1955 Lancia Aurelia B24 Spider America

This 1955 B24 Spider America represents the open-top evolution of Lancia’s Aurelia line, styled by Pinin Farina and engineered around the marque’s pioneering 2.5-liter V6 with a rear transaxle. Built in limited numbers for just one season, the Spider America combined advanced engineering with elegant design and is today regarded as one of the most desirable Italian sports cars of the 1950s.

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About the Aurelia B24 Spider America

Produced only in 1955, a total of 240 Spider Americas were built: 181 in left-hand drive (B24S, “sinistra”) and 59 in right-hand drive. Distinctive features include the dramatic wraparound windscreen, split “wing” bumperettes, cut-down doors, and the long bonnet scoop. Mechanically, the model shares the fourth-series Aurelia architecture with a 2,451 cc OHV V6, four-speed rear transaxle, inboard rear drums, sliding-pillar front suspension, and a De Dion rear axle. Period literature cites a top speed around 180 km/h with approximately 118 bhp.

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Intended largely for export markets, the Spider America was followed in 1956 by the B24 Convertible, a more practical open model with wind-up windows and a flatter screen. The Spider’s combination of rarity, engineering sophistication and Pinin Farina design underpins its enduring reputation among collectors.

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1955 Example — History and Presentation

Presented here in red with tan leather seats, this example reflects a period-correct color/style combination often seen on B24 Spider Americas. While individual provenance varies by chassis, notable auction records document cars retaining their matching-numbers engines and comprehensive histories, underscoring the model’s collectability and eligibility for premier driving events.

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As with many Spiders, surviving cars may have seen careful restoration to original specifications. Factory-style presentation includes the wraparound screen, split bumpers, side curtains (in lieu of wind-up windows), and floor-mounted gear change.

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Technical and Mechanical Notes

• Engine: 2,451 cc OHV V6 (all-alloy), typically rated at approx. 118 bhp with a single Weber 40 DCZ carburetor. Known specifications include 78 mm × 85 mm bore and stroke and ~8.0:1 compression.

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• Transmission/Rear Axle: Four-speed manual rear transaxle integrating gearbox, clutch and differential; inboard rear drum brakes; De Dion rear suspension.

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• Suspension/Brakes: Sliding-pillar independent front suspension; rear De Dion; four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes with rear inboard layout.

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Body, Interior, and Equipment

• Body & Design: Pinin Farina coachwork distinguished by a panoramic wraparound windscreen, split bumperettes, cut-down doors, and a long bonnet scoop — hallmark elements unique to the Spider America’s one-year production run.

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• Interior: Two-seat cockpit with period-correct floor shift and side curtains. Instrumentation typically features one prominent central dial flanked by two smaller gauges — a layout specific to the Spider.

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• Weather Gear: Lightweight folding soft top with removable side screens (no wind-up windows on the Spider America).

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Accompaniments and Spares