1957 Lancia Aurelia

Lancia Aurelia B24 Spider and Convertible

After the turmoil of World War Two, the Italian car industry slowly pulled itself back onto its feet. Lancia was one of the pre-war leading manufacturers, and by the late 1940s it needed a replacement for its ageing Aprilia model. Chief designer Vittorio Jano was given a blank piece of paper and emerged with the Lancia Aurelia. It was an immediate hit, and its success in road racing helped to push sales further.

By the early 1950s, it was clear to Lancia that they needed a modern open-top sports car to complete their range. Pininfarina were given the Aurelia chassis, and designed the Lancia Aurelia B24 Spider 'America'. Utilising the 2451cc engine, the car remains one of the most stunning post-war roadster designs: with a beautiful wrap-around 'panoramic' windscreen, twin front chrome bumpers and an elegantly sloping tail, the car also retained the handling and road poise of its Aurelia B20 sibling. The Lancia Aurelia B24 Spider 'America' was built for just two years between 1954 and 1955, and was made in both right- and left-hand drive, the latter being given the B24S designation (for sinistra). 59 cars were right-hand drive, 181 LHD.

From 1956, the second series was built. Now known as the Aurelia B24 Convertible, the car lost its distinctive panoramic windscreen and gained a single- piece bumper. Despite retaining the same engine and most mechanicals, the car was made in greater numbers (521 units) and is now not as desirable as the B24 Spider, but still highly collectable.

Today the Lancia Aurelia Spider B24 Spider America is considered to be the most collectable production Lancia in the world, and its values dwarf other models of that marque, even its close relative the Aurelia Convertible. Values tend to be higher in the US for extremely good examples.

Period alternatives include the Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster and the BMW 507.