This Lancia Aurelia looks like it has been in a barn for a long time. On September 18, the Spider will be auctioned off in "barnfind condition". The price for the rare model is high.
The Lancia Aurelia presented in Turin in 1950 was the first production model with a V6 engine. This, of all things, was lost in the example that Bonhams is auctioning off on September 18 during the Goodwood Revival.
Key is in, engine not
In the meantime, the seller has found a suitable engine that is being sold with the car. Weber carburettor, oil dipstick and manifold are on, but overall the engine looks like it could use an overhaul. The car doesn't look any better: the lower half of the bodywork, if any, appears to be mostly rust. The delicate radiator grille is missing, the mirror on the right hangs down and the Aurelia doesn't have hubcaps either. After all, the key is in. Turn around and drive off? In this case, nothing would probably happen, because the engine has not been in the car for a long time.
The car last belonged to a Brit who bought it in 1974 and wanted to restore it for a long time. Apparently it didn't come to that. But at some point the original engine was lost. By then the Lancia had passed through seven hands. It is assumed that a lady in the USA was the first owner; that's not for sure.
Estimated price: 410,000 to 530,000 euros
The restoration base should bring the equivalent of 410,000 to 530,000 euros. Five years ago, Bonhams offered a restored B24 Spider in Paris for the equivalent of 900,000 to 1.3 million euros, but did not sell it.
This is the Lancia Aurelia Spider
With the Aurelia Spider, Lancia presented an open sports car in 1954, which with its body by Pinin Farina is considered one of the most beautiful cars in the world. The technology also offers something special: the Spider, the first series-produced V6 engine in a car, has a displacement of 2.5 liters and 118 hp. The transmission is based on the transaxle principle at the rear of the differential, which ensures balanced weight distribution and good road holding. The rear axle has a De Dion axle. With a top speed of 185 km/h, the Aurelia Spider was one of the faster cars at the time. The Spider, which was only built for a year, was followed by the Cabriolet with a larger windscreen and retractable side windows.
Conclusion
Given the sad condition and the long list of owners, Bonhams has a high opinion of the price of this Aurelia Spider. However, there aren't many; Lancia only built 240 Aurelia Spiders.
