1956 Lancia Aurelia

Vincenzo Lancia's first car, introduced in 1907, was unique, different, and defied conventional construction methods. This trend would continue with the marque well into the modern era. After World War II came to a close, Lancia recommenced production with the Aprilia and the smaller Ardea. The first new product was the Aurelia and the first car ever to employ a V6 engine. It was introduced at the 1950 Turin Motor Show and wore a design by Francesco de Virgilio. Power was from a 1,754cc 60-degree V6 engine of all-aluminum construction and used overhead valves operated via short pushrods instead of Lancia's traditional overhead camshafts. The Aurelia was given an advanced unitary construction design, although it retained the company's 'sliding pillar' independent front suspension, first seen on the Lambda. In the back was a semi-trailing-arm layout - another world first. The transmission was comprised of a two-piece prop-shaft that combined the gearbox/rear transaxle on which were mounted the inboard brakes.

The first body style to emerge was the B10 saloon which was joined the following year by the Pinin Farina-styled B20 Coupé, a fastback '2+2' on a shortened wheelbase.

In 1951, the engine capacity grew to 1,991cc, which gave the B20 a top speed of over 100 mph. In this guise, Giovanni Bracco finished 2nd in the 1951 Mille Miglia.

The 3rd and subsequent series B20s were introduced in 1953, fitted with a 2,451cc engine delivering 118 horsepower. The 4th series cars had a DeDion rear suspension.

U.S. importer Max Hoffman pitched numerous European manufacturers, including Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, and Lancia, on embracing the potential of the American marketplace for dual-purpose open-top sports cars. In response, Lancia produced 240 examples of the B24 spider on the fourth-series Aurelia GT chassis between December 1954 and October 1955. The final 181 examples, beginning in July 1956, were classified as B24S and were built on the fifth-series Aurelia GT platform, which featured modified camshafts, non-detachable cylinder liners, a new clutch, and direct drive top gear. They wore revised bodywork, and as a true convertible, they had roll-up windows with proper weather sealing, as well as redesigned seats for improved overall driver comfort. Lancia officially dubbed these the Aurelia GT 2500 America Convertible, and 150 examples of the new B24S were produced before a final revision was enacted in 1957 on the sixth-series Aurelia GT chassis. By the time production ceased, a total of 521 examples of the B24S convertible had been produced.

by Daniel Vaughan | Aug 2019