Lancia Aurelia B20 GT S Coupé - 1957
Series 5
Coachwork by Pininfarina
2.451 cc
V6 - 60°
110 hp @ 5.300 rpm
Vmax : 178 km/h
1.150 kg
'The B20 represented the birth and the realisation of the "Gran Turismo" concept – that is, an elegant comfortable sports car. The contemporary slogan was right on target: "A sports car in Tails" and Pininfarina's bodywork remains a masterpiece of formal beauty.' – Manganaro and Vinai 'Lancia Corse', 1988.
Introduced in 1907, the Vincenzo Lancia's first car showed an independence of thought and defiance of convention that would remain associated with the marque well into the modern era. After WW2 Lancia had recommenced production with the Aprilia and its smaller cousin the Ardea, but waiting in the wings was yet another groundbreaking design: the Aurelia. Lancia's classic Aurelia, the first car ever to employ a V6 engine, 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 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 it was this unit in up-rated form that went into the B20. Lighter and higher geared than the saloon, the B20 was good for a top speed of over 100 mph.
Stunning the motor racing world, a mildly race-developed B20 driven by chain-smoking, brandy-swigging Giovanni Bracco finished 2nd in the 1951 Mille Miglia, beaten only by Luigi Villoresi's 4,1-litre works Ferrari! It is worth noting that the nimble Aurelia was actually faster than the Ferrari over the mountain passes north of Florence. Sharing his Aurelia B20 with Umberto Maglioli, Bracco won the Targa Florio for Lancia in 1952 and in 1954 another B20 won the Monte Carlo Rally in the hands of the famous Monegasque driver Louis Chiron.
Almost all Lancias of this period were right-hand drive, which makes this 'S' (Sinistra) left-hand drive B20 all the more unusual. A matching-numbers example, this car was completed in May 1956 and originally was finished in grey with matching cloth interior. First registered by a famous French chanteur in France, it has belonged to other members of his family since 1963.
Between 2005 and 2007, the Aurelia was restored by noted Lancia specialist, Albert Cailler (invoices on file). Well cared for and serviced regularly since then, the car remains in excellent, nearly flawless condition. We are advised that the engine is responsive, and that the car handled and drives well. Eligible for a variety of the most prestigious events, this iconic 1950s GT is offered with restoration invoices and French Carte Grise.
Les Grandes Marques du Monde au Grand Palais
Bonhams
Sold for € 373.750
Estimated : € 350.000 - 400.000
Parijs - Paris
Frankrijk - France
February 2017
Lancia Aurelia B20 GT S Coupé - 1957
Series 5
Coachwork by Pininfarina
2.451 cc
V6 - 60°
110 hp @ 5.300 rpm
Vmax : 178 km/h
1.150 kg
'The B20 represented the birth and the realisation of the "Gran Turismo" concept – that is, an elegant comfortable sports car. The contemporary slogan was right on target: "A sports car in Tails" and Pininfarina's bodywork remains a masterpiece of formal beauty.' – Manganaro and Vinai 'Lancia Corse', 1988.
Introduced in 1907, the Vincenzo Lancia's first car showed an independence of thought and defiance of convention that would remain associated with the marque well into the modern era. After WW2 Lancia had recommenced production with the Aprilia and its smaller cousin the Ardea, but waiting in the wings was yet another groundbreaking design: the Aurelia. Lancia's classic Aurelia, the first car ever to employ a V6 engine, 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 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 it was this unit in up-rated form that went into the B20. Lighter and higher geared than the saloon, the B20 was good for a top speed of over 100 mph.
Stunning the motor racing world, a mildly race-developed B20 driven by chain-smoking, brandy-swigging Giovanni Bracco finished 2nd in the 1951 Mille Miglia, beaten only by Luigi Villoresi's 4,1-litre works Ferrari! It is worth noting that the nimble Aurelia was actually faster than the Ferrari over the mountain passes north of Florence. Sharing his Aurelia B20 with Umberto Maglioli, Bracco won the Targa Florio for Lancia in 1952 and in 1954 another B20 won the Monte Carlo Rally in the hands of the famous Monegasque driver Louis Chiron.
Almost all Lancias of this period were right-hand drive, which makes this 'S' (Sinistra) left-hand drive B20 all the more unusual. A matching-numbers example, this car was completed in May 1956 and originally was finished in grey with matching cloth interior. First registered by a famous French chanteur in France, it has belonged to other members of his family since 1963.
Between 2005 and 2007, the Aurelia was restored by noted Lancia specialist, Albert Cailler (invoices on file). Well cared for and serviced regularly since then, the car remains in excellent, nearly flawless condition. We are advised that the engine is responsive, and that the car handled and drives well. Eligible for a variety of the most prestigious events, this iconic 1950s GT is offered with restoration invoices and French Carte Grise.
Les Grandes Marques du Monde au Grand Palais
Bonhams
Sold for € 373.750
Estimated : € 350.000 - 400.000
Parijs - Paris
Frankrijk - France
February 2017