by a header tank thermostat, but this was a V-type grille. Also wings which were of the “deep” type—perhaps there are more A-types in the country. I do not know if you have even driven an Augusta but I found it a very pleasant car to handle with its very high-geared steering, about 1 1/4 turns lock-to-lock, and small turning circle it could be retrieved from almost impossible slides.

Edgbaston. David Lowe.