1956 Lancia Aurelia Convertible Roadster

The Lancia Aurelia B24 Spider America, with a top speed approaching 115 mph, was among the best-performing open sports car of its day. The coachwork was styled and constructed by Carrozzeria Pinin Farina who gave it cut-down doors, split bumpers in both the front and rear, and a panoramic wraparound windscreen. The Spider America was a strict two-seater with a light folding top and side curtains in place of more conventional wind-up windows.

Lancia built just 240 Spider Americas before it was replaced with the B24 Convertible in 1959. Of these, only 181 were specified in left-hand-drive (B24S) configuration. Thus, the B24S Spider Americas accounts for less than 1 percent of the entire production of Lancia Aurelias.

This B24S Spider America has just re-emerged after decades in static storage. The early history of this late-production Spider America is not known, though it was once registered in the U.K. as 'WYA8' and possibly later in Italy before being exported to the United States in the mid-1980s. The car was virtually untouched for 25 years. It still retains many original features, including the correct Veglia gauges, Carello lights, Pirelli diamond mats, Plexiglas side curtains, and even the Aurelia-specific ignition key. The engine bay has the proper carburetor, distributor cap, air filter, and radiator blind mechanism remain intact, as do the original chassis and service tags.

Period accessories include Marchal driving lights, Touring Club Italiano and American Lancia Club grille badges, as well as a Sports Car Club of America sticker, affixed to the passenger side curtain.

Currently, the odometer displays approximately 51,210 miles. An Italian oil service sticker indicates that the car covered 49,062 km by August 20, 1982.

By Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2014