Fantasy Junction

Description

1955 Lancia Aurelia B24S Spider America
s/n B24S 1009, Engine no. 1065
Grigio Newmarket with Vaumol Leather

Famous for their incredible craftsmanship, innovative engineering solutions, and complete disregard for cost accounting with respect to those engineering solutions, pre-Fiat Lancias are, in many ways, in a class of their own. Few cars are as thoughtfully engineered or built, and the Aurelia delivers what continues to be one of the most sensational sports car platforms of the golden era of Italian design. The first ever production V6, the Aurelia’s engine is a race-derived 2,451cc OHV unit with hemispherical heads and was available with one or two carburetors. The 4-speed manual transaxle combined with sliding pillar fully independent front suspension and De Dion rear suspension allowed for excellent weight distribution while state of the art 4-wheel hydraulic braking (inboard at the rear) resulted in sensational and competitive performance. As much as the new models were heralded for their performance and design excellence, in 1954, Lancia and Pinin Farina raised the bar even more so with introduction of the B24 Spider America, and contemporary road testers marveled at the car's refinement, exceptional build quality, and roadholding. They found the car to be highly capable and a joy to use, with the magazine The Autocar going as far as to claim that the Aurelia was "one of the most desirable sporting cars of the decade," a claim which has endured the test of time as the B24 Spider America remains one of the most desirable sports cars of the 1950s.

Beginning with a shortened Aurelia B20 platform and floor mounted gear selector, the Spider America was a true roadster with clean lines, no external door handles, a gracefully low wraparound windscreen, removable side Plexiglas windows, and a smooth rear trunk line. The beautifully undulating bodylines were further unencumbered by excessive trim, using sleek and lithe split front and rear bumpers, a low profile Lancia grille, and small doors. The combined flowing lines, performance stance, and lightweight build philosophy delivered both performance and exceptional beauty. Built in limited numbers and rarer so today, a mere 240 B24 Spiders were manufactured during 1954 and 1955, making the Spider America one of the most sought-after post-war Lancias ever assembled.

This particular Spider America is among the finest performing examples and most correct examples we have been in touch with in our nearly 50 years of experience with Aurelias, largely attributable to its incredibly high quality restoration by Lancia expert Stephen Bell, overseen by Tony Nicosia. Its history is well-documented back to the 1970s when it appeared in the records of the American Lancia Club as belonging to Winslow Adams Jr. of Lake Bluff, Illinois. The Lancia remained with Mr. Adams for over two decades, taking the car with him when relocating to Kansas in the early 1990s. Before the turn of the millennium, Adams sold the Lancia to Jerry Johnson of Rolling Art, a restoration shop based in Tulsa, Oklahoma. A restoration was reportedly initiated by Rolling Art but remained unfinished for over a decade, when in 2013, Johnson sold the Lancia to Stephen Bell of Colorado. Bell, himself the proprietor of a restoration business, had the Lancia transported to his Englewood, Colorado, facility and embarked on a concours-quality restoration.

We know from the pre-restoration photos on file that that 1009 had been repainted red at some point in its life, but otherwise remained in highly original and complete condition, with its original all-alloy V6 engine (no. 1065), transaxle/differential (no. 165), and numerous other critical components retained with the car. Bell's meticulous approach ensured that the B24 S was methodically cataloged during disassembly—even documenting the corresponding internal engine number stamping—with original components preserved wherever possible. The restoration process culminated in a bare-metal refinish of the Pinin Farina coachwork in factory-correct Grigio Newmarket, while the interior received period-appropriate Vaumol hides. Mechanical systems were comprehensively rebuilt to factory specifications, with detailed input from respected marque expert Tony Nicosia throughout the process. Upon completion in 2014, the Spider America was immediately awarded Best of Show at its debut showing during the Colorado Concours d'Elegance in Littleton, Colorado.

The car subsequently spent a number of years in a respected Texas-based collection before being acquired by the consigning custodian in 2017. Since acquisition, the Spider America has undergone continued mechanical refinement, first by Ferrari Motor Service in May 2017, which included repairs to the steering column, addressing a differential leak, and repairing the convertible top framework.Further sorting was overseen by specialist Robert Gustafson from 2018 through 2021 totaling $17,575. This comprehensive program addressed the car's unique Lancia sliding pillar front suspension system, requiring custom-designed tools and collaboration with specialist shops in California and the U.K. to properly rebuild the hydraulic shock absorbers with correct valving and seals, while also replacing the coil springs with properly matched units. Additional work encompassed electrical system repairs, engine mount modifications to address oil seepage, and numerous other mechanical refinements. Finally, specialist Dorian Valenzuela was enlisted to conduct a full rebuild of the brake and fuel systems in 2025, including a carburetor rebuild, refinishing and restoring the fuel tank, resurfacing and reseating the brakes at a cost of over $11,000.

This B24S Spider America now numbers among just 68 examples believed to remain in existence today, making it the second-oldest surviving factory left-hand-drive example of this legendary model. Its matching-numbers status, documented ownership history, and concours-winning restoration, and exquisite performance on the road combine to make it one of the finest examples extant.

Included with the sale are side curtains, a highly correct tool kit, and comprehensive documentation in the form of Aurelia Registry records, service invoices, restoration photos, and more. Fully sorted and ready to drive, this Spider America offers the opportunity to own, preserve, and enjoy one of the most celebrated postwar Italian Spiders ever built, with eligibility for the world's most coveted historic rallies, from the Mille Miglia Storica to the Colorado Grand. One of the most iconic pieces of automotive design, coupled with exceptional engineering, this Lancia B24 Spider America offers a tremendous opportunity for the next fortunate enthusiast to enjoy and drive not only a remarkable sports car, but also a remarkably pure expression of La Dolce Vita.

The above vehicle information is complete and accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time it is posted to this website. Corrections or additional information is always appreciated. All advertised prices exclude government fees and taxes, any finance charges, any dealer document preparation charge, and any emission testing charge. Vehicles are subject to prior sale. All advertised to be true but not guaranteed. We assume no liability for errors or omissions.

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Fantasy Junction  •  510-653-7555  •  1145 Park Ave, Emeryville, CA 94608