1955 Lancia Aurelia Spider America Roadster (Series 5)

Prior to production of the Spider Americas ending in 1955, a total of 240 examples were built. Of those, 181 were left-hand drive. The following year, the more comfortable B24 convertible replaced the Spider, and rested on the Fifth Series platform. Just 521 B24s were built, and only 86 made it to the United States. (A number of B24 convertibles were reportedly lost to the depths as a result of the sinking of the Andrea Doria in 1956, but other reports say the cars had already been delivered to U.S. importer Max Hoffmann on the merchant ship President Madison.)

The Spider America had a rather plain dash panel that was outfitted with only essential instrumentation. They had a three-spoke Nardi wood steering wheel. The instrument panel housed a central speedometer flanked by a combination oil and fuel gauge and a large tachometer reading to 6,000 RPM. The doors had full removable framed glass, divided o accommodate large front vent windows. The secondary pieces of glass were fixed. The Spider America had identical mechanicals to the B20 GTs except for the slightly de-tuned engine and re-positioned gearshift changer to the floor.

This particular Aurelia B24S Spider America has spent most of its life in Europe owned by Italian university professor Maurizio Pini. At some point, it made its way across the Atlantic a sheet metal shop in Brooklyn, New York. It was later discovered by Francesco de Piero of Montreal through a 15-year-old advertisement in an enthusiast magazine. Amazingly, the car was still available. de Piero traveled to Brooklyn to find the car sitting on its original Borrani wire wheels but in very poor shape. A Flaminia engine sat inside the bay, but fortunately, the original 2,451cc Spider engine was there, on the floor, complete but partially disassembled.

de Piero paid $1,500 for the B24S Spider America. The following day, the car was shipped from New Jersey to de Pietro's hometown in Italy. After learning the car was in need of restoration beyond his time, money, or capability, he sold it Giancarlo Cappa, who ran the Italian restoration business KCA. Cappa did some work to the car, including a black paint job, before selling it. It would go through several subsequent owners before coming into the care of its prior owner. A restoration soon followed.

The car was also returned to its original Grigio Chiaro paint. The interior was re-upholstered with rosso scuro leather copied from a sample taken off the back of the glovebox door. Borrani restored the wheels. A new top was installed that was close to the original.

By Daniel Vaughan | Oct 2017