For many, the Aurelia B20 represents the pinnacle of Lancia's post-war production. Featuring 50-50 weight distribution, the first production V6 engine, transaxle, all-round independent suspension - it was a great start!
This Series II example has spent much of its life in the USA, where it had a single owner from 1961 until 2016. It was purchased by our client and then repatriated to the UK, where upon it was entrusted to marque specialists Thornley Kelham who were instructed to go through the car. The brief was to ensure it could reliably and safely take on any Endurance challenge be a real HERO on serious adventures - like the Peaking-Paris.
A 3-year refurbishment program ensued, including bodywork repairs, electrical rewire, rebuilding of trans-axle transmission, suspension, brakes and a thorough overhaul of the fuel and cooling systems. Additional works included upgrading the interior with new rally seats, mats, extra instrumentation and improved safety features.
When it came to the original 2.0-litre engine, it was found to be very poor condition, and as such unsuitable for the spirit of this project. A new unit was sourced and rebuilt to correct Series II specifications. Furthermore, a rare original Nardi upgrade kit for the carburettors was fitted to improve both maximum power and mid-range torque costing nearly £14,000. Other Nardi equipment includes the floor-mounted gear lever
In total £184,000 has been spent to bring the Lancia Aurelia to its present condition, on top of an original purchase price of $121,000. Since the completion, the car has been much enjoyed for many trouble-free miles. A highly eligible car for competition and road rally uses and possibly one of the most sorted and comprehensively equipped RHD B20GTs available. VXS 118 is well suited to any occasion be it a summers drive or the Mille Miglia.
Equipped in this manner, this Lancia is an ideal rally machine. The painted livery was a way of paying tribute to this model which finished second in the 1951 Mille Miglia with Giovanni Bracco and Umberto Maglioli and, won the 1952 Targa Florio and the 1954 Monte Carlo Rally with Louis Chiron at the steering wheel.
Described in the original marketing literature, ‘as a sports car in tails.’
Well today, this is a ‘sports car in Nomex!’
