1955 Lancia Aurelia Spider America Roadster (Series 5)

In the years preceding the Second World War, Vittorio Jano and Alfa Romeo virtually dominated the small sports car market. Following the war, when Lancia was struggling just to recover from the effects of the war, Jano would be sought after to overcome some issues the Aurelia design was having. Picking up right where he had left off before the war, Jano would help those at Lancia to truly create the 'golden one'.

Lancia gets credit for producing the first V6 engine and it would be the Aurelia that would be the beneficiary of Francesco de Virgilio's efforts. Not surprisingly, de Virgilio studied under Jano and the result would be a 60-degree V6 that was both labor-intensive to build, but also a remarkable piece of engineering. But the engine would have nothing on Jano's handiwork.

Struggling with the backend of the car, Vittorio would suggest placing the transaxle at the back of the car. The result would be a work of art that would not only help with the car's stability but would come to define what a manual gearbox should feel and act like.

Named after the 'Golden Road' that leads from Rome to France, the Aurelia would be Lancia's best-ever road-going automobile and, arguably, a better piece of craftsmanship than many others originating from Italy, including Maranello.

This particular car, 1138, is a B24S, and therefore derives its existence from the fourth series of the Aurelia. This would be one of Lancia's very best, very important. Part of the top-of-the-line B24S Spider America, 1138 would be among a select number of Aurelias built by Lancia. Some even consider this particular example to be the finest of them all.

In the summer of 1955, 1138 would receive its hand-built Pinin Farina body. Equipped with left-hand drive and bearing the name of the intended audience, the Spider America would make its way to the United States. Photographs presented with the car actually show this particular car being loaded upon the ship being readied for the journey.

Arriving in the United States the car would continue its travels making its way to the West Coast Lancia distributor, Kjell Qvale. It is believed the car would first be sold to a close friend, a manager with his British Motor Car distributor based in San Francisco. The gentleman's name was Robert G. Gilllespie.

Gillespie understood well what the Aurelia was all about and would end up entering the car in some races to help promote the brand. Gillespie had a close friend that suited the plan perfectly. Lou Brero was a gentleman racer and he would take the car and entered the Torrey Pines Road Races in 1955.

Racing against such drivers as Phil Hill and against other potent cars like the D-Type Jaguar, the Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing, and Ferrari 375MM, Brero would have no easy task despite the 118bhp V6 engine with Weber Carburetor and Nardi performance kit. Nonetheless, Brero would come away with a top finish in class.

A year later, the car would be offered for sale. Unfortunately, not much would be known about the car for nearly 30 years. Then, during the 1980s, Tony Nicosia, considered the Lancia expert, would eventually rediscover the car and would set about restoring it.

Considered the foremost expert on all things Lancia, Nicosia would use his vast experience to bring 1138 to the fullness of its glory. Though greatly sought-after for many other projects, this was one Tony wasn't about to turn away. The result would be, in the minds of the majority, the finest Aurelia Spider America.

After a long process just to purchase and restore the car, the Lancia would eventually end up part of Nicosia's collection. Though having owned around a dozen Aurelia's over the course of his lifetime, there would hardly be a better than 1138.

Finally finished, the restoration process was intensive, complex and extreme, yet, worth all of the time, money, and effort. Offered as part of Bonham's 2015 Quail Lodge auction, the 1955 Lancia Aurelia B24S Spider America would be one of the highlights of the event and would draw some very spirited bidding. The result would be a world record price of $1,952,500.

By Jeremy McMullen