Arnolt Bristol

Lancia B24 Convertible

Vincenzo Lancia was an ex-racer and an ingenious designer, who made cars to suit his taste and maybe a few customers. Before his death, in 1937, his final creation was the Aprilla, a small car that put the fear of God into many more potent cars of the time.

After World War II, Gianni Lancia reopened Lancia’s Turin factory and had his team start work on a  new V6 engine. After a few years of research and development it was ready for the public.

Straight-out of the box the Vittorio Jano and Francesco de Virgillo designed B20 Aurelia coupe was successful, with this first production V6 coming home 2^nd in the 1951 Mille Miglia, behind Villoresi’s 4.1 Ferrari no less. The Aurelia went on that year to finish 1^st in class at Le Mans and a stunning 1-2-3 at the Targa Florio.  With this opening salvo of success, the next step had to be an open-top Aurelia. Lancia did not disappoint. The B24 Spider America was a beautiful, yet understated, Pininfarina creation.

A sleek two-seater without the need for roll-up windows, the B24 Spider also possessed delicate bumperettes, and a panoramic windshield. Like the Porsche Speedster of the time it was a bare bones enthusiast sports car. With a 2,541-cc engine up front counterbalanced by a DeDion rear end and a gas tank mounted behind the seats and inboard rear drum brakes, the Spider was wonderfully balanced and quick.

By 1956, after building 240 Spiders, the B24 Aurelia Convertible was introduced. With a few more creature comforts—like roll-up windows, a more upright windshield with side vents, larger doors, with exterior handles, and a better driving position—the convertible was a more comfortable and easier car to live with.

Sharing the same innovative 2,451-cc V6 engine mated to a more robust transaxle, the B24 convertible may have been a little more civilized, but was no less engaging.  But, with only 521 examples built, it was still a pretty rare machine.

The aura that the B24 convertible possesses lulls me into the false sense that I am starring in a Fellini film… the lithe convertible slipping along the Amalfi coast, with a dark haired signorina, replete with sun glasses and a scarf around her, poised next to me in the passenger seat. The reality is by no means less fun. The late summer mountains of Vermont are a wonderful place to get a feel for this picture perfect auto.

 The twin Jaeger gauges, set in a steel dash, look out at you from behind a wood-rimmed, three-spoked steering wheel. Turn the key farther then you think possible, then push it in and the most wonderful burble greets you from the twin pipes. Release the pistol grip hand brake from under the center of the dash, engage the non-syncro first gear and the adventure begins. The throw between gears is long, but doesn’t make it hard to find the next one. The B24 Convertible is so well designed, and the steering is so light and positive, that it belies its age of manufacture. In comparing it to a Jaguar of the same period, you wouldn’t go as deep into a corner with the Jag as you would with the Lancia. It just breeds confidence and does everything so effortlessly that I find it hard to believe that I’m driving a 50-plus year old car. While the 2.5-liter V6 is not a high horsepower engine, the B24 manages to move through the mountains with no feeling of being underpowered. When it’s time to come down from the hills, the brakes prove to be more than up to the task. 

Over engineered for its time, Lancia was undoubtedly losing money on every car they sold; so very few were manufactured. But, that is what makes them so priceless today. Today the convertible B24 has not yet achieved the stratospheric realm of the Spider America. So, with all the money that you save, you can take your bella macchina back to Italy and live out your own cinematic dreams.

Many thanks to Frank Allocca, for my Vermont fantasy drive.

By Sean Smith