1955 Lancia Aurelia Spider America Roadster (Series 5)

At the 1955 Brussels Motor Show, Lancia introduced a new variant of the Aurelia platform that eventually became one of the most acclaimed models in the company's history. The new 24 Spider featured the advanced mechanicals of the four-series Aurelia B20 GT that won the 1951 Mille Miglia in the under-two-liter category and placed 2nd overall behind the Scuderia Ferrari 340 America. This remarkable finish was followed by numerous victories including a class win at the 1951 LeMans 24 Hours and success at the Targa Florio. The B24 Spider, featuring a 2.5-liter V-6 engine, DeDion rear suspension, and an added floor shifter, was dispatched to Pinin Farina for new sporty coachwork. This coachwork featured sensuous curves, a wraparound windscreen, cut-down doors, split front and rear bumpers, no external door handles, and a disappearing soft top. They later developed the B24S, which featured left-hand drive and was dubbed 'B24 America' for the booming American market. Only 240 examples of the B24 Spider were built during 1954 and 1955 before the body style gave way to the convertible. Only 181 examples of the B24S models were produced, and it is believed that fewer than 70 survive today.