The Partnership between Pininfarina & Lancia
A short history about the partnership between Pininfarina and Lancia, and the design evolution.
The Lancia Aurelia B24 Spider: the most beautiful cars ever built
The Lancia Aurelia B24 Spider holds a revered status among automotive historians as one of the most beautifully crafted cars ever built. “When you see an Aurelia B24, merely looking at it isn’t enough; you’d want to touch it,” expressed Franco Martinengo, who served as the director of Pininfarina’s Styling Center for two decades from 1952 to 1972 after leaving Stabilimenti Farina. The development of the B24 involved contributions from several individuals, including Francesco Salomone, Adriano Rabbone, Aldo Brovarone, Luigi Chicco, and Giacomo Borgogno, all part of the styling team. Pininfarina himself retained a version with a blue hardtop for many years. The pre-series prototype of the Aurelia B24 made its debut on the streets of Turin in the latter half of 1954. Conceived by the young Gianni Lancia, the Aurelia B24 aimed to be an elite, sporty vehicle with design cues inspired by American trends. The initial prototype was commissioned to Pininfarina, leveraging their prior experience, having crafted a spider for the American company Nash in 1952. The first B24, based on the mechanics of the B20 but with slight modifications to accommodate its lowered hood, boasted several distinctive design elements. These included a panoramic windshield surrounded by a chrome-plated brass frame, classic Lancia grille, and large bumpers comprising four sizeable guards. The cockpit, positioned in the center of the wheelbase shortened by 20 cm compared to the B20, was nestled between a generous hood and a large rear end. Production commenced in December 1954, with the first completed Lancia Aurelia B24 Spider featuring left-hand drive. By the time of its unveiling at the Brussels Motor Show on January 15, 1955, orders had already been secured. The definitive B24 differed from the prototype with revised bumpers, a slightly modified grille, and a sleeker rear end. Despite not bearing the “America” designation in its first series, the B24 Spider was tailored for the North American market, evident in features like a de-tuned engine and a horizontal bar between the angular bumper guards for US models. The production concluded in October 1955, with a total of 240 Lancia Aurelia B24 Spiders produced, including only 59 with right-hand drive. The vehicle garnered attention not only for its design but also for its performance, albeit its limited presence in the American market due to pricing and distribution challenges.
A short history about the partnership between Pininfarina and Lancia, and the design evolution.
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