At the suggestion of US Lancia importer Maxi Hoffman (who also “discovered” Porsche for the US market), the B20 Gran Turismo, which was also successful in motorsport, was developed into a convertible, the Lancia Aurelia B24 Spider, often referred to as “America” in reference to its target market in the US. Pininfarina was responsible for the exciting bodywork, which can certainly be described as sexy. Characteristic features include the separate, striking bumpers at the front and rear and the air intake on the front hood. The B24 is considered one of the most beautiful designs by arguably the most famous of all coachbuilders. It is reminiscent of the racing cars of the time, yet is extremely elegant. The windshield is reminiscent of the exclusive Riva boats that caused a sensation in high society at the time.
Like the B20, the Spider is also exceptional from a technical standpoint. The sophisticated De Dion rear axle and the transaxle transmission, installed for the first time, ensure excellent road holding. The wheelbase was shortened by 24 cm compared to the B20. With a displacement of 2.5 liters, the V6 engine delivers 118 hp, enabling a top speed of up to 185 km/h. This made the B24 Spider one of the fastest convertibles of its time.
Of the 240 Spiders produced (181 LHD, 59 RHD), 50 are said to have been on board the Italian passenger ship “Andrea Doria” when it sank in 1956. Myth or fact?
Commercially, the B24 was not very successful, mainly due to its high price, so Lancia launched its successor model, the Lancia Aurelia B24 Convertible, just one year after its introduction. It is largely identical to the Spider and features a door latch instead of a cable pull in the interior, cranks for window operation, instruments from Jaeger instead of Veglia, leather upholstery instead of plastic on the seats, a classic windshield instead of a panoramic windshield, and a continuous bumper. Only 521 were built, exclusively as left-hand drive models.
Due to the small number of units produced, the Spider is considerably more expensive on the market today than the Convertible. Niki Hasler AG has been able to deliver two beautiful Lancia Aurelia B24 S Spiders to customers in recent months. Interestingly, both are customers who can be described as true Ferrari enthusiasts. There is undoubtedly a certain kinship between the two exclusive Italian brands.
