Upon its debut at the Torino Motor Show in 1950, Lancia’s Aurelia was hailed as a technical tour de force. Spearheaded by the legendary engineer Vittorio Jano, the Aurelia introduced many innovative technical features, including a rear-mounted transaxle, four-wheel independent suspension, inboard rear brakes, and an aluminum V-6 engine developed by Francesco de Virgilio.

The sporting potential of the Aurelia was realized with the introduction of the B20 GT. At the 1951 Mille Miglia, a factory-prepared Aurelia driven by Giovanni Bracco and Umberto Maglioli won its class and placed 2nd Overall behind the Scuderia Ferrari 340 America. This remarkable finish was followed by numerous race victories and a class win at Le Mans.

At the 1955 Brussels Motor Show, Lancia unveiled the B24 Spider America – the most sporting Aurelia. Sharing its 2.5-liter V-6 engine and De Dion rear axle with the Series IV B20 GT, the Spider America featured a shorter chassis and standard floor shift. With a top speed approaching 115 mph, the Spider America was among the best performing open sports cars of its day, and an ideal choice for the well-heeled enthusiast.

The Spider America’s coachwork, masterfully styled and constructed by Pinin Farina, featured gorgeous lines, cut-down doors, split bumpers, and a splendid panoramic wraparound windscreen inspired by dream-car styling of the period. A pure sports car, the Spider America was a strict two-seater with a light folding top and side curtains in lieu of more conventional wind-up windows. As its name suggested, the new Lancia was aimed at the booming American market and the vast majority were specified in left-hand drive.

In total, just 240 examples were built before Lancia replaced the Spider America with the more practical B24 Convertible. Due to their exceptional rarity, beauty, and performance, the Spider Americas are regarded as the most desirable road-going Lancias ever built.

This Spider America was a true California garage find, discovered around 1980 by Olof Anderson, a vintage racer and Volvo mechanic living on the Monterey peninsula. Photos of the Lancia taken prior to restoration show a complete, unrestored car, free from significant corrosion and body damage. During his ownership, Anderson started a restoration that never progressed beyond preliminary stages, leaving the car to sit in storage for nearly three decades. In 2009, he sold the Lancia to Mark Sange of Bolinas, California, a fellow vintage racer and collector with a passion for Etceterini marques.

Joe Hayes, the highly respected Chicago-based collector, acquired the Spider America later in 2009, and undertook a Pebble Beach-quality restoration – a process rarely lavished on these complex, expensive-to-restore Aurelias.

The restoration, carried out between 2010 and 2012 at a cost of more than $350,000, utilized the expertise of several highly regarded Lancia specialists. Will’s Garage Co. of Oakdale, Pennsylvania, oversaw the disassembly, bodywork, paint, and chrome, while local specialist Thomas Pearce was entrusted with re-trimming the upholstery and top. The elegant light gray over red color scheme was inspired by a Spider America displayed in-period at an auto show.

The great Lancia guru Walt Spak of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was brought on to rebuild the original engine, which retains the original block, heads, crankshaft, and sump – all numbered 1184 per factory records. Spak also restored the radiator, exhaust system, and engine ancillaries, and sourced a correct original set of Borrani wire wheels, as well as a proper tool kit and jack. Canadian parts specialist Franco de Piero acquired correct components from Europe, including proper Carello lights, badging, and other small details.

Upon its completion in summer 2012, Mr. Hayes debuted the Lancia at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance® and received a Second in Class award – a testament to the car’s striking appearance and the outstanding quality of its restoration. Mr. Hayes kept the Lancia until 2017, when he sold it to the current owner, whose world-class collection includes many of the finest Lancias, Ferraris, and Maseratis. Since that time, it has benefited from regular service and maintenance by the consignor’s in-house team.

Accompanied by an extensive, well-organized file of restoration photos and records, as well as important original accessories including an original owner’s manual and sales brochures, this Spider America is among the finest examples of its kind – a stylish, beautifully engineered Italian jewel eligible for the world’s most prestigious concours and driving events.