Description: What a beautiful model! Obviously, don't look it up in your books: Mercury never created a rally version for this model. The decals were added by the collector at the time. That said, it is very neatly done. Presented in Geneva in 1959, the third series Appia abandoned the escutcheon grille dear to Lancia for a more modern front end; it was the fastest of the line, and its dual braking system distinguished it from the popular cars of its time. An elegant little Italian sedan, sometimes entered in competition by private teams, it had everything to charm Mercury, a Turin manufacturer renowned for its zamac miniatures dedicated to transalpine brands. The firm included it in its catalog under number 5 at the turn of the 1960s. The miniature encapsulates the company's know-how: zamac body, chrome grille and bumpers, fitted glazing, painted interior, zamac hubs and black treaded tires. Production of the Appia would cease with the real car in 1963, with Mercury then shifting its range to other 1/43 scale models. The offered example is a beautiful and well-preserved piece: shiny paint, clean chrome, complete interior, with only tiny marks on the roof. Sold without a box, it is nonetheless a charming collector's item. At this price, why miss out?