The Lancia Aurelia, an engineering tour de force when it was introduced in 1950, featured monocoque construction, four-wheel independent suspension with Lancia’s traditional sliding-pillar front suspension, and multi-link, semi-trailing-arm, coil-spring rear suspension. The car was propelled by the first production V-6 engine, driving through a rear clutch and transaxle with integrated inboard brakes, and it was delivered on radial tyres, which was another production first. The model was initially offered as a berlina, and then, in 1951, this was followed by the legendary sporting variant, the B20 Gran Turismo, which was initially built by Viotti but then taken over and refined by Pinin Farina part-way through 1st Series production. It was therefore no surprise when Lancia asked Pinin Farina to design and build an open sports variant of the 4th Series in 1955. The resulting Aurelia Spider was built on a shortened platform and featured the revised 4th Series rear suspension with a de Dion tube on semi-elliptical leaf springs. It also came standard as a floor shift, unlike the standard column shift of the closed cars.

The stylish Spider debuted at the 1955 Brussels Auto Show and was available in either right-hand or left-hand (Sinistra) drive. The car’s wraparound windscreen gave it a rakish look but necessitated the use of side curtains with sliding vent panels. Whilst the car was very well received, by the mid-’50s the market for expensive sports cars, especially in the US, had begun to demand greater creature comforts than the Spider offered, with its side curtains and small doors. At the same time, the tradition of Italian sporting cars being right-hand drive was also fading.

In 1956, Pinin Farina introduced an updated 5th Series version of the open car, now called the Aurelia Convertible. It was offered only in left-hand drive and was distinguished by a conventional upright windscreen with quarter windows. The interior was enlarged, as were the doors, which now featured wind-down side windows. Production of the Aurelia Convertible continued into the Aurelia’s 6th—and final—series, as with the present example.

Chassis B24S-1478 remained with its original owner until 1985, covering only 40,000 kilometres. Its second owner commissioned noted Lancia specialist KCA, Giancarlo Kappa, to restore the car, which included repainting it in the correct nitrocellulose paint, as original. About a year ago, the car was returned to Kappa to be refreshed, with work including returning the paint to a high state of polish, replacing the clutch and brakes, and thoroughly checking all mechanical systems. It has most recently participated on several tours, including the 2014 Swiss Lakes Rally, where the car performed without issue.

Lancia’s legendary engineering integration lends the Aurelia Convertible the driving dynamics of a car a decade younger. As stylish as it is capable on the road, this Aurelia Convertible is ready to reward its user on either display field or touring event.