Lancia Aurelia B52 President

Vehicle Overview

The Lancia Aurelia B52 President, created by Carrozzeria Ghia in 1952, is a striking example of Italian automotive luxury and design. Built as a limousine based on the Lancia Aurelia chassis, this vehicle deviated from typical Lancia design elements, showcasing a more distinctive Ghia design language influenced by U.S.. While the car used Lancia’s mechanical underpinnings, its exterior design was entirely the work of Ghia, making it more a product of Ghia’s creative vision than a direct extension of Lancia’s styling. One of the key features of the Lancia Aurelia B52 President is its elegant and imposing bodywork, which was crafted with a focus on luxury and refinement. The limousine’s design did not follow the typical Lancia aesthetic, instead opting for a streamlined and sophisticated look that emphasized grandeur. The front end, in particular, was notable for its clean lines and smooth curves, marking it as a signature Ghia design. This front-end styling was not exclusive to the Aurelia B52 President, as Ghia proposed similar designs on other vehicles, including the Chrysler Special and the Fiat 1900 Cabriolet, further showcasing the versatility of Ghia’s design approach. The design is widely believed to have been the work of Gian Paolo Boano, a skilled designer known for his work at Ghia. Boano’s influence is evident in the car’s well-proportioned, elegant lines and its ability to convey a sense of luxury without excess. The Lancia Aurelia B52 President stood as a testament to Ghia’s reputation for creating unique, bespoke vehicles, and its refined design continues to be admired by collectors and automotive enthusiasts today. Despite its limited production, the Lancia Aurelia B52 President remains a rare example of a custom, luxury limousine that blended the technical reliability of Lancia with the exquisite craftsmanship and visionary styling of Ghia, solidifying its place in automotive history.