The Aurelia was Lancia’s first new car after the war. Introduced in 1950 as a saloon, it was designed by Vittorio Jano, a brilliant engineer of Hungarian descent. The engine was a novelty at the time, as it represented the first time a V6 was used in a production car. Another noteworthy technical feature was the so called transaxle drive train. This unit combined the gearbox, differential, clutch and brakes in one single unit. This greatly improved weight distribution. Due to this setup, the car had very neutral handling. In combination with the strong engine, it resulted in many successes in long distance races and rallies. To name a few, the Coupé version (called the B20) took first place in class at the Italian Mille Miglia (a 1000 mile road race from Brescia to Rome and back) and at Le Mans in its first year of production 1951. In later years the Aurelia B20 won numerous classic events such as the 1953 Targa Florio (Sicily), the Liège-Rome-Liège rally and the Monte Carlo rally in 1954.
The Aurelia Spider America B24 was introduced in 1955. The coachwork was designed and built by Carrozzeria Pinin Farina, masters of understated elegance. A minimum amount of chrome or unnecessary ornaments were applied. The car even lacked outside door handles and rear-view mirrors in favor of an uninterrupted side profile. Also note the panoramic windshield and unusual bumpers. As the name suggests, the Spider America was mainly built for the American market, where it was a popular sight on the sunny coasts.
Perhaps the perfect car to express the ‘Joie de vivre’ lifestyle, an Aurelia Spider America was featured in the movie classic ‘et dieu créa la femme’, which would become the breakthrough for Brigitte Bardot.
Text: Philip Leemans
Photos: Strada e Corsa
