1951 Lancia Aurelia B10

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. 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 – james.dennison@brightwells.com