1956 Lancia Aurelia B24S Convertibile America

The post-war period brought a desire, almost a hunger, for renewal. Everything that evoked the years before the war had to be overcome. Cars quickly became one of the clearest symbols of this rebirth. From its very first appearance, the Lancia Aurelia caused quite a stir, not only because, together with the contemporary Fiat 1400, it represented one of the first genuinely new Italian automotive products of the post-war period, but also for the remarkable technical innovations it introduced. Presented in 1950 and designed by Vittorio Jano, the Aurelia was the first Lancia of the new era. It featured a series of advanced engineering solutions, among them the first production V6 engine, a compact 60° unit developed by Francesco de Virgilio, initially displacing 1.8 litres. The car also adopted a monocoque structure, a transaxle layout combining clutch, gearbox and differential, inboard rear brakes, and a De Dion rear suspension, all contributing to exceptional balance and road holding. Soon the Aurelia platform gave birth to some of the most refined Italian gran turismo cars of the decade. In 1951 the B20 coupé appeared, combining higher performance with elegant Pinin Farina styling and quickly achieving remarkable sporting success in events such as the Mille Miglia and the Targa Florio. The development of the Aurelia continued with larger engines and further mechanical refinements, eventually leading to the creation of one of the most celebrated open sports cars of the 1950s: the B24 Spider.

When the Pesenti family took over control of Lancia in the mid-1950s, the company began a process of rationalisation aimed at making its models more practical and commercially viable. In this context the open Aurelia Gran Turismo was redesigned, leading to the creation of the Lancia Aurelia B24 Convertible, a more refined and usable evolution of the earlier B24 Spider. Presented at the Turin Motor Show on April 21, 1956, the new version adopted a more conventional layout while retaining the mechanical characteristics of the Aurelia Gran Turismo. The dramatic panoramic windscreen of the Spider was replaced by a flatter and more traditional one, the doors became larger and gained external handles, and proper winding windows were introduced. The bumpers were redesigned without the distinctive split elements of the Spider, while the bonnet air intake was reshaped, and the interior instrumentation updated. This first version was commonly known as the B24 Convertible America and was produced in 150 examples between July and December 1956. In early 1957 the model received the same mechanical updates introduced on the B20 coupé and officially lost the “America” designation, becoming simply the Aurelia B24 Convertible. Production continued until May 1959, reaching a total of 371 examples. Compared with the more radical Spider, the Convertible offered greater comfort and usability, while maintaining the elegance and mechanical refinement that had made the Aurelia one of the most advanced grand touring cars of its time.

Chassis B24S-1281 is one of the 150 examples of B24S Convertibile America and it was owned by Cav. Attilio Camozzi, an Italian Industrial and former Museo della Mille Miglia President. From late 90s the cars participated to most editions of the “red arrow”.