Poor Lancia. From their position as technology leader of the Italian automotive market, they have sunken to peddlers of a rebadged Fiat 500 in Italy only. Lancia, the inventor of the V6, relegated to a mere badge on a Fiat.

We have it on good authority that the Aurelia B24S Spider drives more like a modern car than it has any right to, considering its date of manufacture. Then again, when you dig into the unorthodox engineering and attention to detail that went into every single component on Lancias of this era, it stands to reason that these cars would drive like modern vehicles. Forget V12 Ferraris, Alfas, and Lamborghinis; if you want the pinnacle of Italian engineering, only a Lancia will do.

Year: 1955
Model:  Lancia Aurelia B24S Spider America
Engine: 2.5L V6
Transmission: 4-speed manual
Mileage:  52,126 mi
Price: $1,295,000
Location: San Diego, CA

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1955 Lancia Aurelia B24S Spider

1955 Lancia B24-S Spider America
 
Year 1955
Make Lancia
Model B24S
Type Spider America
Chassis No ★B24S-1170★
Pinin Farina Job No 15289
Pinin Farina Scocca No S 00172
Exterior Color Dark Blue
Interior Color Tobacco
Engine No MOT. B24 No 1229
Engine Casting Date May 14th, 1955
Intake Manifold No B24 1229
Transaxle No 398
Transaxle Type Tipo B20S
Transaxle Casting Date May 5th, 1955
Final Drive Ratio 11 x 47 (4.27:1)
Front Suspension No 164
Front Suspension Type Tipo B24S
Front Axle No 172
Steering Box No 399
Carburetor Weber 40DCZ 5 (s/n 3622)
Tail Light Bezel Date Code February 7th, 1953
Tail Light Lenz Date Code March 20th, 1954
Windscreen Date Code March 11th, 1955
Assembly Started October 3rd, 1955
Assembly Finished October 23rd, 1955
First Tested October 24th, 1955
Accepted for delivery October 24th, 1955
UK Registration (1982) "WYA 8"
UK Registration "212 UYL"
Florida Registration "ADG 39A"
Mileage 52,122 Miles

Chassis No ★B24S-1170★
This particular B24S Spider America was a regular production example, one of 240 total examples completed and one of 181 that were left-hand-drive configured. It had two very unique configuration features that set it far apart from the other examples built. This vehicle was assembled as a normal Italian, domestic-market vehicle which featured both Italian lighting and the distinct open glove box without locking door. All gauges and indicators were however in English with the speedometer calibrated in miles at the request of the original ordering owner, an American Air Force officer stationed in Rome.

Sharing the DeDion tube rear suspension with the 4th series B20, the Spiders located their transaxle in the rear of the car, mounting the rear brake drums in an inboard configuration. Front suspension is of the sliding pillar design, a concept pioneered by Lancia in 1922 with their Lambda offering. And, the V6 is the 2451cc B20 series 4 variant of the famed Lancia V6 line, sporting an under-square bore and stroke and special, sadly detuned cam for American consumption.

This example was delivered to an American Air Force officer stationed in Rome in its original Grigio over black, but later changed over to midnight blue over a biscuit interior. Maybe interested parties could point that out for a discount? The rest of us, the interested but financially unequipped parties, can take solace knowing that, while these rare variants are priced in the stratosphere, there do exist Lancia models with the famed V6 and a more realistic price tag.

-Graham