1957 Lancia Aurelia Roadster

When introduced in B10 guise at the 1950 Turin Show, the Auerlia offered 56 horsepower from the 1756cc engine. The following year, the B12 was introduced, and the engine capacity rose to 1991cc and 70 horsepower. There was also the B20GT, a 2+2 Pininfarina coupe with a shorter wheelbase and 80 horsepower. This was arguably the first true GT in the modern sense of the word. The Auerlia enjoyed an illustrious competition career, including Giovanni Bracco's second-place finish at the 1951 Mille Miglia, class wins in the 1951 and 1952 LeMans 24 Hours, and a 1-2-3 in the 1952 Targa Florio.

In 1952, Lancia introduced the B15 with a long wheelbase, wider track, and 65 horsepower engine. The normal wheelbase B22 now offered 90 horsepower, and a convertible Spyder option was also available. It was the following year that the B20 GT 2500 was launched. Louis Chrion used an example to win the 1954 Monte Carlo Rally.

In 1955, the B24 Spyder was added to the lineup - also known as the Spyder America - and again wore coachwork by Pininfarina but with an eight-inch shorter wheelbase. The B24 was the evolution of a concept car and featured a distinctive, unique wrap-around windscreen in the fashion of the day and quarter-light windows. They weighed 25kg less than their GT 2500 siblings, and had the same specifications. Just 181 examples of the B24 spyder were produced, and several were lost while in transit to the United States when the liner Andrea Doria sank en route. Next came the B24 Convertible, which was less Spartan with its wind-up windows and higher windscreen

This B24S vehicle is chassis number B24S 1333 and was shipped to the United States right after it left the factory. In 1986 it was sold to Steve Peterson from California to a collector in Germany. In 1997 it was purchased by Paul Shinhofen and then treated the car to a five-year comprehensive restoration. The body was refinished in the original color of 'Grigio'. After the work was completed, the car was selected to represent the model at the '100 years of Lancia' Jubilee celebrations at the Fiat Museum.

In 2006, the car was sold to the current owner. In 2012, it was sold to a new owner at Coy's auction in Monaco.

By Daniel Vaughan | Jan 2013