1953 Lancia Aurelia B20 GT

Desirable 3rd series version. 1 owner 40 years. matching numbers. new bare metal paint . chrome and retrim. sensational example.

History of this car

The third series B20 is considered by many to be the best. combining as it does much of the part alloy panelled lightness of the earlier cars and their independent rear suspension but with the much improved and more powerful 2. 5 litre engine of the later series.

This example is exceptional in many ways. It is an unrestored and unmolested Lancia with excellent history and provenance. Our car was completed on 26. 10. 1953 and sold new in Italy. The earliest recorded owner is a Swedish lady. Mrs Ingrid Lindblad who kept the Aurelia in Italy and imported it into Sweden in 1959. The B20 was back in Italy with her and her husband in 1961 where it received a factory complete overhaul (invoices on file) and we believe the Aurelia stayed in Italy at their holiday home until at least 1987 when it returned with them to Sweden (transit papers on file). They kept their B20 until 2002 when it was imported into the UK by the previous owner. We purchased the car from that gentleman in 2012. This is therefore as far as we can ascertain a 3 owner from new vehicle.

Most importantly for an Aurelia. the chassis. engine. sliding pillar. transaxle and steering box are all matching numbers as it left the factory.

As bought. the car was in excellent rust free condition and drove beautifully. but the cosmetics required improvement. At the time of the overhaul in 1961. the car was repainted metallic blue and retrimmed. As the paint and trim had become tired. we have given the B20 a sympathetic refurbishment including a bare metal repainting in the original nero black and retrimming in the original materials. with around £30. 00 of receipted expenditure.

Befitting the quality of this example. it comes with the original owner's manual. brochure and parts book and has the original jack and toolkit.

Body

The presentation of this car is as near perfect as you can get. The repaint was done from a bare metal base (pictures on file) and the body itself required no rust repair. with evidence of some high quality repairs to one sill and wheel arches at some point in the past.

Paint quality is like glass with perfect panel fitment.

Chassis wise the Aurelia is excellent with floors and sills etc being rock solid.

Our car has all new chrome work. new bumpers and polished alloy trims; glass is excellent. lenses. including the beautiful Carello headlights. are undamaged.

It has been fitted from the 1950s with a distinctive “I” for Italy reflector on the boot. and a desirable alloy and perspex rear number plate holder. a period accessory. Very cool.

All 4 road wheels have been blasted and repainted the correct colour. with new wheel embellishers fitted.

Mechanicals

We have carried out an overhaul of this Aurelia including the fuel system (cleaning tank. new fuel hoses. carburettor strip. rebuild and repaint). the ignition system (new points. plugs. coil and HT leads). the cooling system (hoses. coolant). fitted new pot joint boots. new complete SS exhaust system. new HD battery. 4 x new Michelin tyres and fresh oil and filter.

The matching numbers engine starts easily and makes a great noise. there is minimal smoke and it has excellent oil pressure. The engine internals were entirely replaced at the time of the Works overhaul in 1961 and since then an engine refreshen was carried out in the 1990s.

The braking system was overhauled prior to importation. the transaxle is silent and most importantly there is little or no prop shaft vibration. the bane of this model.

Under bonnet presentation is superb and authentic in every way.

Interior

This has been retrimmed to a very high standard in the correct cloth and vinyl. The headlining was replaced. seats stripped. restuffed and recovered. The door cards were remade. a new steering wheel fitted but otherwise this B20 is beautifully original including the jewel-like instrumentation and rubber floor matting.

Of note are the period accessories including a rather charming clockwork clock in the glove box lid and water temperature gauge.

Boot

This is unrestored with excellent original matting. repainted spare wheel and new Michelin. leather strap tie down. and includes the very rare toolkit and bag. jack. starting handle and brace; included is an original spare Pirelli fan belt and early metal warning triangle.

Summary

This is a sharply detailed B20. Lancia's masterpiece. which ticks all the boxes and as such is a very rare thing. It is eligible for all the better events and is presented in show winning condition. priced market correct and supplied with a large history folder.

Please visit our website for more pictures.

E&OE

Also published at eBay.co.uk

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