1951-1958 Lancia Aurelia Coupe and Spyder
The 1951-1958 Lancia Aurelia Coupe and Spyder was hailed by many as the first "true" GT. The Aurelia coupe was a two-door fastback based on the chassis and drivetrain of the Aurelia sedan.Sports Cars Image Gallery
1955 Lancia Aurelia coupe. See more pictures of sports cars.
Styling by
Pinin Farina was distinguished by a proud, distinctively shaped Lancia grille
and a smooth, sloping roofline. Like all contemporary Lancias, the coupe had a
sliding-pillar front suspension, and shared its V-6 engine and rear-mounted
gearbox with the sedan.
Two engine sizes were offered through six marginally
different "series" in the model's life: 1991cc (1951-1953) and 2451cc
(1953-1958). Available beginning in 1954 was a pretty Farina-styled open roadster
(Spyder) on a shorter wheelbase.
The first Z40 built had a trendy wraparound windshield and no door windows. After that a conventional windshield and roll-up glass appeared. A major chassis change occurred in 1954, when the semi-trailing-link independent rear suspension was exchanged for a de Dion layout on coupes. Spyders used the de Dion arrangement exclusively.
Pluses of the 1951-1958 Lancia Aurelia Coupe and Spyder:
- Significant modern Lancia
- Milestone status
- Agile handling
- Styling (especially Spyder)
- Engineering
- Performance
Minuses of the 1951-1958 Lancia Aurelia Coupe and Spyder:
- Rust-prone
- Parts now hard to obtain
- Not numerous any more
Production of the 1951-1958 Lancia Aurelia Coupe and Spyder:
- Cpe: 3,871
- Spyder: 761
Specifications of the 1951-1958 Lancia Aurelia Coupe and Spyder:
Wheelbase, inches: 104.7/96.5 (cpe/Spyder)
Length, inches: 172.0/165.4 (cpe/Spyder)
Weight, pounds: 2,630/2,500 (cpe/Spyder)
Price, new: Approximately $5,500 U.S. for 1956 Spyder; $5,800 for 1958 GT coupe
Engines for the 1951-1958 Lancia Aurelia Coupe and Spyder:
Type Size Horsepower Yearsohv
V-6 1,991 cc (121 cid)
75/801951-1953ohv
V-62,451 cc (150 cid)
118/1221953-1958
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