1953 Lancia Aurelia B20

The post-war period brought a desire, or rather a hunger, for renewal. Everything that suggested the past, before the war, needed to be forgotten or overcome. Cars became the primary symbol of this renewal, both in practice and in dreams. From its very first appearance, the Lancia Aurelia made a sensation, not only because, together with its contemporary Fiat 1400, it represented the first truly new "Italian" automotive product of the post-war period, but also for its technical innovations. Lancia’s revolutionary first post-war car, designed by Vittorio Jano, was introduced in 1950. It featured the first production V6 engine—a 60° design developed by Francesco de Virgilio—combined with a balanced transaxle gearbox and inboard rear brakes, all of which were groundbreaking innovations in post-war Europe. Developed in various versions, the B20 coupe was its pinnacle. The Aurelia Gran Turismo was introduced in 1951 as a coupé evolution (B20 type) of the B10 saloon with an engine that, finally, was introduced with a displacement at the class limit. This was the result of a new company-wide policy imposed by Gianni Lancia, who had taken over from his mother in 1947. The Aurelia engine had been increased to 1,991 cc in 1951 and, in its uprated form, was fitted into the B20. Lighter and with a higher gear ratio than the saloon, the B20 was capable of exceeding 160 km/h. Introduced in 1953, the 3rd and subsequent series B20s were powered by a 2,451 cc, 118 hp version of the pushrod V6. The design, created by Mario Felice Boano and refined and built by Pinin Farina, became an instant classic due to its smooth, clean lines and competition prowess. The car was immediately entered for the 1951 Mille Miglia, with three "private" examples, out of the four that were registered in the names of their drivers, finishing in the top seven overall and taking the first three places in class. Bracco-Maglioli finished second, beaten only by Villoresi’s Ferrari, which had over twice the displacement of the Lancia. Bracco, partnered by Lurani, later drove his car from Italy to France and finished 12th overall in the Le Mans 24 Hours. Lancia prepared seven "Corsa" versions of the car for 1952, six of which were entered by privateers. These cars secured 2nd, 3rd, and 4th overall in the Giro di Sicilia, finished 3rd, 5th, 6th, and 8th overall at the Mille Miglia, secured 1st, 2nd, and 3rd at the Targa Florio, placed 4th, 6th, 8th, and 9th in the Coppa d'Oro delle Dolomiti, and, when equipped with a supercharger, took 4th at the Carrera Panamericana.

The Aurelia B20 appears to have been classified “by series” only in the first two editions with a 2-liter engine, while the production of the 2.5-liter engine has never been officially classified by series, a subdivision that entered common use for greater immediacy. The so-called “Third Series” (chassis from B20-2232 to B20-2951) was presented at the Salone dell’Auto di Torino in April 1953 and was produced from March to December 1953. It represents the most significant evolution of the model, both mechanically and aesthetically. The 2-liter engine was replaced by a 2.5-liter unit which, despite a reduction in compression ratio, increased power to 118 hp and torque. Beyond the increased displacement, numerous mechanical innovations were introduced, including a new camshaft profile, the adoption of a bigger carburetor, and newly cast engine blocks and cylinder heads. The result was a significant performance boost: the top speed increased to an impressive 185 km/h, making the car highly competitive against rivals such as the Alfa Romeo 1900 and the Fiat 8V. Aesthetically, the rear adopted a more harmonious, rounded appearance due to the removal of the tail fins and a more curved trunk lid. Changes were also made to the front end, with redesigned headlights that lost their characteristic "eyelids" and a newly styled grille. The overall dimensions of the car changed slightly as well.

The Aurelia Gran Turismo 2500 (definition that includes coupés and spiders) in the B20 coupé version with chassis no. *B20-2883* is an example of the so-called Terza Serie (3rd series). This specimen had as second owner (from 1953 to 1956) Giovanni Pignatelli della Leonessa, a member of one of the most important noble families in Italy. Giovanni Pignatelli was not only a nobleman, but also a capable gentleman driver who drove chassis no. *B20-2883* under the aegis of the prestigious Scuderia Campidoglio, in the most important races of the time, starting with the XXI edition of the Mille Miglia, in 1954, but also at the Coppa della Toscana, the & Ore Notturna of Bari and the Coppa della Perugina. In these three races he was always able to finish 2nd in class. The car was in Italy until the mid-1960s, and since 1965 it has been in the USA. The car has been in Europe since 2018, in perfect restored condition.