Vehicle Description
1955 Lancia B24-S Spider America
Year 1955
Make Lancia
Model B24S
Type Spider America
Chassis No ?B24S-1170?
Pinin Farina Job No 15289
Pinin Farina Scocca No S 00172
Exterior Color Dark Blue
Interior Color Tobacco
Engine No MOT. B24 No 1229
Engine Casting Date May 14th, 1955
Intake Manifold No B24 1229
Transaxle No 398
Transaxle Type Tipo B20S
Transaxle Casting Date May 5th, 1955
Final Drive Ratio 11 x 47 (4.27:1)
Front Suspension No 164
Front Suspension Type Tipo B24S
Front Axle No 172
Steering Box No 399
Carburetor Weber 40DCZ 5 (s/n 3622)
Tail Light Bezel Date Code February 7th, 1953
Tail Light Lenz Date Code March 20th, 1954
Windscreen Date Code March 11th, 1955
Assembly Started October 3rd, 1955
Assembly Finished October 23rd, 1955
First Tested October 24th, 1955
Accepted for delivery October 24th, 1955
UK Registration (1982) "WYA 8"
UK Registration "212 UYL"
Florida Registration "ADG 39A"
Mileage 52,122 Miles
Background:
Lancia's B24 Spider America was a limited production, open-topped,
Pinin Farina bodied "Spider" based on the Aurellia B20GT production
Coupe. The B20GTs were produced from 1950 to 1958 in sixth distinct
series. The Spider America was based the fourth Series GT and was
built in a very short production run in 1954 and 1955. Pinin
Farina's Spider America retained the basic drive-train and
suspension layout of the Fourth Series GT, but was instead built on
chassis platform that was 8 inches / 203mm shorter. The shorter
chassis and lighter "Spider" body took full advantage of the
2,451cc, V-6 engine, four-speed transaxle, independent front
suspension and de-Dion rear suspension that also featured in-board
"Alfin" drum brakes. Just 240 examples were completed. Those built
with the suffix "S" in their chassis numbers were left-hand drive
with the "S" standing for "Sinistra" or left in Italian. 181
left-hand-drive examples were completed and 59 were completed in
right-hand-drive.
Chassis No ?B24S-1170?
This particular B24S Spider America was a regular production
example, one of 240 total examples completed and one of 181 that
were left-hand-drive configured. It had two very unique
configuration features that set it far apart from the other
examples built. This vehicle was assembled as a normal Italian,
domestic-market vehicle which featured both Italian lighting and
the distinct open glove box without locking door. All gauges and
indicators were however in English with the speedometer calibrated
in miles at the request of the original ordering owner, an American
Air Force officer stationed in Rome.
The other unique features of this Spider America was the
"one-of-one" paint and interior scheme. The original color was
called "Verde Alassio." The Max Meyer Color code for "Verde Alassio
is 13.665" The name was copied form the Italian village of Alassio,
a famous resort area on the Italian Rivera, half-way between Genoa,
Italy and Nice, France. Many of the cottages and buildings there
are painted this famous light green which is similar to but not
quite a "mint" green. This particular Spider America was the one
and only example painted in this color combination and fitted with
a beige leather interior.
In the Summer of 1980, legendary musician and bassist for the rock
band "The Who" John Entwistle was on holiday in Italy and purchased
this Lancia.
An old service sticker indicates that In 1982 while still in Italy
an oil and filter service was performed on August 20th 1982 with
the vehicle showing 49,961 miles. Shortly thereafter and now
painted red with the original tan seats now dyed black, this Lancia
was delivered to the UK. It was then purchased, at least on paper
by Mr. Ken Wyatt win London who was the personal assistant and
driver for John Entwistle. (Entwistle had all of his vehicles
registered and handled by Wyatt rather than keeping them in his
name.)
One month later after delivery to the UK the engine was completely
rebuilt and additional services completed on September 17th, 1982.
The work was performed by specialist, Weylock Automobiles (Frank V.
Collins & Company, Ltd.) in Surrey UK. Upon completion of these
repairs the vehicle was road-registered on UK plates "WYA 8" and
issued a new MOT on September 9th, 1982. This was renewed again on
April 30th, 1983 and finally a last time on August 16th, 1985.
In the Spring of 1985, John Entwistle asked his assistant to sell
this Lancia and it was soon purchased by London Classic Car dealer
Paradise Garage. In May of 1985 an American scientist and hybrid
seed specialist named Robert Heisey was working and living in
Parma, Italy where he was employed by PETO Italiano S.r.l., Parma,
Italia. Mr. Heisey was a seed selection specialist but also very
interested in acquiring a Lancia Spider America. He began
negotiations to purchase the vehicle and by the end of June, the
car was sold by Paradise Garage to Mr. Robert Heisey. The car was
invoiced to his home in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The sales invoice
was dated July 31st, 1985 an the selling price was £10,500 which at
the time was $13,702.
That Summer, Mr. Heisey relocated his family to Florida and had the
vehicle shipped from Southampton to Jacksonville, Florida. It was
shipped on the Roll-On, Roll-Off vessel "Venus Diamond" which
departed on the 4th of September 1985 and arrived in Jacksonville
on September 17th, 1985.
The Heisey family enjoyed their new Lancia for several years before
storing it for the next 20 years in their garage in Gillroy,
California after a cross-county move. It remained there quietly
until the family decided it was time for it to move on to a new
owner. In August of 2014, this Lancia was consigned to the Gooding
& Company Auction house for their August 16th Pebble Beach sale. It
was lot number 22 and carried an estimate of $900,000 to $1,100,000
and sold for $880,000 to noted UK collector, Mr. Pierre Mellinger.
After his purchase, the car was initially shipped to the UK and
then to GPS Classic S.r.l., in Soragna, Italy for services and
preparation for rallies, tours and races where it successfully ran
a variety of events over the next year two and half years prior to
our recent purchase.
This Lancia Aurelia B24S Spider America has just complete a full
and compressive restoration without consideration for time or
expense. The work took more than two years and cost in excess of
$300,000! You will never encounter a finer example anywhere
again.
Let me know how else I can assist you with inspections, purchase
and worldwide delivery of this very special machine.
