Vehicle Description
Chassis No. B24S 1009
Engine No. 1065
Transaxle No. 165
The arrival of the Lancia Aurelia in 1950 signaled not merely a
postwar renaissance for the marque, but a technical revolution felt
by the entire automotive landscape. Developed under Vittorio Jano's
direction, the Aurelia pioneered innovations such as a rear-mounted
transaxle, all-independent suspension, and the first
series-production V6 engine developed by Francesco de Virgilio. In
two-door coupe form, dubbed the B20 GT, the Aurelia earned its
reputation as a "giant killer" by finishing the 1951 Mille Miglia
first in the 2.0-liter class and second overall, beaten only by a
Ferrari 340 America Berlinetta. Further class victories came at the
1951 24 Hours of Le Mans, 1952 Targa Florio, and the 1953 Coppa
della Toscana, cementing the Aurelia's unimpeachable competition
credentials.
Calls for an open variant of the mighty Aurelia were finally
answered in January 1955 at the Brussels Motor Show with the
unveiling of the B24 Spider America. The new 2,450-mm-wheelbase
Spider carried forward all of the Series IV Aurelia's mechanical
sophistication- independent sliding-pillar front suspension, an
inboard-braked de?Dion rear axle, and the enlarged 2.5-liter V6
producing 118 horsepower. Both in name and in design, the new model
drew heavily from the dominant Lancia D24 sports racer-victorious
in the 1953 Carrera Panamericana with Juan Manuel Fangio, first
overall in the 1954 Mille Miglia with Alberto Ascari, and winner of
the 1954 Targa Florio under Piero Taruffi.
Echoes of the D24's profile can be seen in the Spider's Pinin
Farina-penned lines, with its long, gently tapering hood punctuated
by a bold air intake, a sweeping wraparound windscreen, and a
graceful curve that ran from the tops of its pronounced fenders,
through the small sculpted doors, and back to the sharply pitched
trunk lid. Subtle bumperettes front and rear and concealed exterior
door handles further accentuated the clean, signature lines of the
Spider.
Production of the B24 Spider America was extremely limited, with
only 240 examples built between 1954 and 1955. Of these, just 181
were left-hand drive variants designated "B24 S" (with "S" for
sinistra meaning left). This exceptionally early left-hand drive
example, chassis B24 S 1009, is documented by the Aurelia Registry
as just the ninth left-hand drive example built-confirmed by a copy
of hand-written factory records on file. The registry also records
the original production date of 5 June 1955, with its Pinin Farina
coachwork originally rendered in Grigio (Grey) complemented by a
Pelle Chiara (Light leather) interior.
The Spider's documented provenance begins in the 1970s when it
appeared in the records of the American Lancia Club as belonging to
Winslow Adams Jr. of Lake Bluff, Illinois. The Lancia remained with
Mr. Adams for over two decades, taking the car with him when
relocating to Kansas in the early 1990s. Before the turn of the
millennium, Adams sold the Lancia to Jerry Johnson of Rolling Art,
a restoration shop based in Tulsa, Oklahoma. A restoration was
reportedly initiated by Rolling Art but remained unfinished for
over a decade, when in 2013, Johnson sold the Lancia to Stephen
Bell of Colorado. Bell, himself the proprietor of a restoration
business, had the Lancia transported to his Englewood, Colorado,
facility and embarked on a concours-quality restoration.
Pre-restoration images reveal that 1009 had been repainted red at
some point in its life, but otherwise remained in highly original
and complete condition, with its original all-alloy V6 engine (no.
1065), transaxle/differential (no. 165), and numerous other
critical components retained with the car. Bell's meticulous
approach ensured that the B24 S was methodically cataloged during
disassembly-even documenting the corresponding internal engine
number stamping-with original components preserved wherever
possible. The restoration process culminated in a bare-metal
refinish of the Pinin Farina coachwork in factory-correct Grigio
Newmarket, while the interior received period-appropriate Vaumol
hides. Mechanical systems were comprehensively rebuilt to factory
specifications, with respected marque expert Tony Nicosia retained
as consultant throughout the process.
Completed in June 2014, chassis 1009 made its post-restoration
debut at the Colorado Concours d'Elegance in Littleton, where it
claimed the Best of Show award. The car subsequently spent a number
of years in a respected Texas-based collection before being
acquired by the current caretaker in 2017. Since acquisition, the
Spider America has undergone continued mechanical refinement, first
by Ferrari Motor Service in May 2017, which included repairs to the
steering column, addressing a differential leak, and repairing the
convertible top framework.
Further sorting was overseen by specialist Robert Gustafson from
2018 through 2021 totaling $17,575. This comprehensive program
addressed the car's unique Lancia sliding pillar front suspension
system, requiring custom-designed tools and collaboration with
specialist shops in California and the U.K. to properly rebuild the
hydraulic shock absorbers with correct valving and seals, while
also replacing the coil springs with properly matched units.
Additional work encompassed electrical system repairs, engine mount
modifications to address oil seepage, and numerous other mechanical
refinements. Finally, specialist Dorian Valenzuela was enlisted to
conduct a full rebuild of the brake and fuel systems in 2025,
including a carburetor rebuild, refinishing and restoring the fuel
tank, resurfacing and reseating the brakes at a cost of over
$11,000.
This B24 S Spider America now numbers among just 68 examples
believed to remain in existence today, making it the second-oldest
surviving factory left-hand-drive example of this legendary model.
Its matching-numbers status, documented ownership history, and
concours-quality restoration combine to make it one of the finest
examples extant. It is accompanied by its side curtains and
comprehensive documentation in the form of Aurelia Registry
records, service invoices, restoration photos, and more. Now fully
sorted and ready to drive, it offers the opportunity to own,
preserve, and enjoy one of the most celebrated post-war Italian
Spiders ever built, with eligibility for the world's most coveted
historic rallies, from the Mille Miglia Storica to the Colorado
Grand.
