Lancia Aurelia B24 Spider

The Lancia Aurelia B24 is the open version of the Lancia Aurelia, a two seat Pininfarina spider launched in January 1955 and sold first as the Spider and later as the Convertibile, also called America, until 1958. Gianni Lancia wanted an elite, sporting car with transatlantic styling and commissioned the first example from Pininfarina, which had built a spider for Nash in 1952. The first series used the mechanics of the B20 coupe, a 2.5 litre V6 of 118 horsepower, under a lowered bonnet with a panoramic windscreen, four bumper guards and no door handles; cars for the United States had a detuned engine of 110 horsepower. The last first series Spider left the factory in October 1955 after 240 had been built, and the Convertibile America followed in 1956 with a more conventional body. The car owes part of its fame to the film Il sorpasso.