Aurelia B24 Spider

The Lancia Aurelia B24 Spider was introduced in 1954 as the open-top variant of the Aurelia range, and its body by Pinin Farina is widely regarded as one of the masterpieces of automotive design. The car featured a split-windscreen design (later changed to a single-piece unit for the America model), flowing front fenders that merged seamlessly into the doors, and a rear deck of perfect proportion. Every line served both aesthetic and aerodynamic purposes, creating a design of extraordinary purity.

The B24 Spider shared the B20 GT's mechanical layout, including the 2,451 cc V6 engine producing approximately 118 horsepower and the innovative rear transaxle. However, the chassis was unique to the Spider, with modifications to accommodate the open body and maintain structural rigidity. The car weighed less than the coupe, giving it a sprightly character despite its modest power output. The steering was precise and communicative, and the car's balance, aided by the near-50/50 weight distribution from the transaxle layout, made it a delight on twisting Italian mountain roads.

The B24 Spider attracted a glamorous clientele from the start, becoming a favourite of the Italian and American jet set. Its appearance in films, most memorably as the car driven by Jude Law in The Talented Mr. Ripley, reinforced its association with Mediterranean sophistication and the dolce vita era. The split-windscreen first-series cars, with their purer design and greater rarity, are particularly prized by collectors.

With only 761 units produced across both series, the B24 Spider is one of the rarest and most valuable post-war Italian sports cars. The split-windscreen version regularly achieves prices in excess of one million euros at major international auctions, while even the later America model commands substantial sums. The car is a staple of the world's finest concours events, where its combination of design perfection, engineering sophistication, and cultural significance makes it a perennial crowd favourite. It represents the absolute pinnacle of 1950s Italian open-car design.