Listed in the H&H Auction Saturday 14th March, at Race Retro Stoneleigh Park.
Two Lancia Aurelia.
First.
1957 Lancia Aurelia B20GT Registration number 5 LME "Lancia Motors (England) Works Demonstrator" anyone know the car? looks lovely.
http://www.classic-auctions.co.uk/lotdetail.php?&lotid=26375&aucid=26911Guide price is £70K-80K
"Finished in metallic silver-grey with blue leather / grey cloth upholstery, this particular right-hand drive example is described by the vendor as "a very fine 6th series car". Notable as one of just twenty-five B20 Gran Turismos to have been sold new by Lancia Motors (England) during the model's seven-year production run, chassis number 'B20-3857' also served as the UK subsidiary's Works Demonstrator and Press Car. Sadly no amount of promotional activity could compensate for a list price which exceeded that of the contemporary Aston Martin DB Mark III by almost £300 (£3,346 vs. £3,076). Appropriately road registered as '5 LME' (Lancia Motors England), the Aurelia was the subject of a four-page road test article by The Autocar magazine. Published on 8th November 1957, the piece concluded with the following paragraph: "Exceptionally invigorating to drive when in a hurry, the Lancia GT 2500 is yet surprisingly well behaved in the contrasting role of docile town carriage. In appearance it is classically stylish without need for ornament, and the general standard of finish is almost beyond criticism; without doubt it is one of the most desirable sporting cars of the decade". Returning to Italy in 1992 '5 LME' was then treated to a ten-year long restoration during which we are informed "great care was taken to retain originality with the correct materials being used and items being repaired rather than replaced wherever possible". Repainted and retrimmed according to its factory livery, the stunning coupe has the further advantages of a Nardi floor shift and steering wheel (desirable dealer options when new). After a long period of dry storage, '5 LME' was recently recommissioned by a marque specialist at a cost in excess of £5,000. Riding on correct-type steel wheels, the B20 GT is consequently said to "drive (and stop) as well as it looks".
Potentially eligible for the Mille Miglia Storica or a Concours d'Elegance field among numerous other prestigious events, this nicely presented not to mention very rare UK-supplied B20 GT is offered for sale with two binders of documented history which include the original buff logbook, FIVA Passport, 1957 Autocar Road Test, restoration photographs, copy handbooks (English & Italian), ownership history and sundry invoices".
2nd.
If you're looking for a restoration project there is a B12 also in the auction with a guide price of 2-4K, it has had a lot of money spent previously but never seems to have made it back onto the road, sold as seen the Registration number is 9121 PL and in the 2000 register of members is listed belonging to a Mr J G Woodgate of Wokingham.
"According to the handwritten notes on file this particular example entered the current family ownership on April 21st 1964 when it was purchased from M. Baker Esq. for the princely sum of £350. Used as an everyday car as well as for occasional trips to the Continent, `9121 PL' remained on the road until July 1978 by which time its odometer reading had gone from 64,835 to (1)16,098 miles. Dormant for more than a decade, the B12 was given a partial engine overhaul in 1992 with parts and services being supplied by Omicron and the Aurelia Consortium (rebore, secondhand cylinder head, new pistons / rings etc). Transported to Summers Classic & Vintage Car Restorers of Tenbury Wells (Worcs) the following year, the B12 was then treated to an extensive bodywork refurbishment, retrim, partial rewire and suspension / brake system fettling. As sometimes happens, restorer and client decided to part ways after eighteen odd months and over £25,000 had gone into the project; the result being the return of a still unfinished `9121 PL'. Although, work carried on into the late 1990s the momentum had seemingly gone. Thus upon inspection the engine was sitting on a workbench minus numerous ancillaries and the car had had its radiator grille detached etc. Sold strictly as viewed, this rare Lancia Aurelia B12 is accompanied by an old style V5 registration document and history file (including Summers restoration bills). "
If only I had the money and the facilities
http://www.classic-auctions.co.uk/lotdetail.php?lotid=26502&aucid=27039Courtesy of H&H Auctions
Brian
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