1951 Lancia Aurelia GT
Mike Hawthorn, Juan Manuel Fangio, Jean Behra. When drivers like these choose a particular car as their own personal transport – and free of the restrictions of sponsors – then you know it is something special. Named, in Lancia’s fashion, after a Roman road, the Aurelia used the world’s first production V6-engine, an all-alloy jewel designed under the auspices of legendary engineer Vittorio Jano mated to an innovative transaxle which combined the gearbox, clutch, diff and in-board drum brakes in one unit. The Aurelia was also the first car to be fitted as standard with radial ply tyres.
There was a handsome saloon, the B12, but it was the B20 with its Ghia-designed and Pininfarina-built fastback body that is regarded as the first ‘Grand Touring’ car, as its initials attest. The Aurelia proved formidable in competition as well, winning its class at the 1951 24 Hours of Le Mans, taking the first three spots in the 1952 Targa Florio and victory at the 1953 running of the Lièges-Rome-Lièges trial. Maybe racing drivers just really like ‘firsts’?