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Lancia Aurelia B52 Vignale - Rodolfo Bonetto's elegant journeyman's piece

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Created on May 6, 2017

Reading time 3min

Written by:

Bruno von Rotz

Photos:

Tim Scott - Courtesy RM/Sotheby's

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Tim Scott - Courtesy RM/Sotheby's

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Lancia B52 Vignale Coupé (1952) - anstatt einer Chromnase gibt es im Düsenloch einen zusätzlchen Scheinwerfer

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Lancia B52 Vignale Coupé (1952) - das Design erinnert an amerikanische Vorbilder, z.B. von Studebaker

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Lancia B52 Vignale Coupé (1952) - ein elegantes Coupé, dem die Zweifarbenlackierung gut steht

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Lancia B52 Vignale Coupé (1952) - bei der Gestaltung des Dachs hielt sich Rodolfo Bonetto eng an Entwürfe von Michelotti

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Lancia B52 Vignale Coupé (1952) - dem Jet-Age entsprungen, aber nicht so extrem wie andere Entwürfe

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Lancia B52 Vignale Coupé (1952) - relativ konventionelles Heck, as man sich auch an einem Ferrari vorstellen könnte

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Lancia B52 Vignale Coupé (1952) - schön gestalteter Passagierbereich

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Lancia B52 Vignale Coupé (1952) - grosses Lenkrad, nicht unbedingt optimal positionierte Instrumente

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Lancia B52 Vignale Coupé (1952) - bis 1954 waren alle Aurelias rechtsgelenkt

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Lancia B52 Vignale Coupé (1952) - Tacho bis 160 km/h

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Lancia B52 Vignale Coupé (1952) - einfaches Abteil hinten

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Lancia B52 Vignale Coupé (1952) - ausstellbare Seitenfenster

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Lancia B52 Vignale Coupé (1952) - der V6-Motor mit 60-Grad-Winkel und zwei Litern Hubraum

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Lancia B52 Vignale Coupé (1952) - rund 80 PS leistete der Zweiliter

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Lancia B52 Vignale Coupé (1952) - Chassis-Plakette

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Lancia B52 Vignale Coupé (1952) - das Reserverad sitzt im Kofferraum

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Lancia B52 Vignale Coupé (1952) - neckische Lufteinlässe auf der Flanke

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Lancia B52 Vignale Coupé (1952) - versteckte Türgriffe

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Lancia B52 Vignale Coupé (1952) - Mehrteilige Panorama-Heckscheibe

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Lancia B52 Vignale Coupé (1952) - versenkte Heckleuchten

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Lancia B52 Vignale Coupé (1952) - der Schriftzug

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Lancia Aurelia B 21 (1952) - pfostenlose und selbsttragende Limousine

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Lancia Aurelia (1950) - eine frühe Limousine der ersten Serie

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Lancia Aurelia (1952) - Serie 1

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Lancia Aurelia Cabriolet Pinin Farina (1952) - elegantes Cabriolet am Genfer Autosalon 1952 oder 1953

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Lancia Aurelia Cabriolet Pinin Farina (1950) - auf dem selbsttragenden Chassis

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Lancia Aurelia B20 GT (1951) - die frühen Coupés waren alle rechtsgelenkt

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Lancia Aurelia (1950) - Autotelaio - selbsttragendes Chassis für Spezialkarosserien

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Lancia Aurelia (1952) - Chassiskonstruktion

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Lancia Aurelia (1950) - der V6-Motor mit nicht ganz 1,8 Litern Hubraum

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Lancia Aurelia (1950) - Hinterachse mit verblocktem Getriebe und Differential

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Lancia Aurelia Coupé B 52 Vignale (1952) - wirkte leichter und eleganter als das Seriencoupé

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Lancia Aurelia Coupé 2000 Vignale (1952) - mit charakteristischem Zentralscheinwerfer

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Alfa Romeo 1900 C Coupé Vignale (1953) - aufgenommen im Mailand beim Flughafen von Linate

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Alfa Romeo 1900 C Coupé Vignale (1953) - im Hintergrund das Flughafengebäude von Milano-Linate

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Summary

In 1950, the Lancia Aurelia saloon was the most highly regarded new model. But there was not only the self-supporting saloon, coachbuilders could also buy a sturdily constructed chassis and realize their own bodies on it. Vignale worked with Michelotti to create many of these chassis, but for one of them he used the design of another draughtsman. And the latter in turn was inspired by an American. This vehicle report describes the beginnings of the Lancia Aurelia and the very special coupé based on drawings by Rudolfo Bonetto.

This article contains the following chapters

Innovative technology
Self-supporting or chassis construction
Determined further development
American-Italian design hybrid
Recycling on an Alfa basis
Under the hammer
Further information

Estimated reading time: 3min

Preview (beginning of the article)

The main attraction at the Turin Motor Show in May 1950 was the Lancia Aurelia. At that time, the fortunes of the tradition-conscious car company were still managed by the family of founder Vincenzo Lancia. In the design office, however, the talented engineer Vittorio Jano was in charge of the development of the newly presented touring car, which was to succeed the Aprilia model. The Aurelia was to be larger, more spacious, more powerful and faster than its predecessor, while remaining compact and maneuverable. With a wheelbase of 2.86 meters and an overall length of 4.42 meters, this project was a success.

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