1956 Lancia Aurelia

Sold for $230,995 (€170,930) at 2007 Coys Auction - Legende et Passion.
Sold for $307,500 at 2022 RM Sothebys : Monterey.
There was much to be excited about from the post-war Aurelia line, from its 60-degree V-6 engine to its well-engineered chassis that rewarded the driver with excellent handling and superior performance. Impressed with what they saw during World War II, many GI's had European vehicles exported to the United States where the appeal spread like wildfire. Lancia and many other automakers capitalized on this enthusiasm, but they understood that the most popular was the small and sporty vehicles with two doors and droptop configuration. The compact saloons were not as popular, as the large open roads in the U.S. were filled with sedans with generous proportions capable of carrying the entire family in comfort and style.

Carting to the growing number of sports car enthusiasts in the U.S., Lancia offered the Aurelia B24 Spider America in 1954 and 1955. It wore coachwork by Pinin Farina with rudimentary weather protection and devoid of exterior door handles. The B24S Convertible ('S' denoted Sinestra or left-hand-drive) resolved these issues with the addition of true roll-down windows, a more comfortable cabin, and a better top. A total of 521 examples were built prior to production ending in 1958.

This particular Aurelia B24S Convertible was acquired by Oscar Davis in 2007. It left the factory in September 1956 and wore an Azzurra exterior over a Nocciola leather interior. It currently wears its factory-correct colors and is powered by its numbers-matching engine. The interior houses a two-gauge instrument cluster, an Azzurra-painted dashboard, a black dashboard top, and a wood-rimmed steering wheel.

By Daniel Vaughan | Dec 2022