Lancia Aurelia B52 Coupé Pininfarina

The Lancia Aurelia B52 Coupé by Pininfarina, chassis B52-1095, was a one-off coachbuilt automobile constructed in 1954. It was built on the extended-wheelbase B52 chassis, a platform manufactured by Lancia between 1952 and 1953 specifically for independent coachbuilders. Only 98 examples of the B52 rolling chassis were produced, each delivered without bodywork for the creation of bespoke designs. The mechanical configuration followed that of the standard Aurelia B21. The engine was an aluminium V6, displacing 1,991?cc, equipped with a single Solex carburetor and producing approximately 70 horsepower. It was coupled to a rear-mounted four-speed manual gearbox, with a transaxle layout integrating the clutch and differential. The chassis employed independent front suspension with sliding pillars and rear semi-trailing arms with coil springs. Hydraulic drum brakes were fitted on all four wheels. The long-wheelbase frame, measuring 2,991?mm, permitted a more spacious cabin and was intended for grand touring applications. The bodywork was designed and executed by Pininfarina. It featured a fastback coupé configuration with a continuous roofline tapering into a modest rear deck. The styling displayed restrained ornamentation, integrated headlamps, and minimal chrome trim, in line with early 1950s Italian aerodynamic principles. While similar in form to the 1952 Rosa d’Oro prototype, chassis B52-1095 was a distinct design, not a replica or derivative. The structure was composed of steel or aluminium panels over a tubular frame, though precise construction materials are undocumented. Only one example of this coupé was built. Chassis B52-1095 was not followed by any series production, and no sister cars are known to exist. The vehicle was retained by Pininfarina for internal exhibition before being transferred to private ownership. It has been documented in Switzerland and later in the United States, where it remains in private hands. The Lancia Aurelia B52 Coupé Pininfarina chassis B52-1095 is a singular artifact within the broader context of postwar Italian coachbuilding. It illustrates the collaboration between a major manufacturer and an independent carrozzeria during a transitional period of limited bespoke production, prior to the standardization of grand touring models in the 1960s.