Highlights

Pinin Farina Cabriolet with bespoke chrome modifications by Carrosserie Saoutchik of Paris
Third in class at the 2005 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, with further UK concours wins between 2012 and 2016
Believed to be the car shown at the 1951 Geneva Motor Show
Comprehensive history file including original 1952 bill of sale, period photographs, instruction book and Pebble Beach archive material
Featured in Classic & Sports Car and Auto Italia magazines

The Appeal

Lancia was one of the great 20th-century innovators, and the Aurelia was a particular highlight of the firm's illustrious catalog. Launched in 1950, it was the first production car to use a V6 engine, the work of Francesco De Virgilio under the legendary Vittorio Jano, and its combination of advanced engineering and elegant coachwork by Pinin Farina made it an instant landmark. The B50 Cabriolet, with its open-top Pinin Farina body, is among the rarest and most desirable variants of the early Aurelia range.

This very car is believed to be the example displayed at the 1951 Geneva Motor Show, and its story only becomes more compelling from there. Bought new by an English lady and brought to Britain, it passed in 1952 to an American owner who toured Europe in it and, during that trip, commissioned Carrosserie Saoutchik of Paris to add their signature chrome embellishments: rear flanks, auxiliary front lights, perforated muffler covers, and extensive brightwork to the interior, hood frames and door shuts. The result is a singular motorcar that blends Pinin Farina's graceful lines with Saoutchik's flamboyant decorative touch.

The car spent over four decades in the United States before a thorough restoration in the late 1990s led to an invitation to the 2005 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, where it placed third in class. Back in Britain, it continued to impress on the concours circuit, taking Best Car of Show at the Bristol Classic Car Show in 2012 and first place at the Shelsley Walsh Concours in 2015, among other awards. It has also been the subject of features in Classic & Sports Car and Auto Italia.

The seller describes the car's overall condition as "A1," with bright chrome and a paint finish that presents exceedingly well. We're told it drives sedately with the top down, precisely as a car of this stature deserves to be enjoyed. Accompanying it is a remarkable history file spanning its entire life, from the original 1952 bill of sale and a bound photo album to Pebble Beach archive material, magazine clippings, trophies, and rosettes. For the serious Lancia collector or connoisseur of coachbuilt post-war grand tourers, this is a rare opportunity indeed.

History and Paperwork

Originally sold to the UK in right-hand drive, first registered in 1951
Three former registered UK owners; also noted on the V5C as having been registered or used overseas
Current owner since November 2019
Sold in August 1952 to an American owner; bill of sale included in the history file
Saoutchik chrome modifications commissioned in Paris during a 1952 European tour
Remained in the United States for over four decades before returning to the UK
Best Car of Show at the 33rd Bristol Classic Car Show (2012), first place at the Shelsley Walsh Concours (2015), and further awards at UK events between 2013 and 2016
Featured in Classic & Sports Car (August 2017) and Auto Italia (December 2018)
History file includes the Aurelia instruction book and handbook, 1952 bill of sale, bound history album with photographs from 1951 onward, Pebble Beach archive photographs, magazine features, trophies and rosettes
MOT/road tax exempt
V5C present; registration '557 XUY' is noted as non-transferable
47,091 kilometers (indicated)

The Condition

The seller describes the chrome work throughout, including the Saoutchik additions, as bright and in very good order
The seller describes the paint finish as presenting well, with two small air bubble blemishes noted on the rear fenders
Silver paintwork over elegant Pinin Farina coachwork
Saoutchik chrome rear fender flanks, auxiliary lamps and perforated muffler covers
Lancia shield grille, chrome hubcaps and black folding hood
Gray leather interior with contrasting light piping
Body-colored dashboard with cream-faced instruments in chrome bezels
Ivory steering wheel with chrome spokes and Aurelia center badge

Finished in silver, this Aurelia B50 wears Pinin Farina's elegant cabriolet body, enhanced in 1952 by Carrosserie Saoutchik of Paris. The Saoutchik additions give it a look all its own: chrome rear flanks, auxiliary front lights and perforated muffler covers. The chrome work continues inside, extending to the interior trim, hood frames and door shuts, and the car comes with fitted luggage.

The Mechanics

1,750cc V6 engine (the B10 unit, designed by Francesco De Virgilio under Vittorio Jano)
Four-speed manual transmission
Starts and runs correctly
The seller reports the car is factory standard and correct

Power comes from Lancia's pioneering B10 engine, an all-alloy 1,754cc V6 designed by Francesco De Virgilio under Vittorio Jano and the first V6 to enter series production. It produces around 56hp and drives the rear wheels through a four-speed transmission mounted at the back in a rear transaxle, with inboard rear drum brakes. Suspension is Lancia's sliding-pillar arrangement at the front and an independent setup at the rear, engineering that was far ahead of its time.

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