Earlier this year I was given a Lancia Aurelia B10 but as it was located in South Australia it was not until the first weekend in December that I was allowed to go get it. You may not know what a B10 looks like as it doesn’t get the publicity of it’s younger sister the B20 Coupe.
Here is a picture of a B10:
The B10 was a very conservatively styled postwar saloon but as with most Lancias, the magic was under the skin. It was the first V6 car, up until then no one had figured out that the “V” angle needed to be 60 degrees and the crank needed 6 throws among other things to get a smooth running V6. If you look under the bonnet of my B10 you will not find the engine as it has been reduced to its component parts and is currently residing where the back seat should be. I think this is the reason it went off the road. Another mechanical first was the rear suspension that a decade or so later Mecedes, BMW and Triumph thought they invented, it has the transaxle at the rear and the Lancia favourite, Sliding Pillar front end so a bit of old and new.
Here is my car:
The car seems to be all there and not rusty. It will need a repaint, it was originally black, discussions are currently in play with Mistress Susan as to the colours she can live with. It will need to be retrimmed as it has been previously trimmed in vinyl so will be going back to cloth and lastly it will need an engine rebuild and mechanical refresh which is the only part that I will get involved in. Unlike the Fulvia, the body is sound so maybe it will only be a matter of five easy monthly payments instead of thirteen.
The crankshaft… a work of art!
Too bad we didn’t catch up with you over here, but then, who knows – we might have been toxic!
Good luck with the work Mark…
Love your optimism! Keep the good work flowing, and look forward to hearing more on the lovely (to be) B10.
Congratulations with the B10 and all the fun working on it and see it becoming a wonderfull LANCIA again.
Thanks Leo, I hope it comes up as well as your Lambda has.
Nobody’s given me a Lancia yet, not even a Ferrari…..
Good things come to those that wait. I’m surprised no one has given you a Ferrari though.