1950 Lancia Aurelia

This 1950 Lancia Aurelia is one of approximately 485 B50 autotelai constructed during two years of production for delivery as rolling chassis to various coachbuilders and was completed on July 1, 1950, for dispatch to Vignale. Chassis 1044 was fitted with one-off aluminum coupe coachwork designed by Giovanni Michelotti before being delivered new to Mille Miglia-winning driver Giovanni Bracco, who retained it for two years. After further changes of hand, the car was purchased by the nephew of Vignale founder Alfredo Vignale in 1983 and is said to have remained in the Vignale family until 2010. After being purchased by the seller in 2019, it appeared in the Postwar Preservation class at the 2022 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance and participated in the associated Tour d’Elegance. Finished in black over green fabric, the car is powered by a 1,754cc B10 V6 that breathes through a twin-choke carburetor and is mated to a column-shifted four-speed manual transaxle. Additional features include sliding-pillar front suspension, semi-trailing-arm independent rear suspension, four-wheel drum brakes with inboard rear units, and bright wheel covers. This Aurelia Vignale coupe is now offered in Turin, Italy, with a Lancia Classiche Certificato di Origine, a copy of a Giovanni Michelotti sketch of the car, and Italian registration. The Aurelia model debuted at the 1950 Turin Motor Show as the first series-produced car with V6 power and was manufactured in six series through 1958. First-year offerings included the B10 unibody sedan as well as two 2,910mm-wheelbase rolling chassis, the B50 and the wider B51, intended for completion as custom specials by coachbuilders. This example’s Michelotti-penned styling is thought to have served as inspiration for the Aurelia B20 GT coupe that was unveiled in April 1951. The aluminum body is finished in black, and various imperfections can be seen in the finish in the photo gallery below. Exterior design features include a fastback rear profile, a shield-shaped grille flanked by horizontal vents, double headlight bezels, and pivot-out door handles. Black-painted steel wheels wear bright covers and are wrapped in Michelin whitewall tires. Suspension incorporates a sliding-pillar independent front arrangement that comprises coil springs and adjustable shocks contained in oil around vertical pins anchored to either end of a beam axle. Utilized for the Aurelia between 1950 and 1953, the independent rear setup features semi-trailing arms and coil springs. The suspension system is said to have been rebuilt between 2021 and 2022. Stopping is handled by hydraulic drum brakes with inboard rear units. The cabin is trimmed in pale green cloth with green piping over the front and rear bench seats with color-matched door panels and carpeting. Areas of wear and discoloration are present on various interior surfaces. Features include body-color door caps with Vignale insignias, dual pockets on each door, roll-up windows, an overhead storage net, tinted sun visors, and a heater. The two-spoke steering wheel is situated at the right-hand side and features a textured olive-green rim. It sits ahead of a body-color dash hosting Bakelite shiftgear and gauges with green fasciae and needles. Instrumentation includes a 150-km/h speedometer, a clock, and gauges monitoring fuel level and oil pressure. The five-digit odometer shows 46k kilometers (~28k miles), approximately 2k of which have been added under current ownership. The Francesco de Virgilio-designed 1,754cc engine was the first V6 utilized in a series-built car and powered the Aurelia in various evolutions throughout the model’s production. Characteristics include an aluminum block with a 60° angle between cylinder banks, aluminum cylinder heads with hemispherical combustion chambers, pushrod-actuated overhead valves, and a dual-throat downdraft carburetors. Engine number 1191 is shown stamped on the block above. The Lancia Classiche Certificato di Origine is shown in the gallery below and notes that the number corresponds with factory records. Power is sent to the rear wheels via a four-speed manual transaxle unit that carries both the clutch and inboard rear drum brake assemblies. The Giovanni Michelotti sketch above is said to have been provided by Archivio Storico Michelotti. A copy of the car’s original libretto can be viewed in the gallery below and lists the initial purchase of the car by Giovanni Bracco from Lancia dealer Bracco in Biella, Italy. The car does not have a title as it is registered in a country that does not issue titles for vehicles. It is being sold on its registration.