1955 Lancia Aurelia

Vincenzo Lancia introduced his first car in 1907, and it showed an independence of thought and defiance of convention that would define the marque well into the modern era. His company excelled in arduous road rallies as well as long-distance circuit events with equal capability. The innovations and sophistication of the competition cars and larger models filtered down throughout the entire Lancia line, creating a mature family of vehicles that were regarded equally for their durability and sophistication as they were for their style and performance.

The Lancia Aurelia
The Lancia Aurelia was introduced in 1950 and would remain in production through 1958. It was one of the earliest vehicles to employ series-production V6 engines and the first car to be fitted with radial tires as standard equipment. The Aurelia line began with the B10 Berlina (sedan) powered by a 1754cc version of the V6, which offered 56 horsepower. The B21 followed in 1951 with a larger 1991cc engine with 70 horsepower. A two-door B20 GT Coupe also arrived in 1951 but rested on a shorter wheelbase and wore a Ghia-designed body built by Pinin Farina. It offered sports car performance and saloon car practicality.

First Through Sixth Series
The Lancia Aurelia was built through six series with slight alterations defining each 'series.' The Second Series Aurelia arrived with a larger 1991cc V6 engine with a higher compression ratio, repositioned valves, and 80 horsepower. It had better brakes, chromed bumpers in-place of the previous aluminum ones, and a new dashboard. The B22 Sedan was introduced in 1952, equipped with dual Weber carburetors and a hotter camshaft. The Third Series arrived in 1953 with a larger 2,451cc version of the engine, along with styling tweaks to the rear of the vehicle. The fourth series examples had a de Dion tube rear suspension and were the first Aurelias to be offered in left-hand drive configuration. These were also the first to be imported to the United States in significant quantities. The Fifth Series of 1956 used a split case transaxle and were more luxury-oriented. The Sixth Series of 1957 had greater torque to offset gains from luxury accouterments. The coupes had vent windows, and most wore a chrome strip down the bonnet.

Lancia Aurelia Spider (B24)
The Lancia Aurelia B24 was the replacement for the B20 Berlinetta, an automobile that had a very distinguished career including many race wins and was considered by many as the first true Grand Tourer after World Word II. Its racing class victories include the Mille Miglia and the grueling 24 Hours of LeMans.

The B24 was available as a Spyder and later followed by a Convertible version. In 1954 the B24 was introduced powered by a V-6 engine capable of producing 112 horsepower. Depending on the configuration, the horsepower rating increased. The exquisitely modern styling was performed by Pininfarina and intended for the United States market. The design featured a wrap-around windshield and low-cut doors that required Plexiglas side curtains. It had a rear transaxle, shortened chassis, and soft suspension when compared with its predecessor. Many other mechanical components were similar. The rear-mounted four-speed manual transaxle featured an updated floor-mounted gearshift rather than on the column.

During its production lifespan, lasting one year, only 521 examples of the B24s were produced with only 200 examples being the B24 Spider America. When the Andrea Doria sank, seven examples went down with the ship. Twenty were created with a Carrozzeria Fontana removable aluminum hardtop.

A B24 Convertible was part of the Fifth Series and arrived in 1956. Unlike the B24 Spider, the B24 convertible had roll-up windows, a windscreen with vent windows, and a better seating position. The mechanical components, however, were similar between the two.

Mechanical Specification
The Lancia Aurelia rested on a 104.7-inch wheelbase chassis with an overall length of 172 inches and a height of approximately 53.5 inches.

The Vittorio Jano-designed V6 engine was developed by engineer Francesco de Virgilio. It initially displaced 1.8 liters, but by the end of production, it had risen to 2.5 liters. The all-alloy pushrod engine had hemispherical combustion chambers, in-line valves, a 60-degree angle, and a single camshaft between the cylinder banks. Most engines received a single Solex or Weber carburetor, but some 1,991cc models were given two carbs.

The front-mounted engine sent power to the rear wheels via a rear-mounted combination transaxle with the differential, gearbox, clutch, and inboard-mounted drum brakes.

The front was suspended by a sliding pillar design, while the rear initially relied on semi-trailing arms which were replaced by a de Dion tube in the Fourth Series.

by Daniel Vaughan | Oct 2008