1955 Lancia Aurelia B24S Spider America
- Engine
- Aluminum V6, numbers-matching, with optional Nardi dual-carburetor intake fitted
- Colour
- Azzurro (blue)
Chassis no. 1044 is a Lancia Aurelia B24 Spider America, one of just 181 left-hand-drive examples, introduced at the 1955 Brussels Motor Show and bodied by Pinin Farina. Originally dispatched through Hoffman Motorcars in New York, it passed through several American and Italian owners before undergoing a comprehensive cosmetic and mechanical restoration in Turin during the mid-to-late 1990s. The car is accompanied by a rare colour-matched Fontana hardtop and has received continued specialist attention, including work by noted Lancia experts in the United States and Italy.
Ownership
- —Auction saleEstimate US$1,250,000 – US$1,500,000
- —Auction saleSold US$940,000
- 1963 → 1995Acquisition unknownEunice Griffithpartial documentation
Illinois-based owner who held the car for approximately three decades; the car remained within her family during this period.
- 1995 →Private saleRaymond Milopartial documentation
Late Los Angeles–based dealer, widely respected for his automotive knowledge; subsequently sold the car onward to a European collector.
- → 1998Private saleLuciano Bertolerofull documentation
Turin-based jeweler and collector who commissioned a thorough mechanical and cosmetic restoration over roughly three years, documented in an album of approximately 90 photographs; finish changed to Azzurro with dark blue interior.
- 1998 → 2001Private saleTerenzio Longonipartial documentation
Milan-based industrialist who retained the car for about three years following the completion of the restoration.
- 2001 → 2015Private saleLos Angeles collectorpartial documentation
Well-known California-based collector of rare European sports cars who had a Nardi dual-carburetor setup and Borrani wire wheels fitted before shipping the car to the US; engaged marque specialist Tony Nicosia for ongoing maintenance and correctness work.
- 2015 →Private saleEuropean Aurelia enthusiastfull documentation
Current consignor who invested over $100,000 in freshening work by US and Italian Lancia specialists and had the car registered in the UK; expenditure supported by invoices.
- Date unknownFactory deliveryHoffman Motorcarspartial documentation
Lancia's authorized US distributor in New York City, believed to have received the car directly from the factory as the American market importer.
- Date unknownVictor M. Riccipartial documentation
Brooklyn, New York–based Lancia enthusiast believed to have been among the car's earliest private owners.
Competition
- 2005-08-012005 Pebble Beach Concours d'EleganceDisplay entry only
The car appeared at Pebble Beach in a non-competing display capacity rather than as a judged concours entry.
Maintenance & restoration
- 1998Modification
Prior to shipment to the United States, a Nardi intake manifold with twin carburettors was fitted and Borrani wire wheels were installed.
Modifications arranged by the Los Angeles collector who purchased the car from Longoni in 2001.
- —RestorationLuciano Bertolero's workshop
A full restoration was carried out in Bertolero's Turin workshop over roughly three years during the 1990s, covering both mechanical and cosmetic aspects; the bodywork was refinished in Azzurro and the cabin re-trimmed in dark blue upholstery.
The restoration process is documented by an album of approximately 90 photographs; completed in 1998.
- —MechanicalTony Nicosia (Oceanside, California)
Over several years, specialist Tony Nicosia attended to the braking system, gearbox, and electrical components, refurbished the Borrani wheels and associated metalwork, and resolved various minor faults; the engine was tested and found to produce correct compression, so no major engine work was undertaken.
Work carried out during the Los Angeles collector's ownership period, broadly between 2001 and 2015.
- —ServiceJan Vroboril; Gilberto Clerici
After 2015 the current owner invested in additional freshening services totalling approximately $108,000, including attention from US-based Lancia specialist Jan Vroboril and Italian marque restorer Gilberto Clerici.
Supported by invoices; the car was subsequently registered in the United Kingdom.
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