Description
Lancia Aurelia B52 Coupé (only 98 of these chassis were delivered to various coachbuilders), one-off by Carrozzeria Bertone.
- Exhibited at the 1951 Turin Motor Show.
- Only 3, 700 kilometres from new, never restored, still in exceptional
unmolested condition.
- Chassis no. B52. 1074
- Engine no. B21 4. 542
The car was discovered in Belgium, at that time the odometer reading was 2, 756 kilometres, then a further 1, 000-or-so kms were added. This unique car is still on its original paint, CEAT whitewall tyres, all the beautiful interior, with its dashboard buttons in amber, everything is still the same as when the car left Carrozzeria Bertone in 1951 to be
exhibited at Salone dell'Automobile.
This Aurelia drives perfectly, let's say like a new car still in
"running-in period". The are photographs taken at a Concours d'Élégance in Chaudfontaine, Liège, Belgium, circa 1953. Unique and outstandingly original, this coachbuilt and hardly run in Lancia carries a very elegant design and perfect proportions.
Well, any Aurelia is a masterpiece and a milestone in motoring history, but this car is a special one also for other reasons. To cater for
independent coachbuilders, Lancia offered the longer-wheelbase (291cm) B50 chassis, based on B10 mechanicals, and later the B52, which came with the 2. 0-litre engine of the B20/ B21. In total Lancia built only 98 B52 chassis, the last of which was delivered in 1953. Almost all these chassis carry a unique coach, as my "B52-1074" does.
Moreover, this unique one-off coachwork by Carrozzeria Bertone was
displayed at the Turin Motor Show in 1951.
In 2020 displayed at Museo dell'Automobile di Torino, exhibition "Aurelia 1950-2020. Timeless Myth".
In 2021 displayed at Museo dell'Automobile di Torino, ehibition "Michelotti World, 100 years of a limitless designer".
In sum, we are not exaggerating when we assert this automobile is an extraordinary car for four reasons:
1- it is an Aurelia
2- it is one of the only 98 Aurelia B52 chassis dedicated to carry
"independent coach built art"
3- it was exhibited at the 1951 Turin "Salone dell'Automobile"
4- it has such a low original mileage (an average of 57 kms/ year!) that is very rare to find on any second-hand car. On a unique one this exceedingly low mileage is pretty ... unique. Exceedingly well preserved since new.
