Miguel Sánchez
PHOTOS LANCIA AURELIA PANAMERICANA: THORNLEY & KELHAM
Restoring a classic to its original state is an exciting adventure. Even more so if it is a vehicle with a sports record, the kind that are pure living history of motorsport. Well, what we have with this sports Lancia is even more impressive, since the restoration was preceded by a systematic search to find this Aurelia Panamericana in a garage in the United States. A story for archaeologists of the classics, in which one of the most amazing pages in the history of Lancia is condensed.
And is that, although today Lancia only manufactures a model marketed only in Italy, for decades it was not only recognized for its technologically cutting-edge character, but also for its excellent sports cars. In this sense there is no doubt about what the concerning the time to unite innovation and sportiness in the trajectory of Lancia. The Aurelia. Launched in 1950, this model conceived to be a saloon came to have pages of glory in the Mille Miglia or Carrera Panamericana. All thanks to its sporty version: the Aurelia B20GT.
A truly exceptional sports Lancia, as Thanks to being the first mass production vehicle with a V6 engine, it produced more than 90CV according to the series. And well, although at the beginning of the 50 this was far from the Ferrari and Maserati on duty, the truth is that its good behavior and weight placed the Aurelia in positions as legendary as the treble in the Targa-Florio of 1952. Quite a giant killers which, incidentally, is often regarded as the earliest definition of GT in motorsport history.
Some qualities that are exceedingly attractive for any fan but which, in the case of this Lancia Aurelia of the Carrera Panamericana, reaches even more mythical heights. All this recovered after 4.000 hours of work by the British restorer specialized in Lancia Thornley & Kelham.
GIONANNI BRACCO AND THE LANCIA DEPORTIVO
This unit is a sporty Lancia with even more character than the others. Why? Well, from what you have surely already noticed when comparing it to other B20 GTs. Yes, your roof. Reduced in the manner of a "Hot rod" American, this modification seems to be the license of restaurateurs with an eagerness as modifying as hooligan. However, and far from it, the truth is that the idea of lowering the roof to make this Aurelia Panamericana a more ferocious model came from its first owner: the pilot. Giovanni bracco.
Bracco was one of the client-drivers of the 40s and 50s who competed in private teams under the more or less tacit support of some brand. In that sense, our intrepid protagonist was made with this Aurelia chassis number 1010 as soon as the model was presented. A Series I that, in 1951, went straight to conquer the second place in the Mille Miglia and win in its category at Le Mans. What a record of this unit! Something to which his victory in the 6 Hours of Pescara was added.
But let's get back to the roof. After his success in Europe during that year, Bracco wanted to try his luck in the second edition of the Panamericana during the month of November. However, before putting the car on a boat, Bracco thought to make a very special modification to this sports Lancia. For this, and given the good relations it had with the brand, sent the Aurelia Panamericana to the workshops to lower the ceiling height.
An interesting work, during which he took the opportunity to paint Aurelia from the red that he wore in Mille Miglia to the black that would characterize him in the Carrera Panamericana. A mournful color of the most suitable for the luck that would run in Mexico, where it ended up crashing on the fourth day of competition. Sold on the spot by Bracco to a wealthy Mexican, this sporty Lancia He last competed the following year, achieving ninth position in his class in the 1952 Carrera Panamericana with Ortiz Peredo.
All under the banner of the Centro Deportivo Italiano team. Which demonstrated the possibilities of a sporty Lancia by coming to the test with four Aurelia B20 GTs that dominated during three stages of the test.
AURELIA PANAMERICANA: RESCUED FROM FORGETTING
Despite the great value of the car, equipped with the lowered roof and a perfect record for any mythomaniac collector, this Lancia Aurelia Panamericana disappeared from the map for decades. In fact, many thought it was lost until the Lancia specialist restorer Thornley & Kelham found it in a garage in the United States. A find that came after an intense search started in Italy, all with the idea of recovering a sports Lancia with interesting track records. And for what? Well, to do what you know best: a great restoration.
Thus, this Aurelia Panamericana appeared on the other side of the Atlantic almost suddenly. After the find this British workshop bought it immediately to bring it back to its heyday. Something that it took about 4.000 hours, since the state in which they were found was not exactly the most appropriate. In fact, he had even received very severe alterations in the rear, which bore little resemblance to the one he wore with an elegant fall during the Carrera Panamericana.
Recovered its original lines, the roar of its V6 engine and even details as specific as the seats of a Lancia Ardea -incorporated into the competition units because they are smaller and lighter than the running bench of the series B20 GT-, the restoration of this Aurelia Panamericana ended last 2015. Since then, has appeared in events as Peeble Beach. But, above all, in numerous lanzista forums where they know how to appreciate a model full of history and know how to do a brand that should never disappear.
P.S: know that this car served as an inspiration for Thornley and Kelham to make other really special cars such as the 'outlaw' version of this Panamericana that, although of lower historical value, we are sure you will love it. It is a hormonal Aurelia (as it sounds!) with which we invite you to continue enjoying ... 😉
