To Be OFFERED AT AUCTION at RM Sothebys' Villa Erba event, 25 May
2019.
Estimate:
€325.000 - €375.000
- Unique and stylish aluminum coachwork
- Designed by Giovanni Michelotti for Vignale
- One of 98 B52s built; the first of seven Vignale-bodied
coup�s
- Fitted with a number of desirable Nardi performance
upgrades
- Featured in the book The Fate of the Sleeping Beauties
This special Aurelia was completed on 24 March 1952 and shipped to
Vignale, where it received this beautiful Michelotti-designed body.
Chassis number 1015 incorporates horizontal wing vents with a
chrome strip that ends in a slight haunch ahead of the rear wheel
arches and culminate in subtle, raked fins. Single headlights with
driving lights flank a simple 'egg-crate' grille, alongside elegant
bumpers with depressed centers and tapered ends. This grille
treatment was shared with another Vignale-bodied B52 (chassis
1026), as well as a Ferrari 212 Inter coup� built by Vignale in
1952.
It is believed that the car was owned by Gina Lollobrigida, who
sent Alfredo Vignale a signed photograph, dated 7 June 1953, and
inscribed it to "il pi� bravo carrozziere d'Italia". It is also
thought that the car appeared in the 1953 film La Provinciale.
Sometime thereafter, the Lancia was acquired in Geneva by a Mr.
Dovaz, a young Parisien who quietly accumulated and number of
interesting automobiles. He stored them on a farm in Villemarchal
from 1964 to 1983 when he moved them to a friend's Chateau in
Bagat-en-Quercy. In 1989, about two dozen cars, including B52-1015,
were transferred to a private museum in Sarlat, where they remained
before the collection was dispersed. The Lancias were sold to
Giorgio Schon and in 2002, Paul V.J. Koot purchased this car, in
unrestored condition, as documented in Ard op de Weegh's book The
Fate of the Sleeping Beauties.
From 2004-2005, the Aurelia was comprehensively restored by
Carrozzeria Granturismo Milano. At that time, the car received a
desirable 'Nardi conversion', which consisted of a special intake
manifold with twin-carburetors, special camshaft and pistons, all
of which were available in period. To accommodate the new induction
system, a bonnet scoop was added. The car also received special,
period-correct Borrani wire wheels, the original, restored wheels
also remain with the car.
Following restoration, ownership was transferred to Norbert Heijke
in July 2006, who kept the car until April 2013. During this time,
the car was shown on a number of occasions, receiving awards at the
2006 Concours d'Elegance at Paleis Het Loo, the 2012 Classic Days
Schloss Dyck, and was named Best of Show - Coup� at the 2012 Essen
Motor Show. It passed through two subsequent owners before being
acquired by the consignor in January 2015. The Lancia was then
shown at the Essen Motor Show in December 2018, where it was again
awarded Best of Show.
To view this car and others currently consigned to this auction,
please visit the RM website at
rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/ve19.
