Lot Ended
Description
A fine-looking example of this most aristocratic and innovative
machine; reluctant sale due to ill health; one for the connoisseur
An unassuming yet supremely elegant machine, the Lancia
Aurelia marked a quiet revolution in car design. Launched at the 1950 Turin
Motor Show, the model had actually been designed during World War Two by
Lancia’s chief engineer, Vittorio Jano, and his understudy, Francesco de
Virgilio.
It boasted the world’s first production V6 engine, largely
designed by de Virgilio, with capacities that eventually ranged from 1.8 to
2.5-litres. An all-aluminium unit, it used overhead valves operated via short
pushrods from a single camshaft between the cylinder banks (rather than Lancia’s
traditional overhead camshafts) with hemispherical combustion
chambers.
The hand-crafted aluminium body was of advanced monocoque
design, with Lancia’s ‘sliding pillar’ independent suspension up front (as first
seen on the Lambda). The semi-trailing-arm layout of the rear suspension was
also a world first, as was the innovative gearbox/rear transaxle on which were
mounted the inboard brakes, finned drums of fine manufacture and great
beauty.
The initial B10 Berlina was quickly followed by a fastback
Coupe, the revered B20 which was penned by Pininfarina stylist Mario Boano. The
very essence of bella figura, the B20 is widely
regarded as one of the most influential car silhouettes of all time and, in
4th Series form, is considered by some to be the greatest aesthetic achievement
of the automotive age.
The B24 Spider version was achingly beautiful, as
reflected in its huge price tag today (£700k+), much to the distress of your
scribe, who has lusted after one of these mystical machines since he was a
child...
Through eight years and six Series of development the Aurelia,
in all its forms – Berlina, Coupe and Spider – represented the zenith of Fifties
car design, both in looks and in terms of engineering excellence. Indeed, there
are some who would claim that this accolade applies not just to the Fifties, but
to the entire 20th Century. The car of choice for numerous racing
drivers in period, the Aurelia also enjoyed great success in gruelling
competitive events like the Mille Miglia, Targa Florio and the 24 Hours of Le
Mans.
Dating from 1951, this gorgeous B10 Berlina sadly has very little
documentation at the time of writing, but it is well-known in Aurelia circles
and we have discovered a fair bit about it thanks to the generous help of a
previous owner and Lancia specialist Andrew Cliffe of Omicron.
Although
the V5C states that it was first UK registered in March 1991, it actually came
here from Italy in c.1960 and had the registration number XER 350 which is a
Cambridge number – the Italian number was NA 61592 which suggests it was
previously resident in Naples.
It was subsequently restored by a Tony
Longmate in the Lincolnshire / West Norfolk area, date unknown. In 1996 the
engine was sent to Omicron for investigation and they ended up doing a partial
engine rebuild, the owner at the time being a George Miller of Bath, a Lancia
Club member who had acquired it in the late 1980s/early 1990s.
It
subsequently passed to his son in the Colchester area, Omicron continuing to
look after the car including some work to the brakes and the steering and some
routine servicing. The car’s last visit to Omicron was in 2007 when they
repaired a faulty starter motor, the odometer showing 73,965 km at that time and
it has covered just under 1,000kms since. A check of the MOT history online
shows that it flew through this test in 2006, 2007 and 2008 with no advisories.
In 2008 it was sold by European Classic Cars of Wiltshire and was then
exported – sadly losing its XER 350 number plate in the process, which is now on
a 2024 Audi e-Tron GT (boo!).
Our vendor acquired the car from Carrosso
Classic & Sportscars of Oldemarkt, Holland in May 2021 and we are told that
it came with a considerable history file which the vendor has been unable to
locate at the time of writing. We will update the website if this situation
changes, and Omicron still have records of all the work they have done to the
car.
As you can see in the photos, this Aurelia looks utterly gorgeous,
with arrow-straight flanks, excellent panel gaps and lustrous Medio Blue
paintwork. The grey cloth interior looks all correct and may perhaps be
original. The headlining has some damage in places and the steering wheel could
do with some sympathetic refurbishment but other than that it is a fine place to
sit.
It rides on a set of the correct Michelin X 185-400 radial tyres –
essential to preserve the steering delicacy and fine handling of these
thoroughbred machines. The underside looks to be in great shape too.
Our
vendor had long had an Aurelia on his wish list to join his collection of
interesting cars. Sadly, some recent health issues mean that he has not had
chance to enjoy this B10 on the open road, hence its appearance in this sale. We
are told that the car runs and drives well but due to lack of recent
use, it will doubtless benefit from a precautionary check-over before any long
journeys are undertaken.
Any true car connoisseur should own a
pre-Fiat-era Lancia at some point in their lives. They really are magnificent
machines on so many levels and this fine-looking B10, one of only around 5,400
made, would sit well in any collection.
Consigned by James Dennison – 07970 309907 – [email protected]