• The world’s first production GT
• Timeless Pinin Farina design
• Beautifully restored by Italy’s finest
• Mille Miglia eligible and rewarding to drive

The Lancia Aurelia was, like many of the Torinese marque’s great designs, a landmark car from day one but it was the short chassis granturismo version, the B20 GT, which really cemented the legend. Its Pinin Farina coachwork, a shape which recognisably began a trend which carried through to the Ferrari 250SWB berlinetta later that decade, is hailed as the world’s first GT. In competition it excelled, coming second overall (behind a much larger Ferrari) on the 1951 Mille Miglia, winning its class at Le Mans and taking the first three places on the gruelling Targa Florio in ’52. It’s no wonder several Formula One drivers used them as road cars.

This B20 GT is from the fourth series, introduced in 1954 and the first to combine the de Dion rear axle with the larger 2.5 litre engine already seen in the third series. Despite being a home market car it has right-hand drive, a throwback to the pre-war era still favoured then by most European luxury car buyers, and is, quite simply, stunning following a complete restoration by Italy’s finest. Dino Cognolato partially restored the car for the present owner, after which it took part in the Mille Miglia. Following this the owner sent the car to ex-Cognolato man Luigino Tommasin at Quality Cars and decided to embark upon a complete rebuild without regard to expense. Corrado Patella’s well-known Autofficina Omega (Cognolato’s main sub-contractor) rebuilt the engine, gearbox and brakes, converting the car to lead-free and replacing the front axle to correct previous accident damage. A new clutch was also fitted recently. Quality Cars stripped the body to bare metal, replacing areas where required and repainting it in the correct colour. The interior was retrimmed in the original cloth/ vinyl according to historical research. Rodighiero rewired the electrical system. Circa €80,000 was spent with Quality Cars plus a further €60,000 for Patella’s mechanical work. A photographic record documents the process but even from a first glimpse the standard of the restoration will be apparent. This is a lovely Aurelia, with a superb specification and restored by the best names in Italy.