1958 | Lancia Aurelia B20 GT 2500

A Collector’s Dream on Wheels – The 1958 Lancia Aurelia B20S Series VI

A car that was, at least from a technical standpoint, far ahead of its time: the Lancia Aurelia. From 1950 onwards, Vittorio Jano’s engineering masterpiece struck fear into the hearts of the competition – with no rigid axles, no heavy ladder-frame chassis, and no rough or unrefined engine in sight.

The Aurelia glides through corners with precise, neutral steering, and its engine delivers power with the smooth elasticity of a rubber band. It featured the world’s first production V6 engine, with both block and cylinder heads made from aluminium – making it compact and weighing just 114 kg. Power is transmitted via a transaxle mounted at the rear axle, ensuring near-perfect weight distribution. Another key to the Aurelia’s remarkable handling is the use of radial tyres, an absolute innovation at the time.

True to the best of Lancia traditions, the Aurelia reflects the pioneering spirit of Vincenzo Lancia, whose cars were always ahead of their time. Yet by the end of the 1950s, just 3,871 coupés had been built – a low figure partly due to the car’s high price, which was not far below that of a Mercedes-Benz 300SL. And even then, the German sports car was more obvious in signalling the wealth of its owner.

The example offered here is from the sixth and final series of the Aurelia B20, and therefore features the De Dion rear axle – which combined excellent wheel control with minimal unsprung mass. Originally delivered to Portugal, the car was imported into Switzerland from Belgium in 2016 by its current owner, who has since invested approximately CHF 70,000, fully documented with invoices.

A FIVA passport, classed A/3, confirms the vehicle’s outstanding originality – a testament to the timeless quality and innovation of Italian automotive engineering.

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