Lancia Aurelia
Encyclopedia
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 brake
s. 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 tires
.
appeared that same year. It had a shorter wheelbase
and a Ghia-designed, Pininfarina
-built body. The same 1991 cc engine produced 75 hp in the B20. In all, 500 first series Aurelias were produced.
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.
In the Netherlands
there was a rare B50 four-seater convertible.
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.
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.
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.
the 2-litre Aurelia, driven by Giovanni Bracco
and Umberto Maglioli
, finished 2nd beaten only 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.
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.
[a]= the data does not contain preproduction B24 prototype constructed in 1954
Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
that was produced by the Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
manufacturer Lancia
Lancia
Lancia Automobiles S.p.A. is an Italian automobile manufacturer founded in 1906 by Vincenzo Lancia and which became part of the Fiat Group in 1969. The company has a long history of producing distinctive cars and also has a strong rally heritage. Some modern Lancias are seen as presenting a more...
. Designed by Vittorio Jano
Vittorio Jano
Vittorio Jano was an Italian automobile designer of Hungarian descent from the 1920s through 1960s.Jano was born Viktor János in San Giorgio Canavese, in Piedmont, to Hungarian immigrants, who arrived there several years before the birth of Jano. He began his career at the car and truck company...
, 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
Lancia V6 engine
In 1950, Lancia introduced the world's first production V6 engine in the Lancia Aurelia.The engine was the work of Francesco De Virilo and was developed to solve the vibration problems Lancia had experienced with its V4 engines. This was achieved by setting the vee angle to 60 degrees. It remained...
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
Poppet valve
A poppet valve is a valve consisting of a hole, usually round or oval, and a tapered plug, usually a disk shape on the end of a shaft also called a valve stem. The shaft guides the plug portion by sliding through a valve guide...
were used. A single Solex
Solex
Solex was a French manufacturer of carburetors and the powered bicycle VéloSoleX.The Solex company was founded by Marcel Mennesson and Maurice Goudard to manufacture vehicle radiators...
or Weber
Weber carburetor
Weber is an Italian company producing carburetors, currently owned by Magneti Marelli Powertrain S.p.A., in turn part of the Fiat Group.The company was established as...
carburettor completed the engine. Some uprated 1991 cc models were fitted with twin carburettors.
At the rear was an innovative combination transaxle
Transaxle
In the automotive field, a transaxle is a major mechanical component that combines the functionality of the transmission, the differential, and associated components of the driven axle into one integrated assembly....
with the gearbox, clutch
Clutch
A clutch is a mechanical device which provides for the transmission of power from one component to another...
, differential
Differential (mechanics)
A differential is a device, usually, but not necessarily, employing gears, capable of transmitting torque and rotation through three shafts, almost always used in one of two ways: in one way, it receives one input and provides two outputs—this is found in most automobiles—and in the other way, it...
, and inboard-mounted
Inboard brake
An inboard braking system is an automobile technology wherein the disk brakes are mounted on the chassis of the vehicle, rather than directly on the wheel hubs...
drum brake
Drum brake
A drum brake is a brake in which the friction is caused by a set of shoes or pads that press against a rotating drum-shaped part called a brake drum....
s. The front suspension was a sliding pillar
Sliding pillar
A sliding pillar suspension is a form of independent front suspension for light cars. The stub axle and wheel assembly are attached to a vertical pillar or kingpin which slides up and down through a bush or bushes which are attached to the vehicle chassis, usually as part of transverse outrigger...
design, with rear semi-trailing arms replaced by a de Dion tube
De Dion tube
A de Dion tube is an automobile suspension technology. It is a sophisticated form of non-independent suspension and is a considerable improvement over the alternative swing axle and Hotchkiss drive types. A de Dion suspension uses universal joints at both the wheel hubs and differential, and uses a...
in the Fourth series. The Aurelia was also one of the first cars to be fitted with radial tires
Radial tire
A radial tire is a particular design of automotive tire . In this design, the cord plies are arranged at 90 degrees to the direction of travel, or radially ....
.
First series
The very first Aurelias were the B10 berlinas (sedans). They used a 1754 cc version of the V6 which produced 56 hp. The B21 was released in 1951 with a larger 1991 cc 70 hp engine. A 2-door B20 GT coupéCoupé
A coupé or coupe is a closed car body style , the precise definition of which varies from manufacturer to manufacturer, and over time...
appeared that same year. It had a shorter wheelbase
Wheelbase
In both road and rail vehicles, the wheelbase is the distance between the centers of the front and rear wheels.- Road :In automobiles, the wheelbase is the horizontal distance between the center of the front wheel and the center of the rear wheel...
and a Ghia-designed, Pininfarina
Pininfarina
Pininfarina S.p.A. is an Italian car design firm and coachbuilder in Cambiano, Italy.Founded as Società anonima Carrozzeria Pinin Farina in 1930 by automobile designer and builder Battista "Pinin" Farina, Pininfarina has been employed by a wide variety of high-end automobile manufacturers,...
-built body. The same 1991 cc engine produced 75 hp in the B20. In all, 500 first series Aurelias were produced.
Second series
The second series Aurelia coupé pushed power up to 80 hp from the 1991 cc V6 with a higher compression ratioCompression ratio
The 'compression ratio' of an internal-combustion engine or external combustion engine is a value that represents the ratio of the volume of its combustion chamber from its largest capacity to its smallest capacity...
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
Weber carburetor
Weber is an Italian company producing carburetors, currently owned by Magneti Marelli Powertrain S.p.A., in turn part of the Fiat Group.The company was established as...
and a hotter camshaft for 90 hp.
In the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
there was a rare B50 four-seater convertible.
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
The fourth series introduced the new de Dion tubeDe Dion tube
A de Dion tube is an automobile suspension technology. It is a sophisticated form of non-independent suspension and is a considerable improvement over the alternative swing axle and Hotchkiss drive types. A de Dion suspension uses universal joints at both the wheel hubs and differential, and uses a...
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
Vittorio Gassman
Vittorio Gassman Knight Grand Cross OMRI , popularly known as Il Mattatore, was an Italian theatre and film actor and director...
. 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
Alfa Romeo Giulietta
The Alfa Romeo Giulietta was a subcompact automobile manufactured by the Italian car maker Alfa Romeo from 1954 to 1965. The Giulietta was introduced at the Turin Motor Show in 1954 and almost 132,000 were built in the Portello factory in Milan.The first Giulietta model was a coupé, the 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 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 MigliaMille Miglia
The Mille Miglia was an open-road endurance race which took place in Italy twenty-four times from 1927 to 1957 ....
the 2-litre Aurelia, driven by Giovanni Bracco
Giovanni Bracco
Giovanni Bracco was an Italian racing car driver,remembered for losing control of his Delage 3000, killing five spectators at the 1947 Italian Grand Prix....
and Umberto Maglioli
Umberto Maglioli
Umberto Maglioli was a racing driver from Italy. He participated in 10 Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on 13 September 1953. He achieved 2 podiums, and scored a total of 3.33 championship points...
, finished 2nd beaten only 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
Targa Florio
The Targa Florio was an open road endurance automobile race held in the mountains of Sicily near Palermo. Founded in 1906, it was the oldest sports car racing event, part of the World Sportscar Championship between 1955 and 1973...
with Felice Bonetto
Felice Bonetto
Felice Bonetto was a racing driver who raced in Formula One for the Maserati, Scuderia Milano and Alfa Romeo teams....
as the winner and another win on Lièges-Rome-Lièges of 1953.
Technical specifications
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
| Aurelia production data | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Berline | B20 coupé | B24 | Chassis | |||||||||||||
| Year | B.10 | B.21 | B.15 | B.22 | B12 | 2000 | 2500 | Spider/Convertibile | B50 | B51 | B52 | B53 | B55/56 | B60 | Total | |
| 1950 | 954 | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | 291 | 51 | --- | --- | --- | --- | 1296 | |
| 1951 | 2994 | 1118 | --- | --- | --- | 371 | --- | --- | 193 | 47 | --- | --- | --- | --- | 4723 | |
| 1952 | 1326 | 2123 | 61 | 294 | --- | 736 | --- | --- | 1 | 1 | 86 | 86 | --- | --- | 4714 | |
| 1953 | 177 | 539 | 20 | 780 | --- | 124 | 720 | --- | --- | --- | 12 | --- | --- | 1 | 2373 | |
| 1954 | --- | --- | --- | --- | 995 | --- | 573 | 1[a] | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | 1569 [a] | |
| 1955 | --- | --- | --- | --- | 1372 | --- | 426 | 239 | --- | --- | --- | --- | 10 | --- | 2047 | |
| 1956 | --- | --- | --- | --- | 33 | --- | 189 | 150 | --- | --- | --- | --- | 4 | --- | 376 | |
| 1957 | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | 420 | 176 | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | 596 | |
| 1958 | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | 312 | 195 | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | 507 | |
| Total/model | 5451 | 3780 | 81 | 1074 | 2400 | 1231 | 2640 | 761 [a] | 485 | 99 | 98 | 86 | 14 | 1 | 18201 [a] | |
[a]= the data does not contain preproduction B24 prototype constructed in 1954