1961 Lancia Aurélia

‘H228 YYD’ is a B10 Aurélia that was manufactured in 1951. With just three previous keepers, the engine was rebuilt as part of a restoration in the late eighties/early nineties.

Finished in Medio Blue, marque experts Omicron later rebuilt the engine in 1996 and then were asked to recommission it in 2006 after maintaining the car at various points in-between.

It also spent some time in Holland, with the seller buying it from Carrosso in 2021. Barely used since then, it is still showing just under 75,000kms on the odometer. 
 

The Aurélia presents very well indeed, the high shine to the Medio Blue paintwork highlighting the ripple- and dink-free panels. Peer more closely and you’ll admire the alignment too.

The rear-hinged doors provide for twinned door handles on each flank, and the resulting symmetry is just one of the myriad details that make this car so stylish.

These include a rectangular mesh radiator grille that sits above a chrome bumper below that’s scalloped to give access for the starting handle.

The auxiliary lamps comprise one driving light and one fog, and the headlamps are a matching pair, with Carello supplying both the lamps themselves and the chrome trims that hold them in place.

Another nice touch is the badge below the boot lid for Carrosso, the legendary Dutch classic car specialists, as well as the radiator badge for the Lancia Motor Club.

The steel wheels, which are painted blue to match the coachwork, are enhanced with a set of good chrome Lancia hubcaps and fitted with matching Michelin X tyres, including the spare.

We will never get tired of telling you that experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly.

However, while they do have good tread left on them, they were made in 2008 and so are getting on a bit. As a consequence, they’re showing signs of age-induced cracks and perishing, so will need to be replaced.

As for cosmetic issues, there’s a mark at the lower edge of the nearside rear wing next to the bumper, rust on the offside of the panel that links the rear bumper and the bodywork, a cracked offside front sidelight lens, and some spotting and tarnishing to the chromework, with visible rust to the front and rear bumpers.

Oh, and a chrome blanking plate covers a hole in the roof above the driver’s head.
 

It’s worth opening both doors at once because the lack of a B-pillar gives you a panoramic view of the cabin – and it’s not just the absence of a B-pillar that makes it so glorious because the interior is as thoughtfully designed as the coachwork.

Take a look at the instruments for example, with their funky fluorescence green markings against ivory-coloured faces.

And the column-mounted gear selector that provides leg space for three-abreast seating.

And the black rubber and grey carpets that comprise the floor coverings, plus the period heater, the braided handles across the back of the front seat, and the magenta Perspex sunvisors.

And not forgetting the fore and aft bench seats, which are plush, pinstriped brown, and piped in blue.

Still in a decent shape, if you don’t mind a light patina, they’d be good for many years yet – and even if you do, we suspect a deep-clean by someone who knows what they’re doing would transform them.

An aftermarket ammeter has been fitted to the right of the steering column, and a toggle switch has been fitted on the left.  

Work to do includes replacing the headlining, which has disintegrated.

After that, the steering wheel is unsightly and cracked (although the centre trim is in the glovebox along with the window winder handles), the door cards show some wear, the pedal rubber on the throttle is worn, and some of the fixtures and fittings have a veneer of rust. 
 

As the video demonstrates, the V6 engine starts easily and idles and revs as it should. It also shows good oil pressure on the dashboard and has very attractive induction and exhaust notes.

Omicron rebuilt the engine back in 1996, and while that’s a fair time ago the car hasn’t done much work since then; when Carrosso advertised the Lancia in 2021, the odometer read 74,867kms they said the car had covered 10,000kms since being completed – and the odometer only reads 74,916kms now.

The engine bay is decently presented, but there is certainly scope for improvement should you enjoy that sort of thing. The factory plates are still readable, including the two huge ones that were fitted on the underside of the bonnet.

The boot floor and underside generally look solid, and while we haven’t been able to spot any rust or serious corrosion, we’d welcome you to our HQ should you want to make your own assessment.  

More signs of diligent engineering come via what looks like a drain plug for the fuel tank in addition to the complex and innovative rear transaxle. 
 

Runing to 75 pages of photographs, the history file includes a handbook for a slightly later Series 2 model, some period studio photographs of the car with a small child, and notes from Peter Mathias of Queens’ College Cambridge, who we believe was a noted economic historian.

There are also a huge number of invoices; this is a very well curated car indeed.

Despite the current V5 showing a registration date of 1991, the old-style logbook shows it’s been here since at least 1960, albeit with that spell in Holland.

The recent Vehicle History Check is clear, although the Lancia doesn’t have a current MoT certificate.
 

Beautifully designed and engineered, the Aurélia takes us back to a period when engineers built cars, not accountants.

Engineers with an aesthetic streak too, and an eye for an elegant solution to a problem where others would have settled for a pragmatic one.

And yet, with a guide price of between £15,000 and £20,000, grace and sophistication is still surprisingly affordable.

Yes, the cabin needs a little TLC, but the recent slight softening of the market is likely to be cyclical, and a little money invested now may well return something more than just the satisfaction of preserving such a delightful example of an ever-popular car. 

We are happy to offer this car for auction with an estimate in the range of £15,000 - £20,000.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT and we are open weekdays between 10am - 12pm or 2pm - 4pm. To make a booking, please use the ‘Enquire About This Vehicle’ button on the listing. Feel free to ask any questions, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.