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 |  | View more photos Convertible Coachwork: Pininfarina |
| | View more photos Coupe Coachwork: Pininfarina Chassis Num: B20S1801 |
The company began from humble beginnings. Vincenzo Lancia worked as a bookkeeper in an automobile factory and eventually worked his way up to chief inspector at Fiat. He had success as a race car driver and later founded Lancia & Cie, Fabbrica Automobili in 1906.
The humble beginnings continued to their first vehicle, which was destroyed by fire. Persistence prevailed and soon the Lancia Company was supplying their innovative automobiles.
During the close of the 1940s, Vincenzo's son Gianni, along with help from Vittorio Jano, unveiled anew range of V6 Aurelia models. The 1754cc overhead engine produced 56 horsepower which was sent to the rear wheels via a four-speed gearbox. In the early 1950s, the Aurelia range expanded with the introduction of a 1991cc engine that produced 75 horsepower. It was the B20 Aurelia GT Coupe, and a total of six series of the B20GT would follow during its seven-year production lifespan.
The 2nd Series introduced an enlarged 2.5-liter engine. The fifth and sixth series saw a slight decrease in horsepower; and beginning with the 4th series, life-hand-drive became available. The 6th Series was introduced in 1958 and by this point in history the V6 engine was rated at 112 horsepower. Together with a DeDion rear axle and performance features gained through a lifetime of racing and development, the B20 GT was a refined sports car. It was capable enough to capture victories at LeMans, the Targa-Florio, Mille Miglia and Monte Carlo.
Equally as impressive were the vehicles aesthetics. It was designed by the legendary Italian coachbuilder Pinin Farina. By the 6th series, the design had become very streamlined and aerodynamic.
This Lancia B20 Aurelia Grand Turismo Coupe was a California car that was treated to a restoration since new. It is finished in dark blue paintwork with the interior being tan hides, fresh carpet, and chrome fittings.
There were 3,141 examples of the Aurelia B20 GT Coupe created; a mere 190 were of the 6th Series. In 2008 this car was brought to the Automobiles of Amelia presented by RM Auctions where it was estimated to sell for $95,000 - $125,000 and offered without reserve. The winning bid was slightly higher than the estimates, selling for $129,250.
In 1950 the Lancia Aurelia was introduced to the public at the Turin Motorshow and had been created as a replacement for the Lancia Aprilia. Under the hood was a new six-cylinder engine in 'Vee' configuration. To reduce weight various body panels had been constructed of aluminum including the hood and doors. The clutch and four-speed gearbox was mounted in the rear using a single unit with the differential. The suspension in the rear was independent while the front was a sliding pillar type.
The first in the series was the B10 berlina. Power came from a 1574 cc engine producing nearly 60 horsepower. The four-door pillarless saloon was criticized for its performance issues so Lancia answered the complaints with the introduction of the B21 produced a year later. There was little to distinguish the B10 from the B21, the only difference lying under the hood. The 1574 cc engine had been replaced with a 1991 cc engine producing 70 horsepower. To add sporty-appeal, a B20 GT Coupe was introduced in the same year. The two-door coupe was designed by Boano from Ghia. Gianpaolo Boano was the son of Ghia owner Mario Felice Boano. Production was handled by Pininfarina. It sat atop a shortened wheelbase and used a tuned-version of the 1991 cc engine now producing 75 horsepower. Production was low with only 500 examples produced. A second coupe series was created using a tuned-version of the 1991 cc engine now producing 80 horsepower. Mechanical improvements included better brakes and a lowered suspension, both resulting in better performance. Styling changes were mostly confined to the interior, the most noticeable being done to the instrument panel.
In 1950 an extended wheelbase version of the B10 was introduced featuring different tires and gear ratios. These were dubbed the B50 and the B51. When the 2-liter engine was introduced, the name was changed to B52 and B53. Production was low with the B50 having the most examples created, 583. There were 184 B52 models, 6 B55 and only 5 B56 models. A single B60 was created. The B55 and B56 were examples with the 2-liter engine and a de Dion rear suspension. The purpose of these specialty models was to allow custom coachbuilders such as PininFarina, Bertone, Viotti, Vignale, Ghia, among others to design and build unique creations. One of the more famous designs was created by PininFarina. It was a concept car dubbed the PF2000. A few examples were created for display at motor shows, such as the Lancia Aurelia B52 B JR built by Ghia for the 1953 Turin Motor Show.
Lancia lengthened the B21 and dubbed it the B15. It received a de-tuned engine, now producing 65 horsepower. Bodied by Bertone, the B15 was produced in low quantities; just over 80 examples were created.
In 1953 Lancia introduced the B20 Coupe, the third in the series, powered by a 2451 cc engine producing nearly 120 horsepower. This marked the first time a left-hand-drive version of the Aurelia could be purchased. The independent rear suspension could not handle the extra power from the new engine so it was changed in favor of a de Dion system. 720 examples were created.
By 1952 Lancia had created a replacement for the B21 berlina, the B22. It was basically the same as its replacement except for improvements under the hood. The engine had been given double-barrel Weber carburetors among other improvements which resulted in the production of 90 horsepower. There were styling changes included, most done to the interior such as the instruments and the indicators. In 1954 Lancia ceased production of the B22 and introduced the B12. During its production lifespan, nearly 1100 examples were produced.
The B12 was one of the first drastic changes to the Aurelia, both mechanically and aesthetically, since its inception. The engine was a 2266 cc powerplant producing 87 horsepower. The rear suspension was changed in favor of a de Dion system. Wind deflectors were placed on the windows and the headlights were changed. During its production lifespan, around 2400 examples were produced.
In 1955 the audience at the Brussels Motor Show was introduced to the B24 Spider. Lancia had tasked Pininfarina to design and produce a limited number of vehicles using a shortened wheelbase from the B12. Power was supplied from a 2451 cc engine. A convertible was later introduced and quickly became the favorite, with 521 Convertibles and 240 Spiders produced.
The production of the berlina ceased in 1955. The Coupe and Convertible series continued until 1958. There were a total of six series for the coupe. The fifth series began to shy away from performance gains and focused more on luxury.
The first in the series was the B10 berlina. Power came from a 1574 cc engine producing nearly 60 horsepower. The four-door pillarless saloon was criticized for its performance issues so Lancia answered the complaints with the introduction of the B21 produced a year later. There was little to distinguish the B10 from the B21, the only difference lying under the hood. The 1574 cc engine had been replaced with a 1991 cc engine producing 70 horsepower. To add sporty-appeal, a B20 GT Coupe was introduced in the same year. The two-door coupe was designed by Boano from Ghia. Gianpaolo Boano was the son of Ghia owner Mario Felice Boano. Production was handled by Pininfarina. It sat atop a shortened wheelbase and used a tuned-version of the 1991 cc engine now producing 75 horsepower. Production was low with only 500 examples produced. A second coupe series was created using a tuned-version of the 1991 cc engine now producing 80 horsepower. Mechanical improvements included better brakes and a lowered suspension, both resulting in better performance. Styling changes were mostly confined to the interior, the most noticeable being done to the instrument panel.
In 1950 an extended wheelbase version of the B10 was introduced featuring different tires and gear ratios. These were dubbed the B50 and the B51. When the 2-liter engine was introduced, the name was changed to B52 and B53. Production was low with the B50 having the most examples created, 583. There were 184 B52 models, 6 B55 and only 5 B56 models. A single B60 was created. The B55 and B56 were examples with the 2-liter engine and a de Dion rear suspension. The purpose of these specialty models was to allow custom coachbuilders such as PininFarina, Bertone, Viotti, Vignale, Ghia, among others to design and build unique creations. One of the more famous designs was created by PininFarina. It was a concept car dubbed the PF2000. A few examples were created for display at motor shows, such as the Lancia Aurelia B52 B JR built by Ghia for the 1953 Turin Motor Show.
Lancia lengthened the B21 and dubbed it the B15. It received a de-tuned engine, now producing 65 horsepower. Bodied by Bertone, the B15 was produced in low quantities; just over 80 examples were created.
In 1953 Lancia introduced the B20 Coupe, the third in the series, powered by a 2451 cc engine producing nearly 120 horsepower. This marked the first time a left-hand-drive version of the Aurelia could be purchased. The independent rear suspension could not handle the extra power from the new engine so it was changed in favor of a de Dion system. 720 examples were created.
By 1952 Lancia had created a replacement for the B21 berlina, the B22. It was basically the same as its replacement except for improvements under the hood. The engine had been given double-barrel Weber carburetors among other improvements which resulted in the production of 90 horsepower. There were styling changes included, most done to the interior such as the instruments and the indicators. In 1954 Lancia ceased production of the B22 and introduced the B12. During its production lifespan, nearly 1100 examples were produced.
The B12 was one of the first drastic changes to the Aurelia, both mechanically and aesthetically, since its inception. The engine was a 2266 cc powerplant producing 87 horsepower. The rear suspension was changed in favor of a de Dion system. Wind deflectors were placed on the windows and the headlights were changed. During its production lifespan, around 2400 examples were produced.
In 1955 the audience at the Brussels Motor Show was introduced to the B24 Spider. Lancia had tasked Pininfarina to design and produce a limited number of vehicles using a shortened wheelbase from the B12. Power was supplied from a 2451 cc engine. A convertible was later introduced and quickly became the favorite, with 521 Convertibles and 240 Spiders produced.
The production of the berlina ceased in 1955. The Coupe and Convertible series continued until 1958. There were a total of six series for the coupe. The fifth series began to shy away from performance gains and focused more on luxury.
| Photos grouped by event | ||
|
Automobiles of Amelia Island, RM Auctions |
Radnor Hunt Concours d'Elegance |
PVGP Car Show |
1958 Lancia Aurelia |
|
| Year | 1958 |
| Make | Lancia |
| Model | Aurelia |
| Body Style | Coupe |
| Engine Location | Front |
| Drive Type | Rear Wheel |
| Body / Chassis | Unibody |
| Production Years for Series | 1950 - 1958 |
| Coach Work | Pininfarina |
| Price | $6,195.00 |
| Weight | 2630 lbs | 1193 kg |
| Chassis / Engine Numbers Shown | |
| Chassis Number | B20S1801 |
| Performance | |
| Top Speed | 110 mph | 177 km/h Similar top speeds |
| Engine | |
| Engine Configuration | V |
| 60-degree | |
| Vee-Type | |
| Cylinders | 6 |
| Solid valve lifters | |
| Aspiration/Induction | Normal |
| Displacement | 149.50 CU IN. | 2450.3 cc. | 2.5 L. |
| Valvetrain | OHV |
| Horsepower | 110.00 BHP (81 KW) @ 5100.00 RPM |
| Torque | 134.00 Ft-Lbs (181.7 NM) @ 3000.00 RPM |
| HP to Weight Ratio | 23.9 LB / HP (Vehicles with similar ratio) |
| HP / Liter | 44.0 BHP / Liter |
| Compression Ratio | 8.0:1 |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline - Petrol |
| Fuel Feed | Carburetor |
| 1 Weber Dual-Choke carburetor | |
| Block | Aluminum |
| Head | Aluminum |
| Vehicles with similar horsepower and weight | |
| Standard Transmission | |
| Gears | 4 |
| Transmission | Manual |
| View more photographs |
| View Specifications |
| Similar Automakers |
| Add Review |
| Other models by Lancia |
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| Related Articles and Event Coverage |
| Automobiles of Amelia Island, RM Auctions |
| Radnor Hunt Concours d'Elegance |
| PVGP Car Show |
| Other Model Years |
| 1956 Aurelia B24 |
| 1955 Aurelia B20 |
| 1954 Aurelia Series IV B20 |
| 1954 Aurelia PF200 |
| 1952 2000 B52 Aurelia Coupe |
| 1952 Aurelia |
| 1951 Aurelia B50 Pininfarina |
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