Aurelia Pininfarina Cabriolet history required

[Sliding Pillar]

B24 v B50..... well the B24 is a much more sporty to drive it is obviously quicker, doesn't roll as much in the corners and has the better looks. The B50 is more refined, with the side windows up there is hardly any buffeting around your head, it has more space and of course has the extra seats which are the most important thing to the family man!!!  The B24 is stunning and beautiful to look at, but all that have seen the B50 say it is very elegant.
To sum up, of all the cars I have owned there are not many I would really want to have again........... except the B24.

[Sliding Pillar]

The hood has finally been finished, I collected the B50 on Wednesday evening, then spent most of Thursday screwing various other bits back on ready for the trip to the Sliding Pillar Rally over the weekend.  
Not much to do now to finish it off properly, the sill trims are the next job, then finish the interior off with carpets and trim the boot.

[Sliding Pillar]

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[Sliding Pillar]

and finally one from Wells Cathedral

[sparehead3]

Worth being on the forum banner - only sorry I wasn't able to join you all

[fay66]

The hood has finally been finished, I collected the B50 on Wednesday evening, then spent most of Thursday screwing various other bits back on ready for the trip to the Sliding Pillar Rally over the weekend. 
Not much to do now to finish it off properly, the sill trims are the next job, then finish the interior off with carpets and trim the boot.
Here are some photos from the Rally.

Ade,
Hood looks great, superb fit & Finish. Congratulations.

Brian
8227

[DavidLaver]

You're a lucky man.

David

[GG]

Brief comment on B24 (owned) vs. B50 (visited): they are not in the same league at all. The B24 can be a touring car or a sportier car, depending on how you drive it and equip it. The B50.... for years given them no thought at all - thinking them a bit odd. Went for a day drive with one in Switzerland, and was totally converted. They are amazing cars - with much more room than a B24, they truly are a sedan minus the roof. For general touring, and lovely country roads - the experience in a B50 is surreal. Absolutely delightful, and serene. You get all the Aurelia quality and the benefit of the open. 

Not in the same league means they aren't comparable. Totally different experiences, surprisingly.

[Sebastien]

2 points that I can add to the above:
* driving position: when you are more than 6ft a B24 has a difficult seating position. You always sit askew, to be able to shift into 2nd without having your right leg in the way. In the Pinin Farina cabriolet you have ample room, and the column shift, when set up well is delightful to use.
* that swiss B50 (which I know intimately....) has the advantage of a B12 engine and gearbox. Thus there is ample power for a touring Aurelia, and with the well designed rear suspension you have a secure feeling, even if body roll is noticeable. Long distance trips are easy, the longest we did in one day was more than 1000 km.

GG summed it up well: it is a delightful experience!

Sebastien

[DavidLaver]

Is the rear overhang a problem?   

David

[Sebastien]

No more than on a B24!

It all depends on what is under the car, and how well it is tucked away. In our B50 the silencer boxes are in front of the rear axle. On B24 you have additional silencers after the De Dion tube.

In the previous picture the B50 was in Sardinia, fully loaded with luggage for one week!

Sébastien

[DavidLaver]

When I had a B20 it was a constant problem - but it did run very much lower than standard at the back.  I made a mess of the mother-in-laws drive with it - twice!!

David

[Sliding Pillar]

Thank you all for your kind comments.  I am now getting to know the B50 more and agree with what both Geoffrey and Sebastien say, the column shift in particular is a delight to use, I can never understand why B20 owners have their cars converted to floor change!
Back to the original point of this post, I have now received more details of the early owners of B50*1443, it seems it went through several hands in Milano before going to Roma, perhaps these were just dealers.  Details below:

Lancia Aurelia Pinin Farina Cabriolet
              B50*1443

17-03-51 Construction started.
18-07-51 Chassis finished.
28-07-51 Chassis despatched to Pinin Farina.
29-06-52 Original B10 engine swaped for B21 2000cc engine & transaxle by Lancia factory
15-05-53 Registered to Attilio Edoardo in Beltrani di Omegna. Registration NO 29848.
25-06-55 Registered to Amleto Sala in Milano. Registration MI 276425
11-07-55 Transfered to Adriana Maiocchi in Milano.
20-07-55 Transfered to Adele Zorlone in Milano
10-12-55 Registered to Giovanni di Filippo Cagiati in Rome. Registration 241036 Roma.
12-12-62 Registered to Janet Samuelian Aidala.
17-04-63 Registered to Professor Richard Murphey Goodwin (Economist). (b 24-2-13 d 6-8-96)
26-06-63 Imported into U.K. by Richard M Goodwin. Given U.K. registration 922 EER (Cambridge).
1973        Sold to Brian Fenton, Northamptonshire. Taken off road in 1973.
1983        Sold to Anthony Smallhorn, Aurelia Consortium.
1984        Sold to Ron Francis. Restoration started.
15-02-08  Sold to Adrian Rudler, Broad Hinton, Wilts.
20-04-10  Returned to the road for the first time in 37 years!

[DavidLaver]

They certainly took their time building it.

David

[Sliding Pillar]

From what I understand Pinin Farina took chassis from Lancia waiting for orders to build bodies on the chassis. As mine was a late chassis it stood around at the Pinin Farina factory, in the mean time the 2000cc B52 was introduced, as no-one wanted the 1750cc B50 anymore the ones that were left (nine in total) were sent back to Lancia for the 'new' uprated B52 2000cc mechanics to be installed. Mine is one of four B50 pf Cabriolets that had this conversion. (Hence the 2000 grille badge).
For those that haven't seen it on the main LMC 2010 review page here's a photo of family Rudler on the Sliding Pillar Rally.