• Year of manufacture 
    1952
  • Mileage 
    95 533 km / 59 362 mi
  • Car type 
    Coupé
  • Chassis number 
    B20-1833
  • Drive 
    RHD
  • Condition 
    Used
  • Interior colour 
    Grey
  • Number of doors 
    2
  • Number of seats 
    2
  • Location
    United Kingdom
  • Exterior colour 
    Black
  • Gearbox 
    Manual
  • Drivetrain 
    2wd
  • Fuel type 
    Petrol

Description

This highly original Aurelia B20 Series II Berlinetta is one of just 731 produced and boasts a continuous history from new, with as complete a history file as one could hope for – including every MOT and bill for work carried out, including an engine rebuild and two glass-out repaints by Ashton Keynes Vehicle Restoration.

First registered in Milan on 30 July 1952, the original Italian registration with the car documents its ownership history through to 1963, at which point it was taken off the road for 11 years, before it was purchased by Peter Agg of Trojan Cars. Mr Agg imported the car to the UK, where it was registered as WYM 493M in 5 June 1974.

Three days later it was bought at auction at Alexandra Palace by Dr. David Leech of Fairford, Gloucestershire, on behalf of his friend, Dr Laite, who eventually sold it onto David in the mid-1980s. Dr Leach meticulously maintained the car over years of dedicated ownership.

The claimed mileage upon arrival in the UK in the 1970s of 89,510km is considered the genuine total and the car has only done an additional 6,000km since, which is quite remarkable and testament to what a pampered life it has enjoyed.

Since arriving with us, the car – re-registered 150 GXG since 2004 – has undergone a further £24,500 worth of work with Lancia specialists Thornley Kelham to restore it to its ultimately original form: in period (the late 1950’s) early Italian cars were modified to comply with new road laws regarding indicators; in the case of our car, the beautiful flying wings were adapted to accept a stack of rear lights with built in indicators. We were determined to reinstate this most elegant feature, unique to the Series II, and return it to original condition.

These cars cost the same as Aston Martins and Mercedes in period and were the preserve of the wealthy and knowledgeable enthusiast driver and, famously, were used as road cars by professionals such as Fangio and Hawthorne.

The early, lighter cars with the live rear axle were the design favoured by the factory racing drivers and are a joy to drive. So, we like them first and foremost as a driver’s car but also, due to their rarity and their period race results, we like them as cars most likely to gain entry to our favourite events today.

We do not say this lightly, or about many cars, but we think that this is as good a Series II as you will find anywhere in the world and accordingly we would rank it as a true collector level car.