Lancia Aurelia — BrandWiki

Lancia Aurelia

Overview

Lancia Aurelia

manufacturer	Lancia
production	1950–1958 18,201 made
designer	Felice Mario Boano at Ghia (B20 coupé) Pinin Farina (B24 convertible)
body style	4-door saloon 2-door coupé 2-door spider 2-door convertible
layout	Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive
engine	1.8 L tipo B10 V6 2.0 L tipo B15/B20/B21/B22 V6 2.3 L tipo B12 V6 2.5 L tipo B20/B24 V6
transmission	4-speed manual
weight	1070-1215 kg‡R1R‡
predecessor

The Lancia Aurelia is a car manufactured and marketed by the Italian company, Lancia, from 1950 to the summer of 1958 — over a course of six series. Configurations included a 4-door saloon/sedan, 2-door cabriolet (B50/B52), 2-door GT coupé (B20), 2-door spider/convertible (B24), and as a rolling chassis for coachbuilders. The Aurelia is noted for using one of the first series-production V6 engines.

Establishing a post-war Lancia tradition, the car was named after a Roman road: the Via Aurelia, leading from Rome to Pisa.

Specifications

The Aurelia was designed under the direction of engineer Vittorio Jano. Its engine, one of the first production V6 engines, a 60° design developed by Francesco de Virgilio, who was between 1943 and 1948 a Lancia engineer, and who worked under Jano. During production, capacity grew from 1.8 L to 2.5 L. Prototype engines used a bore and stroke of 68 mm x 72 mm for 1,569 cc; these were tested between 1946 and 1948. It was an all-alloy pushrod design with a single camshaft between the cylinder banks. A hemispherical combustion chamber and in-line valves were used. Carburation was by a single Solex or Weber

History

First series

The very first Aurelias were the B10 berlinas (sedans). They used a 1754 cc version of the V6 which produced 56 hp. The B21 was released in 1951 with a larger 1991 cc 70 hp engine. A two-door B20 GT coupé appeared that same year. It had a shorter wheelbase and a Ghia-designed, Pinin Farina-built body. The same 1991 cc engine produced 75 hp in the B20. In all, 500 first series Aurelias were produced.

Second series

The second series Aurelia coupé pushed power up to 80 hp from the 1991 cc V6 with a higher compression ratio and repositioned valves. Other changes included better brakes and minor styling tweaks, such as chromed bumpers instead of the aluminium ones used in the earlier car. A new dashboard featured two larger instrument gauges. The suspension was unchanged from the first series. A new B22 sedan was released in 1952 with dual Weber carburetors and a hotter camshaft for 90 hp.

Third series

The third series appeared in 1953 with a larger 2451 cc version of the engine. The rear of the car lost the tail fins of the earlier series.

Fourth series

The fourth series introduced the new de Dion tube rear suspension. The engine was changed from white metal bearings to shell bearings. An open car, the B24 Spider, was introduced at this time (1954 to 1955) and was well received. It was similar to the B20 coupé mechanically, with an eight-inch (203 mm) shorter wheelbase than the coupé.

The fourth-series cars were the first B20 Aurelias to be available in left-hand drive. C. 12% of Series 1 Saloon (Berlina) production - B10, B21, B22 - were left-hand drive.[3] Fourth-series Aurelias were the first to be imported to the US in any number.

Fifth series

The fifth series coupé, appearing in 1956, was more luxurious. It had a different transaxle (split case), which was more robust and similar to that used in the later Flaminias. The driveshaft was also revised to reduce vibration.

Alongside the fifth series coupés was a revised open car, the B24 convertible. This differed from the earlier B24 Spider, having roll-up windows, a better seating position, and a windscreen with vent windows. Mechanically, the B24 convertible was similar to the coupé of the same series.

This model was immortalized by Dino Risi's 1962 movie Il Sorpasso ("The Easy Life"), starring Vittorio Gassman.

Sixth series

Power was down to 112 hp for the 1957 sixth series, with increased torque to offset the greater weight of the later car. The sixth-series coupés had vent windows, and typically a chrome strip down the bonnet. They were the most touring-oriented of the B20 series.

The sixth-series B24 convertible was very similar to the fifth, with some minor differences in trim. Most notably, the fuel tank was in the boot, not behind the seats as it was in the fourth- and fifth-series open cars. This change, however, did not apply for the first 150 sixth-series cars, which were like the fifth series. The sixth-series convertibles also had different seats than either earlier car.

Models

Lancia Aurelia Cabriolet (B50/B52)

The first prototype of the B50 cabriolet was shown at the 1950 Turin Auto Show. Produced in a small number, around 265, by cabriolet-specialist Pinin Farina, it was a four-seat comfortable cruiser, powered by a 1,754cc engine. Most were produced between 1950 and 1952. Some had an improved B52 platform which came with the 2.0-litre engine of the B20/B21. In total Lancia built only 98 B52 chassis, the last delivered in 1953.[4]

Lancia Aurelia PF200 Spider

The PF200 was a concept car that debuted on the Pinin Farina (as it was then) stand at the 1952 Turin Motor Show. The show car was built for promotional purposes to generate publicity and never intended for series production, although Pinin Farina went on to build a further six examples, some open, some closed. The seven PF200s were slightly different from one another, although all featured the signature circular front air intake reminiscent of the North American F-86 Sabre jet fighter. The cars had side air intakes and six exhaust pipes, while instead of stowing the soft-top behind the seats, like many open cars of the period, Pinin Farina arranged for the PF200's hood to fold down out of sight within the body. The PF200 used the chassis and running gear of the Lancia Aurelia B52.[5]

Lancia Aurelia PF200 Spider

The PF200 was a concept car that debuted on the Pinin Farina (as it was then) stand at the 1952 Turin Motor Show. The show car was built for promotional purposes to generate publicity and never intended for series production, although Pinin Farina went on to build a further six examples, some open, some closed. The seven PF200s were slightly different from one another, although all featured the signature circular front air intake reminiscent of the North American F-86 Sabre jet fighter. The cars had side air intakes and six exhaust pipes, while instead of stowing the soft-top behind the seats, like many open cars of the period, Pinin Farina arranged for the PF200's hood to fold down out of sight within the body. The PF200 used the chassis and running gear of the Lancia Aurelia B52.[5]

Lancia Aurelia Spider (B24)

Produced only in 1954–1955, 240 examples of the B24 Aurelia Spider were built. They had a panoramic front windscreen, distinctive two-part chrome bumpers, removable side screens, soft top and Pinin Farina styling. 181 LHD cars had B24S ('sinistra') designation; the remaining 59 cars were right-hand drive.[6] All were equipped with 2451 cc V6 engines. Built on a 2450 mm wheelbase, the B24S Spider was mechanically similar to the 4th Series Aurelia B20, except for different air filters. All models had a floor-mounted gear-change. The dashboard had one prominent and two small dials.

In 2014, RM Auctions sold a "barn find" 1955 Aurelia Spider at auction for £500,000 ($805,154 USD). In 2014, Gooding and Company Auctions sold a restored 1955 Aurelia Spider for $1,815,000. In 2023, an unrestored Lancia Aurelia B24 Spider America 1955 sold for €540.000 at auction as a barn find.[7]

Lancia Aurelia Convertible (B24)

Produced from 1956 to 1958, this second series featured many small alterations compared to the Aurelia Spider. It was mechanically based on the 5th series Aurelia B20. Cars from this series have a flatter windscreen with quarter-lights, deeper doors with external handles and wind-up windows. It also had one part chrome bumpers and a wider bonnet air-scoop. It had a proper convertible hood and a hardtop was available. 521 cars were built. The B24S Convertible was built on the same wheelbase as the Spider and used a slightly less powerful, 112 PS 2,451 cc V6 engine. The dashboard features two large dials.