1958 Lancia Aurelia B24S convertible
Generously Lent by Lee & Heather Hower
· Innovative V6 Engine and Transaxle
· Designed by Pininfarina
· Awarded 1st Place in the Sporting Cars 1955-1959 class at the 2019 Audrain Concours
Whether on the show field or out on the open road, the Lancia Aurelia B24 is known as one of the most graceful and advanced convertibles ever produced. Named after the Roman road, Via Aurelia, the B24 is the sister car of the B20 coupe, which already had made a name for itself as perhaps the most competent Italian sportscar in the world by the time the B24 convertible was introduced in 1956. The B24 proves just as athletic as it is attractive as well, with an advanced V6 engine producing 120 horsepower. The engine and transmission have matching numbers, and the car has been restored to its original colors. This is a late-production B24S convertible; it was completed in October of 1958, according to the Aurelia Registry documentation.
While Lancia may not be as well known in the U.S., the Italian brand is a symbol of Italian premium to luxury category. Lancia has been noted for their attention to detail in design and engineering refinement. The Aurelia was designed by Italian design group Pininfarina known for their stunning designs and meticulous coachwork. What makes the B24S even more special is that it was the first Lancia produced after WWII. However, Lancia received no funding from the Marshall Plan due to the political affiliations of the company following the war. Despite this, Lancia made arguably the most well-built Italian car ever made. No detail was spared, or issue overlooked. The convertible variant of the Aurelia was a rare option having only 521 models ever made between 1956-58.
The Aurelia features the first ever 60-degree V6 engine installed in a car proving V6 capability compared to the inline or V8 setup. Radial tires were also another important advancement in the car’s handling and better traction. There was not enough space to comfortably fit the transmission after the engine, to the transmission is places at the rear differential. The transmission also incorporated built in drum brakes with the goal of helping simplify the complexity of the rear end. The S in B24S stands for the Italian word “Sinistra” meaning left for left hand drive.
The B24 was unveiled in 1956 in convertible form, two years after the launch of the B24 Spider. While the two open cars are very similar, the convertible introduced several small differences, including a higher windshield, a sleeker hood scoop, revised one-piece bumpers, and more. Unlike the B20 coupe, the B24 convertible was designed by Pininfarina with the same wheelbase as the spider, slightly shorter than the coupe. Unlike the spider, the convertible was offered with a full soft top and hard top. Just 521 B24 convertibles were built.
Mechanically the Aurelia was one of the most advanced cars of the period for multiple reasons. Lancia engineered one of the first production V6 engines, growing in capacity over time from 1.8 liters to 2.5 liters. The engine utilized an alloy pushrod design with one camshaft that sat between the cylinder banks. Power increased from 80 to 120 horsepower over the course of production. The innovative rear transaxle design also helped the Aurelia solidify its reputation. The transaxle combined the gearbox, clutch, differential, and inboard-mounted drum brakes, consolidating space and balancing the weight evenly from the front and rear of the car.
Specifications
Engine: 2.5-liter 60-degree V6
Power: 120 hp @ 5300 rpm, 127 lb ft torque
Torque: 127 ft./lbs. @ 3500 rpm
Transmission: 4-speed manual transaxle
Performance: 0-60 12.8 sec – ¼ mile 19.2 sec
Top Speed: 106 mph
Weight: 2315 lbs