1953 LANCIA AURELIA B20 GT

The Aurelia was Lancia’s first new postwar car. In keeping with the company’s tradition, the model introduced some innovative feautures such as the V6 engine (the first in the world) and the new rear axle with independent wheels, and transmission and brakes integral with the differential. With its short wheelbase, more powerful engine and Pininfarina coupé bodywork, the B20 version, presented in 1951, one year after the saloon, was the first “Gran Turismo” car, though it was not long before its superlative mechanicals brought it a long series of successes as an excellent sports car.

 

Produced from 1951 to 1958, the unforgettable Lancia Aurelia B20 was an instant sales success that also excelled in national and international races.

 

The Lancia Aurelia B20 was presented at the Turin Motor Show on 2 April 1951 and heralded the introduction of an entirely new format, the Grand Touring 2-seater plus 2 (occasional) seats. Its engine – the first V6 in automobile history – was created by the brilliant mind of designer Francesco De Virgilio. The Aurelia was a runaway commercial success despite its 2,600,000-lira price tag, which was a hefty sum in those days. 

By the time its eight-year production run ended (the last B20 left the factory on 7 November 1958), the Aurelia B20 had evolved through six series, although this classification only became official once the car was discontinued. Lancia had not planned to develop non-production chassis for the B20, although a limited number of B20 special editions were released. They include the Berlinetta Vignale Raggio Azzurro, displayed at the New York and Turin auto shows in 1955, the luxury Boano and Pininfarina versions with meticulous design details, the Buzzi Hot Rod, which catered to American demand for fast acceleration in the 1960s, and finally the sporty B20 Tinarelli with an aluminium body.

 

The Aurelia B20 boasts a winning history in various sports events, from the Sestriere Rally and the Giro di Toscana to the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the Giro di Sicilia.

 

The B20 also competed in several editions of the "most beautiful race in the world", the 1000 Miglia. Among its direct rivals were the Alfa Romeo 1900 Sprint, the Fiat 8V Zagato, the Bristol 401 and the Aston Martin DB2. The Aurelia was the first Lancia model to achieve remarkable success in motor sports at international level, establishing a formidable reputation in both road and track racing.

Even today, the Lancia Aurelia B20 remains a Grand Tourer par excellence that has retained its classic and timeless appeal.

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THE BRACCO CAR

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Without question, the most famous Aurelia of all time is what is known as 'the Bracco car'.

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Giovanni Bracco was a well-known and respected Italian racing car driver. He was born on the 6th June 1908 and would race many great cars both before and after the War, even winning the 1952 Mille Miglia in a Ferrari 250 S Berlinetta!

 

Only a few days after taking ownership of the Lancia Aurelia, Bracco chose to compete at the 1951 Mille Miglia, with race number 332 and navigator Umberto Maglioli. It was an event he had first entered in 1938 with a Fiat 1500 Spider, then again in 1940, before working his way up to a Ferrari 166 MM in 1950. Bracco was a great driver, even leading the race overall with this 1991cc Lancia Aurelia. However, with time Gigi Villoresi eventually overhauled the B20 GT, mainly thanks to his Ferrari 340 Americas 4.1 litre engine!

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The next competition that B20-1010 would enter was the 1951 Le Mans 24 Hours, held over the 23rd and 24th June. Privateer, Count Don Giovanni ‘Johnny’ Lurani, was unprepared for the phenomenal success of the Lancia Aurelia B20 GT, and as a result had no cars ready for the Le Mans 24 Hours race, however, he did offer to enter Braccos car under his Scuderia Ambrosiana banner, and even drive! The car was driven to Le Mans which left very little time for last minute inspections, however the only additional equipment required was an extra fuel tank which was located in the boot, and a plastic windshield. During this time the car was also repainted red at the request of Gianni Lancia who said if the car was to take part in an international event, it should appear in the official Italian racing colour! Hastily after the Caracalla night race two coats of red pain were applied on top of the existing black.

The 1951 Le Mans 24 Hours started at 4pm under blue, but threatening skies, when Vicomte de Rohan dropped the flag with 60 cars on the right side of the circuit, and 60 drivers the left. This Aurelia was the first car to ever start the famed Le mans 24 Hours with radial tyres, soon to become an advantage when the rain settled in on Saturday evening!

According to Vittorio Jano, the Le Mans 24 Hours event requires three times the mechanical effort that that of the Mille Miglia. Sensationally, this Aurelia was unflustered during this test, and wearing race number 33, dominated its competitors, finishing first in class, beating two Frazer Nashes and a Ferrari, and twelfth overall! The car performed faultlessly and had no issues, pit stops were only made for fuel and water. The engine required only two pints of oil throughout the entire 24 hours, and the tyres were never changed! The car covered 3,172.380 kilometers, achieving an average speed of 132.182 kilometers per hour.

 

Once the race was over and the celebrations had ended, Bracco and Lurani simply loaded their luggage back into the car and took off on their return trip across Europe without even adjusting the brakes or changing a spark plug, phenomenal!

 

This B20 GT continued its success at the 1951 6 Hours of Pescara. Post Le Mans, and prior to this event the car received some very special updates. The roof was lowered, bodywork modified and the engine power increased. The lowered roofline and modified bodywork on 1010 is believed to have been the work of Carrozzeria Rocco Motto of Turin, a leading coachbuilder to major car companies including Pininfarina, Ghia and Lancia. Bracco again guided 1010 to success, this time winning the race overall.

 

OUR CAR

 

Our car is the actual Series 3 car featured in Niels Jonassen’s eponymous book on the Lancia Aurelia, this long-standing UK -based Series 3 car was previously painted silver. The Series 3 B20GT was launched in 1953 as the first 2.5 litre-engined variant, also featuring the sleeker bodywork which epitomises the B20GT coupe. Retaining the earlier cars’ independent rear suspension, it nevertheless sported a useful power upgrade to 118 bhp in single carburettor form, which allied to its aluminium opening panels, gave the best power to weight ratio.

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At the time of its apprearance in the book, the car had been in the long term ownership of a leading member of the Lancia Owners Club. He had undertaken a complete 'nut and bolt' restoration of the car and then used it for trips and events all over Europe.

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More recently, the car was extensively refurbished by Thornley Kelham, who's knowledge and expertise with these cars is of international renown (they restored the Bracco car mentioned above). Work included taking the car back to bare metal, repairing any areas that needed it and then repainting in this glorious blue you see in the photos. The interior was also completely replaced in beautiful tan leather, including period style race seats. Finally the engine was completely rebuilt with all new internals including a Nardi camshaft.

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To drive this car is an amazing experience, so well engineered with everything working as it should. You simply cannot believe the car is 70 years old.

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