Vincenzo Lancia

Lancia founder Vincenzo Lancia was born on 24 August 1881 in Fobello, north-western Italy, near Turin. His parents already had two sons and a daughter. Their youngest excelled at mathematics, and they hoped he would become an accountant. Instead, the first cars of the late nineteenth century captivated him.

The talented youngster became an apprentice to bicycle importer Giovanni Battista Ceirano, later a Fiat co-founder. A company brochure from 1898 lists Vincenzo Lancia as its accountant.

In February 1899, Count Carlo Biscaretti di Ruffia had trouble with his Benz, and Vincenzo was sent to help. Their shared enthusiasm made them friends. The count supported his career and even helped create the Lancia logo.

At nineteen, Lancia was Fiat’s chief inspector and one of its best test drivers. Invited to race, he won in 1900 when Fiat competed for only the second time. In 1906, he entered the French Grand Prix at Le Mans.

The ambitious Italian wanted more. Turning to engineering and invention, he built his first car in 1907, the Lancia Alfa-12HP, incorporating numerous technical innovations.

He died of a heart attack on 15 February 1937, aged fifty-five, shortly before the Aprilia entered production. Buried in Fobello, he was succeeded in the business by his wife and son Gianni.