Lot 229: 1954 Lancia Aurelia B24 Spyder

Since it first began producing motor cars, Lancia wasted no time in earning a reputation for original and innovative designs. The Aprilia of the 1930s was a perfect example and when it was finally replaced after the World War Two, its successor the Aurelia continued the trend. Designed by Vittorio Jano, the legendary engineer responsible for a string of highly successful Alfa Romeo Grand Prix cars, it bristled with innovation. Beneath a four door, pillar-less saloon body, the Aurelia sported an all-alloy V6 engine while the four-speed transaxle, complete with in-board brakes and using a column change, ensured good weight distribution. Add to that all independent suspension, via sliding pillars/coil springs at the front and semi-trailing arms at the rear, together with then revolutionary Michelin radial tyres, and fine roadholding and handling were assured. When launched in B10 guise at the 1950 Turin Show, the Aurelia produced 56bhp from 1,756cc. With the B12 of 1951 capacity increased to 1,991cc and power to 70bhp; there was also the B20GT, an attractive 2+2 Pininfarina coupé with shorter wheelbase and 80bhp - arguably the first true GT. The Aurelia then began an illustrious competition career, including Giovanni Bracco's second place in the 1951 Mille Miglia, class wins in the 1951 and '52 Le Mans 24 Hours and a 1-2-3 in the 1952 Targa Florio. For 1952 came the B15 with long wheelbase, wider track and 65bhp, while the normal wheelbase B22 now boasted 90bhp and there were convertible Spyder options. It was the following year that the B20 GT 2500 was launched, an example of which Louis Chiron used to win the 1954 Monte Carlo Rally. Capable of 115mph and 0-60mph in 14 seconds, its 2,451cc engine produced 118bhp and 126lb.ft, whilst rear leaf springs, a de Dion rear axle and floor change also became standard. In 1955 it was joined by the B24 Spyder - or Spyder America as it was also known - again styled by Pininfarina but with an eight inch shorter wheelbase and very pretty open coachwork. Not to be confused with earlier and much more common Spyder models, the B24 was evolved from a concept car and featured a distinctive, unique wrap-around windscreen and quarter-light windows. Weighing 25kg less than the GT 2500, but with the same specification, the rapid and rare B24 Spyder - a total of just 181 examples were produced of which a mere 54 were right-hand drive models - is understandably the most sought after of all Aurelias. Believed to have been originally delivered to a first owner in either Belgium or Holland, this right-hand drive fourth series example was first registered in Great Britain on September 9 1968 and at some time after was owned by T. W. Chapman of Woodford Green, Essex. Purchased by the vendor's husband on July 20th 1974, the Lancia was then painted maroon and carried the registration 30 F; this registration, however, was sold in 2003 and substituted by the current HUM 306G (matching the year it was imported to Britain) while the colour was changed to the current red in1989. Always garaged, regularly maintained and issued ever year with a MoT test certificate throughout its 34 years in the same ownership - including an engine rebuild in 1991 and fitment of a stainless steel exhaust system in 1992 - this B24 was only ever used during dry weather in the summer months and as a result it has covered only minimal mileage. Accompanying the car is a history file containing a copy of an Aurelia Workshop Manual, an Aurelia Instruction Book, correspondence regarding the car with Lancia Club Librarian and Archivist Paul Mayo, various invoices (including that for the engine rebuild), the original hood, a tonneau cover matching the original black interior, side-screens in the original leatherette case, two aero screens and a possibly original jack. One of a mere 54 B24 Spyders produced, this extremely rare and desirable Lancia, perfect for European touring the coming summer months, is offered in excellent condition and comes complete with V5 registration document and a current MoT test certificate. A rare opportunity indeed.