Lancia Aurelia B52 Coupé Vignale

Vehicle Overview

The Lancia Aurelia B52 Coupé Vignale, chassis B52-1072, represents a rare convergence of technical innovation and coachbuilt artistry in early post-war Italian automobile history. Manufactured in 1952, it was based on the Lancia B52 platform, a specialized chassis variant derived from the Aurelia series. The B52, along with the closely related B53, was designed to provide custom foundations for Italy’s leading carrozzerie, offering mechanical refinement coupled with aesthetic freedom. Only one hundred examples of the B52 chassis were constructed, of which a mere eleven were allocated to Carrozzeria Vignale, a Turin-based coachbuilder renowned for its creative versatility and close collaboration with the influential designer Giovanni Michelotti. Among the eleven B52 Vignale commissions, only four were completed in coupé form. Chassis number B52-1072 stands as one of these four, further distinguished by its exhibition debut at the 1952 Turin Motor Show. This example featured a Michelotti design characterized by subtle elegance, harmonious proportions, and understated chrome detailing. The vehicle’s two-tone exterior paintwork—green over black—underscored its refined visual presence and highlighted the sculptural fluidity typical of Vignale’s work during this period. The bodywork, though unique, reflected broader stylistic currents within early 1950s Italian design, including wraparound rear windows, low rooflines, and a careful balance between dynamic posture and formal restraint. Beneath its bespoke body, the B52-1072 retained the mechanical integrity of the Aurelia series, including a two-liter V6 engine and a transaxle layout, innovations that were both technically advanced and influential. The engine produced approximately 69 horsepower, transmitted through a four-speed manual gearbox to the rear wheels. While not intended as a high-performance vehicle, it was a demonstration of engineering sophistication matched with custom-tailored aesthetics. This Lancia Aurelia B52-1072, preserved in its original specification, forms part of the Lopresto Collection, an assemblage dedicated to rare Italian coachbuilt automobiles. Its provenance, limited production, and period-authentic condition confer upon it historical and collector significance, reflecting a distinct moment in Italian automotive craft, when industrial innovation intersected with artisanal design under the banner of postwar reconstruction and national expression.