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THE ITALIAN COACHBUILDER SITE

Lancia Aurelia B52 President

1952Coachwork by Ghia

THE VEHICLE AT A GLANCE

Model dossier

Production period
1952
Body style
Berlina / Limousine
Engine
V6
Type
Limited
Production
1–2

THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE CAR

Coachbuilding, design & conversions

PRICE & SALES RECORD

Vehicle value

Original price
Not documented
Latest recorded sale
Not documented

01 / THE STORY

History & context

The Lancia Aurelia B52 President, created by Carrozzeria Ghia in 1952, is a striking example of Italian automotive luxury and design. Built as a limousine based on the Lancia Aurelia chassis, this vehicle deviated from typical Lancia design elements, showcasing a more distinctive Ghia design language influenced by U.S.. While the car used Lancia’s mechanical underpinnings, its exterior design was entirely the work of Ghia, making it more a product of Ghia’s creative vision than a direct extension of Lancia’s styling. One of the key features of the Lancia Aurelia B52 President is its elegant and imposing bodywork, which was crafted with a focus on luxury and refinement. The limousine’s design did not follow the typical Lancia aesthetic, instead opting for a streamlined and sophisticated look that emphasized grandeur. The front end, in particular, was notable for its clean lines and smooth curves, marking it as a signature Ghia design. This front-end styling was not exclusive to the Aurelia B52 President, as Ghia proposed similar designs on other vehicles, including the Chrysler Special and the Fiat 1900 Cabriolet, further showcasing the versatility of Ghia’s design approach. The design is widely believed to have been the work of Gian Paolo Boano, a skilled designer known for his work at Ghia. Boano’s influence is evident in the car’s well-proportioned, elegant lines and its ability to convey a sense of luxury without excess. The Lancia Aurelia B52 President stood as a testament to Ghia’s reputation for creating unique, bespoke vehicles, and its refined design continues to be admired by collectors and automotive enthusiasts today. Despite its limited production, the Lancia Aurelia B52 President remains a rare example of a custom, luxury limousine that blended the technical reliability of Lancia with the exquisite craftsmanship and visionary styling of Ghia, solidifying its place in automotive history.

02 / TECHNICAL IDENTITY

Specifications & construction

Production & construction

Production
1–2
Production type
Limited

Engine & performance

Engine configuration
V6

Design & manufacture

Coachbuilder / Body Builder · Documented
Ghia
Manufacturer · Documented
Lancia
Designer · Documented
Gian Paolo Boano

06 / EVENTS & AWARDS

Events & awards

No events or documented awards are currently recorded for this vehicle.

08 / FROM THE ARCHIVE

Archive

References held in the vehicle dossier. Their inclusion does not establish that every historical claim has been independently verified.

ReferenceSource type
Carrozzieri Italiani — Lancia Aurelia chassis register www.carrozzieri-italiani.com Specialist chassis register
Carrozzieri Italiani — Gian Paolo Boano archive www.carrozzieri-italiani.com Designer archive
Poeschl on Cars — Ghia-bodied Lancia Aurelia B52 poeschloncars.blogspot.com Independent historical commentary
Carrozzieri Italiani — San Remo 1954 archive www.carrozzieri-italiani.com Event archive

THE CONVERSATION

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