1957 Lancia Aurelia B20

Rare 1957 Lancia Aurelia B20 GT Coupe

This 1957 Lancia Aurelia B20 GT Coupe is an excellent original example out of 30 year ownership. Red with black interior. It's been off the road for several years and is not currently running but the motor turns by hand. While overall presentable, it would still benefit from minor cosmetic freshening. A solid and honest B20 that would make for an exciting addition to any collection. The Lancia Aurelia was introduced in 1951. In conjunction with the rigid floor and body was an independent suspension system, with trailing arms in the rear connected to the aft-mounted transaxle. Not only did the transaxle setup give the Aurelia exceptional handling balance, but it also allowed for a low driveshaft tunnel, limiting intrusion into the cabin. Other features included inboard rear brakes, and the worlds first production V6 engine complete with hemispherical combustion chambers. To demonstrate the capabilities of its revolutionary new GT car, Lancia entered four B20 GTs in the 2-liter class of the 1951 Mille Miglia. Straight away, the Aurelias showed clean heels to the rest of the 2-liter field. When the torrential rains came, the B20 GT of Giovanni Bracco and Umberto Maglioli began to close on the leaders, most of whom were in machinery with two or more times the displacement of the Aurelia! After a genuinely heroic drive, Bracco and Maglioli clawed back over five minutes on the leading 4.1-liter Ferrari, closing the gap to just 20 minutes when the checkered flag fell after 13 hours of racing. With the sensational second-place overall in the Mille Miglia, the Aurelia became an instant hero to thousands of Italians. More success would follow in similarly grueling events like the Carrera Panamericana and Targa Florio where the Lancia's deft handling and reliability paid off in dividends. The Aurelia remains a popular choice for todays retrospective events, and enthusiasts covet these remarkable automobiles for their performance, quality, and exquisite beauty.