Collectors Corner - Lancia B24 S - Spiders and Convertibles


Lancia Aurelia B24 S Spider America s/n 1156

Lancia Aurelia B24 S Spider America s/n 1156

Lancia Aurelia B24 S Spider America

Lancia Aurelia B24 S Spider America

Lancia Aurelia B24 S Spider America

Lancia Aurelia B24 S Spider America

Lancia Aurelia B24 S Spider America (Gandolfi-Gandolfi)

Lancia Aurelia B24 S Spider America (Gandolfi-Gandolfi)

Lancia Aurelia B24 S Spider America (Gandolfi-Gandolfi)

Lancia Aurelia B24 S Spider America (Gandolfi-Gandolfi)

Lancia Aurelia B24 S Spider America (Gandolfi-Gandolfi)

Lancia Aurelia B24 S Spider America (Gandolfi-Gandolfi)

Lancia Aurelia B24 S Spider America

Lancia Aurelia B24 S Spider America

Lancia Aurelia B24 S Spider America

Lancia Aurelia B24 S Spider America

Lancia Aurelia B24 Convertible s/n B24S 1577

Lancia Aurelia B24 Convertible s/n B24S 1577

Lancia Aurelia B24 Convertible s/n B24S 1577

Lancia Aurelia B24 Convertible s/n B24S 1577

Lancia Aurelia B24 Convertible s/n B24S 1577

Lancia Aurelia B24 Convertible s/n B24S 1577

Lancia Aurelia B24 S Spider America

Lancia Aurelia B24 S Spider America

Lancia Aurelia B24 S Spider America

Lancia Aurelia B24 S Spider America

Lancia Aurelia B24 S Spider America

Lancia Aurelia B24 S Spider America

Lancia Aurelia B24 S Spider America s/n B24S-1172

Lancia Aurelia B24 S Spider America s/n B24S-1172

Lancia Aurelia B24 S Spider America s/n B24S-1046

Lancia Aurelia B24 S Spider America s/n B24S-1046

Lancia Aurelia B24 S Spider America s/n B24S-1046

Lancia Aurelia B24 S Spider America s/n B24S-1046

Lancia Aurelia B24 Convertible s/n 1642

Lancia Aurelia B24 Convertible s/n 1642

Lancia Aurelia B24 Convertible s/n 1642

Lancia Aurelia B24 Convertible s/n 1642

Lancia Aurelia B24 Convertible s/n 1642

Lancia Aurelia B24 Convertible s/n 1642

 

The Aurelia B24 Spider was an open 2-seater and was presented at the 1954 Brussels Motorshow. It was based on a shortened B20 chassis and bodywork by Pinin Farina. 240 cars were built. 50 cars of those were rumored to have been lost in the 1956 sinking of the "SS Andrea Doria", however, Lancia had shipped those B24s to the U.S. importer Max Hoffman with the merchant ship "President Madison" a year prior (source: Motor Italia magazine, Nr. 7/55).



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In 1956 it was replaced by a Convertible also powered by a 2451 cc 108 bhp engine, but lost its charms when the wrap-around windscreen, the split bumpers and removable side windows were replaced by once of more traditional style. Production ran out in 1958 after 521 cars had been built. 

U.S. importer Hoffmann recommended to several European car manufacturers to offer open 2-seater sports cars for the American market. BMW and Lancia did, but the prices were very high and that resulted in the very limited number of cars produced.

The B24 designated the open two-seater Aurelia. These cars came only in two types – the earlier dramatic B24 Spider of 1954-55 and the later more sophisticated B24 Convertible of 1956-1958.

The stunning Spider features a wrap-around windshield, split bumpers, side curtains and a difficult-to-use top. Lighter than the convertible, it is the sportier of the two. However, it has a more awkward seating position, one befitting a prototype and not a series car. Both of these cars were fully designed by Pinin Farina and assembled in their factory on top of chassis provided by Lancia.

The Convertible is a more conventional car and less of a prototype. It is easily differentiated from the spider with its vent windows, roll up side windows, and a more conventional, less striking look, but with a more relaxed driving position, being somewhat more considered than the Spider.  

The open cars follow the mechanics of the B20’s almost exactly. While on a shorter wheelbase, all the mechanics are identical to the same year’s B20:  

·          the B24 Spider is based on a 4th series B20,  

·          the B24 Convertible is based on the 5th and 6th series B20’s.  


There are a few exceptions, of course:  

·          the B24 Spider was also available with a detuned “America” engine, unique to this car only, provided with a special camshaft.  

·          the Convertible has some minor differences between the 5th and 6th series cars. Typically, the 5th series seats are similar to the Spiders’, fairly large and flat, with a small covered panel between them. The 6th series seats are more significantly like bucket seats, without any thing separating them. The gas tank of the early convertibles (5th and first 150 of the 6th) is just behind the seats like the Spider. The later convertibles have it in trunk. 

The Lancia B24 S is Mille Miglia eligible, as long as it was built before December 31 1957, and as well as for most other major events -- but not for the Tour Auto. 

Chassis numbers
(Reference: Adrian Rudler, Aurelia advisor Lancia Motor Club (UK))

Aurelia B24 Spiders had the chassis numbers from
B24 1001 to 1059 (RHD) and
B24S 1001 to 1181 (LHD S=Sinistra).
These were all built in 1955.

Aurelia B24 Convertible had chassis numbers from B24s 1182 to 1702 (all LHD).


Credits 

Thanks to Geoff Goldberg for much of this information. Additional can be found at the following site www.lanciainfo.com

Paolo Giusti, administrator of the Italian www.viva-lancia.com forum for information about the shipment of fifty B24s to Hoffman.

 

Galleries


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Mercato (2 November 2012)
1956 Lancia Aurelia B24S Convertible with Hardtop s/n B24S-1185 ... Sold £173,600