In 1950, the Lancia Aurelia was one of the main attractions at the Turin Motor Show. The name of the elegant Gran Turismo recalls the Via Aurelia, a road built in the time of Caesar.
Two years later, the Lancia Aurelia PF200 Spider concept car was presented at the same venue, a manifestation of Pininfarina's creativity. With technically sophisticated solutions and a design clearly inspired by the jet age. In the early 1950s, Pininfarina consolidated its international reputation thanks to the success of the Cisitalia 202 model. The design studio thus became a reference for wealthy clients and car manufacturers looking for stylish design.
In addition to custom-made bodies, the Turin-based coachbuilder also produces prototypes for fairs and Concours d'Elegance competitions. In this context, the Aurelia PF200 was created, which was based on the Lancia Aurelia B52 and presented at the Turin Motor Show in 1952. The design concept, strongly inspired by aviation, is very recognizable. The front of the Lancia is characterized by a convex, round nose, reminiscent of the air intake of the Sabre F-86 fighter. At the rear, six individual exhaust pipes are located above the bumper.
The Lancia is powered by a 1991 cc six-cylinder engine, fed by twin Weber carburettors, producing 90 hp and mated to a four-speed manual gearbox. This makes the PF200 a high-performance roadster for its time. But also an experimentation with style that was born in an extremely small series between 1952 and 1956: two additional Spiders and three or four coupes actually saw the light of day. They were all slightly different from each other.
Each example has its own peculiarities. For example, only the prototype from Turin has a completely round front. Later versions received an elliptical front and other body modifications. The car in the photos is specifically chassis B52-1052.
This car is the second of three open models presented at the 1953 Geneva Motor Show, the PF200 C. This version is recognizable by its oval front end, chrome door moldings and front bumper below the headlights. As the only one in the series, this model received the PF200C badge on the front.
The PF200's styling also inspired inspiration outside the Lancia world. Music impresario Norman Granz had a similar vehicle built on a Cadillac 62 chassis. Pininfarina further developed the concept with the 1956 Palm Beach Special.
In a short time, the Aurelia PF200 became a “cult object” among wealthy enthusiasts of its time. Even today, the 70-year-old Lancia is a coveted target for many collectors. At a Sotheby’s auction in 2017, the car, which was presented at the Geneva and Turin motor shows, fetched $1,2 million.
