Lot 255A: Lancia Aurelia B24S Convertible

Race developed V6 engine, superlative handling and sensational Pinin Farina styling: these are the ingredients of a sportscar classic and the Lancia Aurelia B24 has them all. The B24 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 1,754cc 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 Coupe, a fastback '2+2' on a shortened wheelbase which, with its combination of sportscar 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 1,991cc 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 coupe was good for a top speed of over 100mph. Introduced in 1953, the 3rd and subsequent series B20s were powered by a 2,451cc, 118bhp version of the pushrod V6, and this unit was adopted for the B24 Spider launched in 1955, by which time the Aurelia had gained a leaf-sprung De Dion back axle. Capitalising on the Spider's success, Lancia introduced a more practical B24 Convertible in 1956, soon after Spider production had ceased. Again the work of Pinin Farina, the B24 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 B24 Convertible was built on the same short-wheelbase chassis as the Spider and used a slightly less powerful version of the 2,451cc V6 engine producing 110bhp. Top speed was also marginally reduced, to 107mph. 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 particular example was manufactured in April 1957 and exported to California where it was sold by the British Motor Co, of San Francisco. Supplied new with the rare factory hardtop, the Aurelia remained in California but was laid up for 25 years before being acquired by a specialist in Los Angeles; it is thus a California 'black plate' car. The car has been fully stripped and mechanically overhauled: all seals, gaskets and internals being replaced as required (due to the quality of early Lancias, reconditioning an original component is always preferable to replacing with an after-market item). The engine and propshaft have been overhauled and fully balanced; the wiring loom cleaned and replaced; the brakes overhauled with all cylinder seals replaced; and the exhaust system handmade in stainless steel by a UK specialist. On strip-down the body was found to be entirely original, undamaged and rust free - no panels having been replaced  and even the floors are original. It was repainted in Lancia Midnight Blue and re-trimmed (in 2002) while the hardtop was stripped back to bare metal, and repainted in original black (as all B24 hardtops were). The headlining was remade in the original perforated material and all chromework both internally and externally was re-plated by the London Chroming Co. The soft-top was remade in mohair from the original pattern, and the seats re-covered in Bridge of Weir leather. Wilton carpeting is the only diversion from standard specification, although the US-market over-riders have not been refitted (they are, however, retained). Since completion, the Aurelia has had oil changes approximately every six months/1,000 miles, while the tappets have been checked/re-gapped every year and the engine fully tuned. Approximately 5,500 miles have been covered since 2002, as evidenced by UK MoTs on file. In addition, the car comes with old/current Swansea V5 registration documents; MoT to August 2009; a file of restoration invoices and photographs; and copies of Auto Italia (November 2003) and Classic & Sportscar (November 2008) which feature it. Presented in 'A1' condition, '1416' represents a wonderful opportunity to acquire a fully restored example of the most desirable Aurelia convertible, epitomising the very best of 'old school' Lancia design. Cet exemplaire a �t� fabriqu� en avril 1957 et export� en Californie, o� il a �t� vendu par la British Motor Co, de San Francisco. Livr�e neuve avec hard-top, cette Aurelia est rest�e en Californie mais a �t� remis�e pendant vingt-cinq ans, avant qu'un sp�cialiste de Los Angeles en fasse l'acquisition. Elle est ainsi une voiture "black plate" californienne (les plaques d'immatriculation � fond noir ont �t� d�livr�es en Californie jusqu'en 1969). La voiture a �t� compl�tement d�shabill�e et m�caniquement restaur�e. Tous les joints et pi�ces internes ont �t� remplac�s quand n�cessaire (gr�ce � la qualit� des anciennes Lancia, il est toujours pr�f�rable de restaurer une pi�ce d'origine que de la remplacer par un �l�ment refabriqu�). Le moteur et l'arbre de transmission ont �t� refaits et �quilibr�s ; le faisceau �lectrique a �t� nettoy� et remont� ; les freins ont �t� restaur�s avec remplacement de tous les joints de cylindres de roues ; et l'�chappement a �t� refait � la main en inox par un sp�cialiste anglais. Apr�s d�montage, la carrosserie est apparue enti�rement d'origine, intacte et d�pourvue de rouille  aucun panneau n'ayant �t� remplac�. M�me les planchers sont d'origine. Elle a �t� repeinte en bleu nuit Lancia et la sellerie r�nov�e (en 2002), alors que le hard-top �tait ponc� jusqu'au m�tal et repeint dans sa couleur noire originale (tous les hard-tops de B24 l'�taient). Le ciel de toit a �t� refait dans son mat�riau perfor� d'origine et toutes les pi�ces chrom�es, tant int�rieures qu'ext�rieures, ont �t� rechrom�es par la London Chroming Co. La capote a �t� refaite en mohair d'apr�s le mod�le original, et les si�ges habill�s de cuir Bridge of Weir. La pose d'une moquette Wilton est une autre entorse par rapport aux sp�cifications standard, bien que les enjoliveurs propres au march� am�ricain n'aient pas �t� remont�s (mais ont �t� conserv�s). Depuis la fin de sa restauration, cette Aurelia a b�n�fici� de vidanges d'huile tous les six mois / 1 600 km environ, le jeu aux soupapes �tant contr�l� tous les ans et le moteur ayant b�n�fici� d'un r�glage complet. Environ 8 800 km ont �t� couverts depuis 2002, comme le montrent les certificats de contr�le technique (MoT) dans le dossier. Par ailleurs, la voiture comporte d'anciens et actuels documents d'immatriculation britanniques (Swansea V5), le contr�le technique (MoT) jusqu'en ao�t 2009, un dossier de restauration avec factures et photos, et des exemplaires de Auto Italia (novembre 2003) et de Classic & Sports Car (novembre 2008) qui la pr�sentent. En �tat irr�prochable, "1416" repr�sente une merveilleuse occasion d'acqu�rir un exemplaire compl�tement restaur� du cabriolet Lancia le plus d�sirable, incarnant le meilleur de "l'ancienne �cole" de la conception Lancia.