Arguably the most technically advanced automobile of its generation, the Lancia Aurelia has appealed to connoisseurs since it debuted in 1950.

Developed under Vittorio Jano and Francesco de Virgilio, the Aurelia was an engineering tour de force that featured Lancia’s famous front independent sliding-pillar suspension, independent-spring rear suspension, and a rear-mounted four-speed transaxle with integrated inboard rear brakes. Equipped with the world’s first-production V-6 engine, the Aurelia was capable of 100 mph performance, while standard radial tires, another production-car first, contributed to exceptional roadholding and passenger comfort.

Initially offered as a factory-bodied, four-door Berlina, Lancia introduced the world to the Gran Turismo concept in 1951 when it unveiled the B20 GT. An understated 2+2 coupe with styling courtesy of Mario Felice Boano, the B20 GT shared the Aurelia’s state-of-the-art mechanical underpinnings and immediately proved successful in motor sport. In 1951 alone, Lancia’s B20 GT captured class wins at the Giro di Sicilia, Stella Alpina Rally, 24 Hours of Le Mans, and the Mille Miglia, where Giovanni Bracco and Umberto Maglioli famously drove their near-standard Aurelia to 2nd Place Overall, defeated only by Scuderia Ferrari’s 4.1-liter 340 America. The B20 GT’s exceptional performance, high-quality construction, and clean, unadorned design attracted discerning clientele, including many of the era’s top racing drivers – Briggs Cunningham, Bill Spear, Richie Ginther, Juan Manuel Fangio, and Mike Hawthorn were all B20 GT owners.

The B20 GT presented here, chassis B20-3460, is one of only 1,000 Series IV examples built during 1954–1955. To many Lancisti, the Series IV B20 GTs strike an ideal balance, combining the nimble, lightweight character of the earliest models with the more powerful 2.5-liter V-6 engine, revised De Dion-type rear suspension, and luxurious Pinin Farina coachwork introduced later in the model’s production run.

According to the Milan-based Registro Aurelia, this B20 GT was completed on March 21, 1955, originally finished in Verde (Green) with Nocciola (Hazelnut) cloth upholstery. Today, the Aurelia still wears this handsome color scheme and benefits from a comprehensive, nut-and-bolt restoration overseen by Swiss Lancia enthusiast Lukas Hüni and completed in 2018.

Restored to an unusually high standard and beautifully presented in all respects, this B20 GT is desirably equipped with a floor shift, dash-mounted chronograph, and a rare period-correct water temperature gauge. The engine currently installed, no. 3885, is a correct-type B20 unit, but is not the original unit that was fitted to this car. Included with the sale is an instruction book, sales literature, jack, and spare.

A near-perfect illustration of one of the most innovative automobiles of all time, this splendid Lancia Aurelia B20 GT is the rare car that rewards the driver, aesthete, and intellectual in equal measure.

*Please note that this vehicle has been accepted to the Mille Miglia’s Warm Up USA Event in November 2023, subject to registration and payment of entry fee.