1951 Lancia Aurelia

On offer we have a real time-warp example, a completely unrestored original 1951 Lancia Aurelia B10!

One of the most influential designs to emerge from Italy post-WW2, the classic Aurelia was the first car ever to employ a V6 engine. Designed in wartime by Francesco de Virgilio and launched at the 1950 Turin Motor Show, the Aurelia was powered by a 1, 754cc 60-degree V6 of all-aluminium construction that used overhead valves operated via short pushrods instead of Lancia’s traditional overhead camshafts. An advanced unitary-construction design, the Aurelia retained Lancia’s ‘sliding pillar’ independent front suspension, first seen on the Lambda, but used a novel semi-trailing-arm layout at the rear, another world first.

The transmission too, was unusual, comprising a two-piece prop-shaft and combined gearbox/ rear transaxle on which were mounted the inboard brakes, though for once this was not an entirely new departure. It was also was mounted in the rear for optimum weight distribution of the car. The original B10 saloon was joined the following year by the landmark, Pinin Farina-styled B20 Coupe, a fastback ‘2+2’ on a shortened wheelbase which, with its combination of sportscar performance and saloon car practicality, can be said to have introduced the Gran Turismo concept to the world.