Lancia Aurelia B24 S - 1956
Coachwork by Pininfarina
Race developed V6 engine, superlative handling and sensational Pinin Farina styling: these are the ingredients of a sports car classic and the Lancia Aurelia B24S has them all.
The B24S represents the ultimate development of one of the most influential designs to emerge from Italy post-WW2: the classic Aurelia. First car ever to employ a V6 engine, the Aurelia was launched at the 1950 Turin Motor Show. Designed in wartime by Francesco de Virgilio, the 1.754 cc 60-degree V6 was of all-aluminium construction and used overhead valves operated via short pushrods instead of Lancia's traditional overhead-camshafts. An advanced unitary-construction design, the Aurelia retained Lancia's 'sliding pillar' independent front suspension, first seen on the Lambda, but used a novel semi-trailing-arm layout at the rear, another world first. The transmission too, was unusual, comprising a two-piece prop-shaft and combined gearbox/rear transaxle on which were mounted the inboard brakes, though for once this was not an entirely new departure.
The B10 saloon was joined the following year by the landmark, Pinin Farina-styled B20 Coupé, a fastback '2+2' on a shortened wheelbase which, with its combination of sports car performance and saloon car practicality, can be said to have introduced the Gran Turismo concept to the world. The Aurelia engine had been increased to 1.991 cc in 1951 and this unit in up-rated form went into the B20. Introduced in 1953, the 3rd and subsequent series B20s were powered by a 2.451 cc, 118bhp version of the pushrod V6, and this unit was adopted for the B24S Spider launched in 1955, by which time the Aurelia had gained a leaf-sprung De Dion rear axle.
The Lancia Aurelia Spider was clearly inspired by the Pinin Farina's open Ferraris. As the Spider was intended for sale mainly in the USA, and with its wraparound windscreen of American inspiration, it was quickly dubbed 'America'. Built on a 2.450 mm wheelbase, the B24S was mechanically similar to the 4th Series Aurelia B20, except for different air filters. All models had a floor gearchange and it was the first Lancia with left-hand drive as standard (the 'S' in the type number meaning 'Sinistra' - left - in Italian). The Spider America was only produced in 1955. From 1956 it was succeeded by the more conventional B24S Convertible, mechanically based on the 5th series Aurelia B20.
Again the work of Pinin Farina, the B24S Convertible looked superficially very similar but in fact was a total redesign that shared no panels with its predecessor. Easily recognisable differences were many: deeper doors with external handles and wind-up windows, flatter windscreen with quarter-lights, and one-piece bumpers, to name but three. There was also, of course, a proper convertible hood providing decent weather protection. The B24S Convertible was built on the same short-wheelbase chassis as the Spider and used a slightly less powerful version of the 2.451 cc V6 engine producing 110 bhp. Top speed was also marginally reduced, to 172 km/h. More civilised than the uncompromising Spider, the Convertible was also more successful, 521 (all left-hand drive) being sold between 1956 and 1958, as opposed to 240 Spiders.
This stunning Aurelia B24S Convertible was delivered new on 30th August 1956 via the established dealer Rodolfo Rötl in Trieste, in the Friaul region of north east Italy, to its first owner in that same city. The car then changed hands, passing to its second owner in Milan, where it would stay with various others before being purchased by well known collector, industrialist, politician and philanthropist, Guido Artom, in 1970. The Aurelia remained in his collection until 2013 when it was purchased by another well-known collector based in Switzerland, though the car remained registered in Italy. In 2015, the Aurelia was sold to the current owner via the highly respected German dealer, Axel Schütte. It is believed never to have been involved in an accident.
The car is beautifully presented both inside and out, and is as spotless underneath as it is on top, while the original black leather interior has a delightful patina. A compression test dated January 2015 attests to the engine's good health, a reading of 11 bar or higher being recorded on all six cylinders. The car features some attractive options including 'Champ' paintwork and export-type bumpers with over-riders front and rear.
The very impressive history file contains plentiful documentation including the old style Italian libretto dating from 1959 (when the Lancia was registered in Milan) and a copy of the Italian Estratto Cronologico listing the car's ownership history in Italy. It also has a FIVA Identity Card, as well as current Monegasque registration papers permitting free circulation with no import duties to pay should the car remain in the European Union. There is also an 'attestation d'identification' in French, issued by the Fiat-Chrysler group for ease of registration. A tool kit and an original owner's manual are present also, and the car comes with a hardtop for use in inclement weather.
Presented in stunning condition, '1188' represents a wonderful opportunity to acquire a well-documented example of the most desirable Aurelia Convertible, epitomising the very best of 'old school' Lancia design.
Les Grandes Marques du Monde au Grand Palais
Bonhams
Estimated : € 380.000 - 480.000
Parijs - Paris
Frankrijk - France
February 2017
Lancia Aurelia B24 S - 1956
Coachwork by Pininfarina
Race developed V6 engine, superlative handling and sensational Pinin Farina styling: these are the ingredients of a sports car classic and the Lancia Aurelia B24S has them all.
The B24S represents the ultimate development of one of the most influential designs to emerge from Italy post-WW2: the classic Aurelia. First car ever to employ a V6 engine, the Aurelia was launched at the 1950 Turin Motor Show. Designed in wartime by Francesco de Virgilio, the 1.754 cc 60-degree V6 was of all-aluminium construction and used overhead valves operated via short pushrods instead of Lancia's traditional overhead-camshafts. An advanced unitary-construction design, the Aurelia retained Lancia's 'sliding pillar' independent front suspension, first seen on the Lambda, but used a novel semi-trailing-arm layout at the rear, another world first. The transmission too, was unusual, comprising a two-piece prop-shaft and combined gearbox/rear transaxle on which were mounted the inboard brakes, though for once this was not an entirely new departure.
The B10 saloon was joined the following year by the landmark, Pinin Farina-styled B20 Coupé, a fastback '2+2' on a shortened wheelbase which, with its combination of sports car performance and saloon car practicality, can be said to have introduced the Gran Turismo concept to the world. The Aurelia engine had been increased to 1.991 cc in 1951 and this unit in up-rated form went into the B20. Introduced in 1953, the 3rd and subsequent series B20s were powered by a 2.451 cc, 118bhp version of the pushrod V6, and this unit was adopted for the B24S Spider launched in 1955, by which time the Aurelia had gained a leaf-sprung De Dion rear axle.
The Lancia Aurelia Spider was clearly inspired by the Pinin Farina's open Ferraris. As the Spider was intended for sale mainly in the USA, and with its wraparound windscreen of American inspiration, it was quickly dubbed 'America'. Built on a 2.450 mm wheelbase, the B24S was mechanically similar to the 4th Series Aurelia B20, except for different air filters. All models had a floor gearchange and it was the first Lancia with left-hand drive as standard (the 'S' in the type number meaning 'Sinistra' - left - in Italian). The Spider America was only produced in 1955. From 1956 it was succeeded by the more conventional B24S Convertible, mechanically based on the 5th series Aurelia B20.
Again the work of Pinin Farina, the B24S Convertible looked superficially very similar but in fact was a total redesign that shared no panels with its predecessor. Easily recognisable differences were many: deeper doors with external handles and wind-up windows, flatter windscreen with quarter-lights, and one-piece bumpers, to name but three. There was also, of course, a proper convertible hood providing decent weather protection. The B24S Convertible was built on the same short-wheelbase chassis as the Spider and used a slightly less powerful version of the 2.451 cc V6 engine producing 110 bhp. Top speed was also marginally reduced, to 172 km/h. More civilised than the uncompromising Spider, the Convertible was also more successful, 521 (all left-hand drive) being sold between 1956 and 1958, as opposed to 240 Spiders.
This stunning Aurelia B24S Convertible was delivered new on 30th August 1956 via the established dealer Rodolfo Rötl in Trieste, in the Friaul region of north east Italy, to its first owner in that same city. The car then changed hands, passing to its second owner in Milan, where it would stay with various others before being purchased by well known collector, industrialist, politician and philanthropist, Guido Artom, in 1970. The Aurelia remained in his collection until 2013 when it was purchased by another well-known collector based in Switzerland, though the car remained registered in Italy. In 2015, the Aurelia was sold to the current owner via the highly respected German dealer, Axel Schütte. It is believed never to have been involved in an accident.
The car is beautifully presented both inside and out, and is as spotless underneath as it is on top, while the original black leather interior has a delightful patina. A compression test dated January 2015 attests to the engine's good health, a reading of 11 bar or higher being recorded on all six cylinders. The car features some attractive options including 'Champ' paintwork and export-type bumpers with over-riders front and rear.
The very impressive history file contains plentiful documentation including the old style Italian libretto dating from 1959 (when the Lancia was registered in Milan) and a copy of the Italian Estratto Cronologico listing the car's ownership history in Italy. It also has a FIVA Identity Card, as well as current Monegasque registration papers permitting free circulation with no import duties to pay should the car remain in the European Union. There is also an 'attestation d'identification' in French, issued by the Fiat-Chrysler group for ease of registration. A tool kit and an original owner's manual are present also, and the car comes with a hardtop for use in inclement weather.
Presented in stunning condition, '1188' represents a wonderful opportunity to acquire a well-documented example of the most desirable Aurelia Convertible, epitomising the very best of 'old school' Lancia design.
Les Grandes Marques du Monde au Grand Palais
Bonhams
Estimated : € 380.000 - 480.000
Parijs - Paris
Frankrijk - France
February 2017