It is lovely. HUGE admiration for the work in that.
Maybe you should keep that project car a long long way away from Mr Ely !!!
I've often pondered these sorts of projects. An Appia is a great start as (not a description I'd use other than in this context) "The Italian Morris Minor" there are a lot of donor cars about. Using enough from the one donor might also help with the road registration, perhaps include the important bit of steel with a number stamped in in the new structure. Against that is that I've yet to find one done like that in period. There is one done "recently", Dutch?
Aprilia engine and FIAT chassis seemed to be "typical" (of course all of them rare) if looking for something to copy with a Lancia theme. Aprilia engines also not as easy to find or to rebuild.