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Lot details
- The very last B24 S America produced!
- In the hands of the same owner from 1955 to 1991
- Matching numbers and colours
- Exceptional restoration
- A model combining rarity, elegance and exclusivity
This model is one of the most beautiful convertibles of the second half of the twentieth century, and this particular Lancia lives up to its reputation. It's the latest to be designed in collaboration with Vittorio Jano, so you can expect genuine mechanical sophistication. The V6 engine, an unusual configuration at the time, was derived from the previous V4s and, in the interests of good weight distribution, the engineers designed a transaxle transmission to the rear. What's more, the brakes are attached to the rear axle, forming an extremely compact unit. This layout was first adopted on a saloon, but was later adopted on a coupé; the famous B20 GT. Presented at the 1951 Turin Motor Show, it was one of the stars of the show, thanks to its elegant, understated lines designed by Felice Boano for Ghia (although the car was later produced by Pininfarina). From the outset, the car showed obvious sporting qualities and successes were not long in coming, starting with Bracco's second place in the famous Mille Miglia in May 1951, behind the much more powerful Villoresi Ferrari. The B20 Corsa, lighter thanks to its aluminium bodywork, would then take up the baton, reinforcing the sporty image of this consistent and reliable car. The Aurelia won the Targa Florio, the Liège-Rome-Liège and the Monte Carlo Rally, among other races. On the technical front, the car underwent a number of changes, in particular with a view to meeting the needs of customers associated with the emerging Grand Touring segment: sportiness, of course, but also comfort. The main changes concern an increase in engine capacity to 2.5 litres and 115 bhp, and a simplification of the rear suspension: the independent trailing arms have been replaced with a De Dion axle, which avoids the untimely reactions that can sometimes occur. Around this time, a version more specifically designed for the United States appeared, the B24 Spider America. Based on a shortened coupé platform, it is a sublime roadster with a panoramic windscreen, as seen on the 1995 Ford T-Birds. Presented at the 1955 Brussels Motor Show, this Spyder B24 S (for "sinistra", left-hand drive) was designed by Francesco Martinengo for Pininfarina. But it wasn't as successful as expected, as it was very expensive (at the time, it cost twice as much as a Jaguar XK 140). Shortly afterwards, Lancia launched the B24 Convertible, a cabriolet with retractable windows and a more traditional windscreen. Compared to the coupé, the convertible versions were much more limited, with 240 spiders and 521 convertibles produced. To complement their charm, they also add rarity.
The sublime B24S Spider America we are presenting is the very last one built in October 1955. It was delivered new to its first owner in Lebanon (with original number plates supplied to the future owner) and remained there until 1991, when it was acquired by Pierre Desgand and imported into France. He kept the car until 1998, when it became part of an Italian collection belonging to Giovanni Sieni, who entrusted the complete restoration of the car to Italy's leading marque specialists, Bonfanti Garage and Cassola. There the car was completely restored, while retaining all its original features, from the mechanical elements to the original colours. Its original 2.5-litre V6 engine and transmission was rebuilt in 2023. The file provided includes invoices for the various works and photos of the restoration. This exceptional work was carried out from 2015 to 2022 - seven years to turn this Lancia into a real jewel.
It comes with its original Fontana hard top; a rare feature that will allow future buyers to enjoy it in both summer and winter. The car also comes with a set of Borrani wheels with tyres, its original bumpers, tools, two keys (one original and one reproduction) and the owner's handbook, as well as a copy of the 1991 French import certificate.
This B24S Spider America, the last one ever built and an original left-hand drive model, with matching numbers, original hard-top, original colours, fully restored to the highest standards and with the perfect colour combination, represents an exceptional opportunity to drive the most beautiful Lancia in history, and certainly one of the rarest and most sought-after. The very best in Italian sporting elegance...
