Lancia Aurelia

Lancia Aurelia

Manufacturer	Lancia
Production	1950-1958 13,488 produced
Successor	Lancia Flaminia
Class	Grand tourer
Body style(s)	2-door convertible 2-door coupé 4-door sedan
Layout	FR layout
Engine(s)	1.8 L 1800 V6 2.0 L 2000 V6 2.5 L 2500 V6
Designer	Vittorio Jano

The Lancia Aurelia is a car that was produced by the Italian manufacturer Lancia. Designed by Vittorio Jano, the Aurelia was launched in 1950 and production lasted until the summer of 1958.

The Aurelia used the first production V6 engine, a 60° design developed by Francesco de Virgilio who was, between 1943 and 1948 a Lancia engineer, and who worked under Jano. During production, capacity grew from 1.8 L to 2.5 L. Prototype engines used a bore and stroke of 68 mm x 72 mm for 1569 cc; these were tested between 1946 and 1948. It was an all-alloy pushrod design with a single camshaft between the cylinder banks. A hemispherical combustion chamber and in-line valves were used. A single Solex or Weber carburettor completed the engine. Some uprated 1991 cc models were fitted with twin carburettors.

At the rear was an innovative combination transaxle with the gearbox, clutch, differential, and inboard-mounted drum brakes. The front suspension was a sliding pillar design, with rear semi-trailing arms replaced by a de Dion tube in the Fourth series. The Aurelia was also one of the first cars to be fitted with radial tire.

First series

Lancia Aurelia B10 Sedan Berlina 1951

Lancia Aurelia GT 1951

Lancia Aurelia GT 1955

Lancia Aurelia GT 1957

The very first Aurelias were the B10 berlinas (sedans). They used a 1754 cc version of the V6 which produced 56 hp (42 kW). The B21 was released in 1951 with a larger 1991 cc 70 hp (52 kW) engine. A 2-door B20 GT coupé appeared that same year. It had a shorter wheelbase and a Ghia-designed, Pininfarina-built body. The same 1991 cc engine produced 75 hp (56 kW) in the B20. In all, 500 first series Aurelias were produced.

Second series

The second series Aurelia coupé pushed power up to 80 hp (60 kW) from the 1991 cc V6 with a higher compression ratio and repositioned valves. Other changes included better brakes and minor styling tweaks, such as chromed bumpers instead of the aluminium ones used in the earlier car. A new dashboard featured two larger instrument gauges. The suspension was unchanged from the first series. A new B22 sedan was released in 1952 with dual Webers and a hotter camshaft for 90 hp (67 kW).

In the Netherlands there was a rare B50 four-seater convertible.^{[citation needed]}

Third series

The third series appeared in 1953 with a larger 2451 cc version of the engine. The rear of the car lost the tail fins of the earlier series.

Fourth series

1958 B24 Convertible

The fourth series introduced the new de Dion tube rear suspension. The engine was changed from white metal bearings to shell bearings. An open car, the B24 Spider, was introduced at this time (1954 to 1955) and was well received. It was similar to the B20 coupé mechanically, with an 8 inch (203 mm) shorter wheelbase than the coupé.

The fourth series cars were the first Aurelias to be available in left-hand drive; fourth series Aurelias were the first ones to be imported to the US in any number.

This model was immortalized by Dino Risi's 1962 movie Il Sorpasso (The Easy Life), starring Vittorio Gassman. The actual car used for shooting (a single model) was not destroyed during the accident scene sealing the end of the story: an Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider was used as replacement.

Fifth series

The fifth series coupé, appearing in 1956, was more luxury-oriented. It had a different transaxle (split case), which was more robust and similar to that used in the later Flaminias. The driveshaft was also revised to reduce vibration.

Alongside the fifth series coupés was a revised open car, the B24 convertible. This differed from the earlier B24 Spider, having roll-up windows, better seating position, and a windscreen with vent windows. In mechanical aspects, the B24 convertible was similar to the coupé of the same series.

Sixth series

Power was down to 112 hp (84 kW) for the 1957 sixth series, with increased torque to offset the greater weight of the later car. The sixth series coupés had vent windows, and typically a chrome strip down the hood. They were the most touring oriented of the B20 series.

The sixth series B24 convertible was very similar to the fifth series, with some minor differences in trim. Most notably, the fuel tank was in the trunk, not behind the seats as it was in the fourth and fifth series open cars. This change, however, did not apply for the first 150 sixth series cars, which were like the fifth series. The sixth series convertibles also featured different seats than either both earlier cars.

Racing pedigree

In the 1951 Mille Miglia the 2-litre Aurelia, driven Giovanni Bracco and Umberto Maglioli, finished 2nd only beaten by the Ferrari America. The same year it took first in class and 12th overall at LeMans. Modified Aurelias took the first three places on 1952's Targa Florio with Felice Bonetto as the winner and another win on Lièges-Rome-Lièges of 1953.

Technical specifications

This section may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards. Please improve this section if you can. (September 2009)

B21 Bore 72.00mm. Stroke 81.50mm.Capaicity 1991cc : Bore spacing =121.60mm. Bore for sleeve =86.40mm. Main bearing journal =55.00mm. Big-end journal =45.00mm. Gudgeon-pin O.D.=20.00mm.[small end is bushed].Connecting-rod center to center=160.30mm. Deck height= 242.00mm.Dry weight= 150 kg. Firing order= 1L 4R 3L 6R 5L 2R. Spark plugs= Champion N5 gap= 0.70mm. Valve timing=16~67X60~23.Static timing= 10deg. b.t.d.c..Comp./ratio to one =7.8 Centrifugal advance= 26deg.Valve clearance= In. 0.25mm Exh.0.35mm.Carb.: Solex 30 AAI, 23 and 24mm venturis.75GrossHP@4500RPM.

Production numbers

[a]= the data does not contain preproduction B24 prototype constructed in 1954

References

• Jonassen, Niels (2007). Lancia Aurelia in Detail: GT, Spyder & Saloon. Herridge & Sons. ISBN 978-0954998141. 
• Buckley, Martin & Rees, Chris (1998). World Encyclopedia of Cars. London: Anness Publishing. ISBN 1-84038-083-7. 
• "Lancia Aurelia". Viva-Lancia. http://www.viva-lancia.com/aurelia. Retrieved December 23, 2004. 

External links

• Lancia Motor Club (UK)