Vehicle Description
Chassis No. B20S1763
Engine No. B205409
At the 1951 Turin Motor Show, Lancia introduced the B20 GT coupe
variant of the groundbreaking Aurelia, featuring elegant Pinin
Farina-designed bodywork that established the template for the
modern 2+2 grand tourer. The B20's mechanical specification evolved
throughout production, with engine displacement increasing to
2.5-liters with the Series III, the adoption of a De Dion rear
suspension in the Series IV, and reaching its final and most
refined form in the Series VI. The combination of sporting
capability and refined luxury made the B20 equally at home on both
racing circuits and city boulevards.
The Aurelia proved its capabilities dramatically in the 1951 Mille
Miglia, where Giovanni Bracco and Umberto Maglioli drove their B20
GT to a remarkable second-place finish overall, competing against
vehicles with more than twice their engine displacement. This
achievement, followed by successes in events like the Carrera
Panamericana and Targa Florio, cemented the Aurelia's sporting
credentials. Today, these automobiles remain highly sought after as
one of the earliest examples of the post-war generation of elegant
Gran Turismos.
Built in 1958, chassis number 1763 hails from the sixth and final
series of production and therefore benefits from all of the various
upgrades implemented over the preceding series, including a more
robust, split-case transaxle, de Dion rear suspension, a
112-horsepower 2.5-liter V6 engine, along with a more favorable
seating position, side vent windows, improved sound insulation, and
Jaeger instrumentation. According to previous research, this
left-hand drive "S" model (for Sinistra) was originally delivered
in Florida before being relocated to Toronto, Canada, in the
1980s.
The car later passed to Frank Allocca, a New Jersey-based collector
and car dealer. During his tenure, significant mechanical work was
reportedly undertaken, including a refurbishment of the transaxle,
retrimming of the interior, and service by renowned restoration
shop Paul Russell & Company in Essex, Massachusetts, during the
late 1990s. By 2003, the car changed hands again, joining rock band
manager and prominent automotive journalist Jamie Kitman in New
York. The Lancia then passed to a collection in Southern California
for a number of years, with invoices and parts receipts on file
showing mechanical work performed between 2015 and 2018, before
joining the current Arizona-based caretaker in 2014-an avid
enthusiast and prominent collector of spectacular European sports
cars.
The car retains what is thought to be its original alloy V6 engine
(number B20 5409), complete with its single Weber 40 DCL5
twin-choke carburetor and air-cleaner assembly, housed in an
undisturbed engine compartment. The bodywork, likewise, appears to
be largely intact with what is thought to be much of its original
white paintwork, which shows faint checking throughout. While the
cabin was reupholstered during Allocca's ownership, the switchgear,
Jaeger instrumentation, Sekurit side and rear glass, wood-rimmed
steering wheel, and floor shift all appear to be original.
The car presents as a well-preserved example that has been
thoughtfully maintained-with recent work reportedly including a
comprehensive brake overhaul with new linings and rebuilt hydraulic
components. It shows an authentic patina that reflects careful
stewardship rather than neglect, and would make a rewarding project
or enjoyable tourer on vintage rally or tour events.
