Aprilia Coloniale 1943

[simonandjuliet]

Exciting "discovery" this week was an Aprilia Coloniale !

A friend of a friend contacted me to say that he had just bought a Coloniale here in France - very rare, only 250 built I think - I've never seen one

He is looking for info and bits, so I will post updates on here , but if anyone has anything of interest, specifically relating to these interesting cars, please let me know and I will pass it on

Here are a couple of photos, the horrid white has covered up the kamo but he is hoping to return it to wartime colours and set up

Thanks

[DavidLaver]

Exciting !!!

Is it a longer wheelbase?  Maybe its the longer rear overhang...

[lancianut666]

Loving that camouflage paintwork
Clarkey

[Mikenoangelo]

Obviously in its winter plumage for Alpine work

[frankxhv773t]

Interestingly all the ones I have seen are without running boards and have recesses for mounting jerry cans.

[tzf60]

Hi Simon,
Do you think it was built in France? That looks like a wheel seen on the Ardennes.
The photos on the forum have the Series 1 dashboard, while the car in the museum has the Lusso version.
 
Your friend's car looks to be in good overall condition, body-wise, at least.
 
Regards,
Tim

[Jaydub]

Simon, what is the grille from, it`s different to the wartime vehicles? Aprilia Berlina?

[simonandjuliet]

I suspect it is a later, homemade modification (accident ??) and something the new owner wants to change - it is on his wish list of bits ....

I have promised to share his wish-list but I think that due to the rarity some will be very difficult to find. I was looking at some data and apparently there were only 247 of the "639" chassis cars built between 1940 & '43

[frankxhv773t]

It seems very much as if someone has tried to make it look like a civilian tourer. Filling in the recesses for the jerry cans and altering the grille from the utilitarian original would suggest so. I notice the rear wings come down at the back further than the bottom edge of the bodywork which in turn suggests they too have been replaced. Removing the paint from the rear quarters may reveal the history of modifications.

[DavidLaver]

Building on Frank's theory, white for weddings?

[davidwheeler]

Is the rear suspension independent (as sedan) or beam axle (some /Cabriolets)?

[simonandjuliet]

It has 6V electrics and a beam axle plus 1500 engine and later (square) dash

He is after quite a few bits, but most urgently the correct size 18" (or 45cm) wheels

[frankxhv773t]

I just noticed that although the Rome Military Transport Museum car has perforated wheels all period photographs show the early type plain disc wheels being fitted.

[simonandjuliet]

I think the disc wheels were correct, but I suspect tyre sizes meant that they were replaced with Aprilia or Ardennes wheels - this one seems to have a mix of both

[simonandjuliet]

An update on this - the car is running again and painted in it's N African campaign colours. The owner identified the base colour during the paint stripping process

Disk wheels were adapted and new, correct sized tyres fitted, all looking much more "purposeful" - not sure if he is planning to fit the gun-rack !