A 1934 Lancia Astura that once belonged to legendary motoring journalist Ronald 'Steady' Barker – who died earlier this year – was unveiled at Race Retro for the first time since its complete restoration.
Steady was rumoured to have driven the car to his interview at The Autocar in 1955 and later wrote about it in Motor Sport, having shortened its chassis and fitted a lightweight body.
The car remained in Steady's ownership for over 60 years, but it now belongs to his long-term friend and Guild of Engineering Specialists founder Michael Scott, who began its restoration in 2011.
"It wasn't easy," said Scott. "Here we had a car that was crying out to be restored, but also the legacy of sketches drawn by Steady some 60 years ago, illustrating how he imagined the Lancia should look."
The Lancia's revival began with a complete overhaul of its engine, suspension, gearbox and brakes, while the three-litre narrow-angle V8 was refreshed by specialist Tim Samway.
The bodywork, meanwhile, was left to Ant Anstead and business partner Stewart Imber.
"When Michael approached us about this project, we set about creating a car which would not only make him happy, but also make Steady proud," said Imber. "We wanted to complete a car which would be unique and remembered for what it stands for: a piece of British and Italian history and engineering."
