As the world’s oldest family-owned car manufacturer and one of the most respected for the excellence and originality of its design and engineering, Lancia wasted no time after the end of the Second World War in producing their revolutionary Aurelia model which was introduced at the 1950 Turin Motor Show.

The Aurelia first appeared as the four-door B10 saloon and bristled with innovative features such as the world’s first all-aluminium V6, a rear-mounted transaxle with inboard brakes, pillarless construction, seating for five adults (which folded into two full-size beds) and a top speed of 130 kph from its modestly-sized 1750cc engine.

Within a year the saloon was joined by the svelte and beautiful 2-litre B20 Coupe which, driven by Giovanni Bracco achieved an astonishing second place overall in the rain swept 1951 Mille Miglia, only minutes behind the winning 4.1 litre Ferrari. The little Aurelia was actually faster than the Ferrari over the difficult, twisting mountain passes of the Apennines.

Keen and loyal Lancia enthusiasts clamoured for a more sporting and faster version of the Aurelia saloon. They did not have to wait long. In 1952, Lancia produced the B22 saloon with the 2-litre V6 engine of the B20 Coupe enhanced with a big Weber 40 DCF carburettor, lightened bodywork with many new aluminium panels, larger brakes, more sporting gearing and a top speed of over 160 kph. It was a wolf in deceptively elegant Italian sheep’s clothing.

Lancia built only 877 B22s in traditional right-hand-drive form and 197 left-hand-drive cars before moving in 1954 to the heavier and much less sporting B12 saloon with a 2.2 litre engine and de Dion rear suspension which replaced the happily oversteering independent rear suspension of the earlier car.

The car we offer here has spent its life in sunny Sicily and consequently has escaped the rust to which Northern European Aurelia saloons often fell prey. Finished in its original dark red and oh so period Amaranto colour with a correct beige Lancia wool cloth interior, the car has had only three previous owners from new, two of them from the same family. The car is complete with all its charming original features, is Italian registered and still bears its original period Palermo number plates.

This exceptional B22 has been recently checked over by a noted Italian specialist engineer with attention to brakes, clutch, exhaust and engine tune and comes from the stable of a well-known Lancia connoisseur.

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40,000 euro