Lancia Aurelia (1952)

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Mille Miglia Eligible, Mille Miglia participations in 2021 and 2026 Documented Italian history, including its original 1971 paper Libretto di Circolazione preserved in the accompanying history file Elegant without ostentation, technically sophisticated and unmistakably Italian This example received an extensive mechanical attention from the renowned Dutch specialist Mugello Engineering Numerous invoices amount to a combined total of approximately € 61,565, reflecting the considerable investment made in the Aurelia’s mechanical condition and preparation Powered by Lancia’s advanced 1,991 cc V6 engine Early starting number in the Mille Miglia (determined by its year of manufacture) The 1950s were one of the most fascinating and important periods in the history of Lancia. During this decade, the Turin manufacturer established itself as one of Europe’s most sophisticated carmakers, combining advanced engineering, elegant Italian design and an increasingly ambitious involvement in motor racing. Introduced in 1951, the B21 was essentially a more powerful development of the original Aurelia B10. While the B10 used a 1,754 cc V6, the B21 received a larger 1,991 cc V6 engine. The B21 combined qualities that became characteristic of the Aurelia: a compact V6 engine, independent front suspension, excellent balance and the rear-mounted gearbox and differential. Rather than being simply a luxury saloon, it offered a remarkably sophisticated driving experience for the early 1950s. The Aurelia was important not just as a road car. It also helped transform Lancia’s relationship with motorsport. At the 1951 Mille Miglia, an Aurelia B20 GT achieved an extraordinary second place overall while also winning its class. This success encouraged Lancia to establish a more ambitious official racing programme. The Aurelia subsequently achieved important results in international competition, including victory at the 1952 Targa Florio and the 1954 Monte Carlo Rally. ABOUT THIS SPECIFIC EXAMPLE This elegant 1952 Lancia Aurelia B21, finished in Beige, was registered for the first time in August 1952 with Torino plates. The car’s surviving historical documentation provides an important insight into its early life in Italy. Its original paper Libretto di Circolazione, dating from 1971 and still preserved in the history file, records that in April of that year the Aurelia was owned by Mr Giorgio Marinone of Novara, in northern Italy. On 11 January 1975, ownership passed to Mrs Lidia Ricotti, also resident in Novara who sold it in 1983 to P.B.S. DI GIORGIO SCHON E C. SNC. An especially fascinating chapter in the history of this example is its association with the Schön family, a name connected with Italian fashion, motorsport and the collecting of important automobiles. Mila Schön, born Maria Carmen Nutrizio, moved to Milan with her husband Aurelio Schön, a racing driver who competed in the Mille Miglia between 1953 and 1956 and was among the founders of the celebrated Sant’Ambroeus Racing Team. Mila Schön opened her first atelier in Milan in 1958 and went on to become an internationally recognised figure in Italian haute couture, later expanding into prêt-à-porter. Her restrained, sophisticated style made the Schön name synonymous with discreet Italian elegance. Her son, Giorgio Schön, combined his involvement in the family fashion business with a lifelong passion for motor racing and historic automobiles. He competed in numerous cars, and assembled an important collection of classic and competition cars. Mr. Schön owned the B21, until 1990, when he sold it to the Motoralbum classic car dealer. In May 2019, it was sold to the Netherlands, beginning a new chapter in its history. During 2021, the car received extensive mechanical attention from the renowned Dutch Lancia specialist Mugello Engineering. Numerous invoices preserved in the history file document substantial work carried out on the car.