Vincenzo Lancia was an ex-racer and an ingenious designer, who made cars to suit his taste and maybe a few customers. Before his death in 1937, his final creation was the Aprilla, a small car that put the fear of God into many more potent cars of the time.
After World War II, Gianni Lancia reopened Lancia’s Turin factory and had his team start work on a new V6 engine. After a few years of research and development it was ready for the public. Straight out of the box, the Vittorio Jano- and Francesco de Virgillo-designed B20 Aurelia coupe was successful, with this first production V6 coming home 2nd in the 1951 Mille Miglia, behind Villoresi’s 4.1 Ferrari no less. The Aurelia went on that year to finish 1st in class at Le Mans and score a stunning 1-2-3 at the Targa Florio. With this opening salvo of success, the next step had to be an open-top Aurelia. Lancia did not disappoint. The B24 Spider America was a beautiful, yet understated, Pininfarina creation.
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