The Crane B20 near the top of the Stelvio Pass in northern Italy in an attempt to duplicate a photo in the 1955 Lancia calendar.
“Of all the cars you’ve owned, which would you like to have back?” Always a popular question from friends who have most of their life’s income carefully invested rather than using it for an endless string of automotive experiences and adventures.
My answer has to include several: an Alfa 1750 GTV that was successfully used for track days against Ferraris and for camping with the family, the Ferrari 330 GT 2+2 I actually owned twice, 25 years between, a beautiful Aston Martin DB2 that tended to fill itself with smoke periodically (from the early post-war years when Lucas wires were actually small plastic tubes full of smoke that would occasionally crack and dispense their contents, only the really good guys could get the smoke back in so the lights would work) and the 1955 Series Four Lancia Aurelia B20 that will be my forever favorite.
In the rain on the SS1 Aurelia en route to Florence. The Italians were more interested in the California license plate than the B20.
Why a Lancia B20 (never mind, what’s a Lancia B20)? Well, if names like Bracco, Stelvio or Mille Miglia don’t have any meaning to you, I could never explain it. How about the name Jano (who designed the great 6C and 8C Alfas, before designing the Lancia Aurelia), or maybe Targa Florio? I suppose you would have to be a motor racing history enthusiast to fully understand the fascination. I was not a Lancia fanatic, so no other road cars from the marque were able to generate enough excitement to cause money to change hands.
B20 Series 4 gearbox and clutch
group with parallel semi-elliptic
springs and de Dion tube.
Only the B20 hit so hard in so many areas of automotive interest. Introduced in 1951, it featured a multi-finned, aluminum V-6 engine with hemispherical combustion chambers mounted in the front and delivered power to a rear-mounted transaxle carrying enormous in-board, aluminum-finned brakes. Early cars had fully independent rear suspension and the later series were modified with a deDion tube offering incomparable balance and road holding for its day using soft springs and good damping. 0-60 times equaled those of sports cars made 30 years later and touring at 70-80 mph was relatively quiet. The fuel consumption was in the 25 mpg range. For long distance traveling, there was a capacious trunk you could camp in. In my judgment, the B20 set a record of achievement against cars costing twice as much then and 10 times as much now.
A visit to the home of Tazio Nuvolari.
When the Aurelia GT model was introduced, Giovanni Bracco used one of the first 1700cc cars produced to finish second behind a 4.1-liter Ferrari in the 1951 Mille Miglia. Then he and his pal Gianni Lurani drove the car up to Le Mans to see the race as spectators. They were invited to enter their transportation in the event. The result was a first in the under 2-liter class and fifteenth overall; after which they drove it back to Italy.
Crane and his B20 rush up to the top of Laguna Seca’s Corkscrew.
Lancia B20 1108 shared the Crane adventure for only five years, but during that time it was invited to be part of the celebration of Vincenzo Lancia’s 100th birthday celebration and spent a month touring Italy (it did a record lap of the Mille Miglia in three weeks, the longest lap ever), it raced in the Monterey Historic Automobile Races four times among a number of vintage racing events, soldiered as a daily driver for a while, covered thousands of road miles and suffered only one failure. One of the tiny springs that controlled the distributor weights to establish the advance curve made contact with its weight and wore through; finding that problem was an adventure replacing it was another. At Riverside Raceway it turned exactly the same lap times as a 300SL while using 100hp less—it was all about balance and grip.
American cars on the 1981 Lancia Centenary: Crane B20, Kent Wakeford Lambda Casaro Spider, Gary and Tina Byrd were sharing their honeymoon with us in the white Lambda and Jan and Olga Voboril spent 3 months in Europe in their 1916 Theta racing car (Jan recently finished the Peking to Paris in this same car).
John Lamm, the famously fine photographer, story-teller and veteran Road & Track contributor has now owned 1108 for more than 20 years. We went together one Saturday morning in 1986 to photograph it for Road & Track’s “Classic Sports Cars” special edition. John fell in love and bought one of his own, and a year later he bought mine, too. His purchase facilitated my family’s move to Ann Arbor, Michigan to join Automobile magazine and the beginning of memorable adventures with David E. Davis Jr. While there have been a few challenges as the B20 aged, the engine has not been one of them.
B20 aluminum 60 degree V-6 with its
transverse rocker shafts reaching
to the valves in the hemispherical
chambers.
I was speaking to Jack Dimock, from whom I purchased the car in 1981, at Monterey a few years ago, complementing him on the reliability of his engine rebuild. “I never touched that engine during my restoration. So far as I know it remains original. Jack owned the car 12 years, during which he had done a beautiful body and interior restoration and used it for Lancia events for many of those years. The quality of Lancia engineering was no small part in the company’s final failure and absorption into the great Fiat empire in 1989.
I would love to have B20 1108 back in my garage, but like most of the cars that have passed through my car life, the first great post-war grand touring car has been discovered and its value has gone up and out of reach. Only the fabulous memories remain in tact. So be it.
Dear Mr. Crane,
Wow! You have written a great piece that brings the experience you had to life in the most marvelous fashion.
Lancias have always fascinated me, I think I am beginning to understand why.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Don Sawhill
Crane, you wild man. The lead shot is immortal. I’m thankful I’ve driven that road myself. And the shot of the B20 heading up to the Corkscrew is pure emotion and speed. At a VARA event in the Seventies at Ontario Motor Speedway, I saw my first Aurelia up close. Never mind the GT40 MK IV that was clearing its through on the long straight. I fell in love with that shield grille. I still want a sinistre spyder.
Crane, glad to see you’re posting here on a regular basis. You’ve had an exceptionally good car life. The rest of us would love to hear more.
Dear Crane
I remember perfectly the first time I’ve crossed with such a car the B20.
It has been a long time ago, I dont know why but I had never seen this model in the specialty magazines, I buy assiduously the routeclassiche since the first number.
I was on the way to my office, was very early in the morning and then right after the curve, there it was, the B20, parking right in front of me.
It was love at first sight, I had to stop my car and take a look arround, first from the out side, then the inside, I simply was fascinated by this type, the smooth lines and aggressive at the same time i don´t know something just click on me.
I returned to my car get the camara and took some pic’s of it…since that day I got a “crash” for that special car that I can not explain, thank you to remaind me back that feeling and congratulations for your new record …
Regards
F. Miguel
Sirs,
Very interesting article of the B-20, I have always loved any Lancia, and during the period of l983-l990 more or less. I was living in Pittsburgh, PA, where Tom Sheean had a building full of B20’s, B24’s, Flaminia’s Flavia’s Fulvia’s plus parts enormous! I was involved in the restoration of several B24’s and B-20s (The cars were sold for approximately $1500.00) The B-20 was great, more the Series IIand III, rather than the Series IV. The workmanship to my taste surpassed Ferrari in some ways…just felt more solid and reliable, and not so harsh. But, but, but, the front suspension (Sliding Pillars) no good, I don’t believe anyone, and articles and letters attest to the never getting the “Wobble” out of the front suspension…hence the Flaminia’s front suspension…fantastic! I could be wrong, as I drove a Citroen DS, hence the suspension….well we know it is (was) space age in l954 and still.
Great article
jim bandy
Larry, just a quick note to tell you how much I enjoyed your story on the Lancia Aurelia in Veloce Today.
I’ve always admired that car; its engineering, lines and packaging are nothing short of superb. It has always amazed me that it is not more well known. As rolling sculpture goes, the Aurelia is right up there with the best of them. A pity I’ve never had the pleasure of owning one.
To think that you’ve not only had one, but driven it along the Mille Miglia route and paid homage to Tazio Nuvolari is inspiring. One of these days I have got to make it to Mantua and give proper tribute to the old man. If I can’t do it properly in an Alfa 1750 than perhaps I can talk Lamm into borrowing the B20 …
I finally figured out who I want to be when I grow up! I wanna be Larry Crane!
I hope all is well.
Dear Mr. Crane,
I enjoyed your article on the Aurellia. In 1953 I was ready to purchase on in Caracas for $2500. It was a right hand drive and was owned by Goodyear there. They took it from an Italian dealer of tyes there for money owed. I took a fast ride in it and was so impressed. I had a MG TD back in Ohio before Venezuela. I didn’t purchase it because I would have had to get an export license to get it back to t he states. What a beautiful engineered car it was. Thanks,
Frank Shaffer
Dear Mr Crane
A most enjoyable piece that encapsulates all the magic of the B20 GT.
Jay Leno shares your enthusiasm writing in UK Magazine Octane (March 2009)….
“People who didn’t know, didn’t know and people who did thought “Wow, look at that – that’s an Aurelia”.
I’ve been lucky enough to own a B20 GT 4th Series for just over a year and it is everything I dreamed it would be and more.
So far it’s raced up the Brooklands Test Hill, toured through France to the Le Mans Classic, and finished 2nd in Class on the Tour Britannia … all in style and comfort that no other car could match.
Here in the UK, the Aurelia has an elite following amongst drivers who admire its engineering and revel in its ability.
As you may have guessed, I rather like them!
Adam Tindell
Great article on a fabulous car – pity Jum Bandy did not speak to the right people about his front wheel wobble. The cars did not raise to this status with an incurable problem that badly affects driving enjoyment.
It is always a pleasure to read about a good car little mentioned in lieu of the constant barrage about Ferraris.
Cheers
Adrian Walmsley
I also “loved and lost” an Aurelia – a bright red third series. Again it was a joy on the road and track.
My own highlight was road racing on the Isle of Man. On many of the corners they’d have needed to call the helicopter rather than the ambulance should anything have gone wrong but something about Aurelias gives the confidence to keep the foot in whatever.
Fantastic cars to drive and look at. The biggest and most delightful surprise was the a charisma that appealed to the lady down the road who’s never driven in her life and the tatooed hot rodders at the petrol station alike.
Like you am still in touch with my car, and am looking forward to watching it race again this season.
David
To All,
I’ve enjoyed the letters written nearly as much as the Mr, Crane’s article. I’m excited now to get back into my long stored Appia Vignale.
Mr. Laver,
My wife is from the Isle of Man. We were there for the first vintage car race, 1999 or so. Were you entered in that one? I always introduce myself to B20 drivers. I may have accosted you below the great Manx TT position board.
Larry
A great story on one of my “bucket list” cars.
You confirm everything I’ve read on the B20 … a real car for drivers. Your story is the next best thing to being there … Thanks!
Cheers!
Paul
Larry,
What can one add to such a a story ?
Well, one should think Aurelia, and not just B20, or B24 (the spider and convertible, but you know that!).
If you enjoy the technology, and still want to transport up to 5 persons, look at the berlinas, the earlier B10 and the later B12, with its 2,3 l motor. They will carry your party in style and comfort. I have used my Aurelia Berlina B12 all over Europe, taken it for vacations, with 3 children and a dog, used it for city transport (only drawback, a heavy steering when parking), crossed the Appenines from Lucca to Modena over the Abbetone pass and back in one day. A big bonus, the berlinas are today generally one fourth the price of a B20 coupe ! And if you need a big convertible, go for a Pinin Farina cabriolet on B50-B52 chassis, if you can find one.
And finally, if you want to read the story of the resurrection of an Aurelia B20, check the blog of Geoffrey Goldberg, on his restoration of an early 2l version.
Sebastien
Great article, and good to see so many responses to it also – with lots of names I know included (the Lancia world is closely woven).
Talk of the engineering quality of these cars is definitely on the money (as the US journalists like to say). My B20 has done nearly 500k miles on its original engine, and burns no oil (if you excuse an occasional ‘puff’ on start-up). I will defend the sliding pillars against attack also, as careful wheel balancing will remove the famous wobble. I’ve owned Flaminias, and certainly their front suspension design is more refined and comfortable (as well as having incredible standards of build and design, with each forging individually hardness-tested and stamped), but the main improvement is in terms of geometry (something to do with the kingpin axis I’m told, ask Martin Cliffe if you’re interested…) and means the front end of a Flaminia will take a bump mid-corner without the ‘hop’ that is likely to occur in an Aurelia. That said, the Aurelia is in my opinion a much better ‘package’ than the Flaminia in its various forms – size / weight / power etc., are better combined in the earlier car.
Cheers,
William
Mr Crane,
I would like to add my admiration for your piece on the Lancia B20. This is the car I too wish I had back. Mine was a 1959 model and I bought it as a second owner in 1961 and drove it until 1971. It was my daily driver where it performed admirably. On long trips, especially on curvy roads, it was without equal for road holding and once up to speed did not lack for performance. I did not experience any front end wobble or have any other problems to speak of. I recall coming home to Southern California from Reno during a sleet storm in the Sierras. The heater was a joke. The only way I could get ice off the windshield without stopping to scrape was to spray warm water from the windshield washer. On the same trip I was trying to get out of an icy rut by going back and forth. The cold plus the strain I put on the driveshaft caused the juibo joint (rubber donut) to come apart. Even that did not keep me from getting home and enjoying the trip.
When I did work on refreshing the engine I was struck with the quality of the construction and materials. This goes for the craftsmanship and high level of quality apparent all over the car. If I ever get my hands on another one I would never let it go.
Dear mr Crane,
thanks for all the articles, especially about the B20. I’ve been lucky enough to have B20/3148 RHD, for 10 years.
Reading all this makes me determined never to sell her.
Dear Larry –
Thank you for the kind thoughts on all cars, and of course on the Aurelia. I remember talking with you years ago in Chicago about your lost B20. Know that the offer to drive one is still standing next time you come to town!
Having grown up with Flaminias, the Aurelia offered a purity of thought that is all too rare – along with its craftsmanship, engineering prowess, it also provided an unusual range of comfort, sport and precision. I’ve been under the spell for many years. Information on Aurelias is not so easy to find – but some is available at http://www.lanciainfo.com, if interested.
Please accept thanks for the good writing, and your insights, as always, warm the soul.
I have a 6th series B20 Aurelia for sale. I have recently completed a full restoration which Gary Bird, before his passing, considered to be the best in the world.
A recent article in your magazine called “Car Life” by Larry Crane generated a number of responses from B20 enthusiasts. I would like to send those people information on my B20.
Is it possible to for me get contact details.
Regards, Ralph Taylor.