Lancia Aurelia B20 GT Outlaw: this restomod of a '50s icon won't please purists

Shaped during the war and presented in 1950, the Lancia Aurelia is a legendary car, conceived by Vittorio Jano and designed by Mario Boano of Ghia. The first production car in the world to feature a V6, this sedan, named after the famous Roman road linking Rome to southern Gaul, was the perfect blend of luxury and sportiness, the DNA of Lancia. Lancia. It returned in coupe form at the 1951 Turin Motor Show: the B20 GT, which evolved into six distinct series, each iteration capturing the essence of Grand Tourism. A rare bird, with only 3872 coupes and 761 roadsters produced. Initially powered by a 2.0-liter engine, the Aurelia received a 2.5-liter engine in 1953. Featuring a front engine and rear-wheel drive, with a four-speed manual gearbox, its power wasn't phenomenal, but its weight distribution (50/50) gave it exceptional balance, making it ideal for the winding roads of Italy.

Inspiration: a unique model that raced in 1951

The Bracco is the most important of the Lancia Aurelia B20 GTs, laying the foundations for Lancia's reputation in Grand Touring. At the 1951 Mille Miglia, intrepid driver Giovanni Bracco took advantage of dreadful weather conditions to challenge for outright victory, being beaten to the line only by Villoresi's Ferrari 340. His performance, at the wheel of an almost production car, astounded many observers.

With this same car, Bracco then went to the 24 Hours of Le Mans as a spectator. As it turned out, there was still a place on the grid, so Bracco took part in the race with his B20GT (another era!), eventually winning in the 2-liter class! That same year, he took part in the Carrera Panamericana in Mexico. To reduce aerodynamic drag, Bracco had the roof pillars cut off, resulting in a lower Aurelia. He was on his way to another victory, until he went off the road on the 4th day of the race. After that, the car remained in Mexico, where it competed again in 1952, finishing in 9th place. And then... nothing.

Meticulous restoration

The example piloted by Giovanni Bracco was therefore unique, featuring an experimental lowered roof for improved aerodynamics. Miraculously found in Mexico, but in a pitiful state, it was brought back to England, where its restoration was completed in the 2010s by the team at Thornley Kelham, a company that started out in 2009 as a paint shop for classic cars before becoming the complete restoration center.

The restoration project took three years to bring her back to life. Thornley Kelham's team researched and learned a great deal about the innovations of this Lancia and the development program associated with it. The specifications available when it took part in the Carrera Panamericana were meticulously reproduced. Using 3D scans and polyester molds, Thornley Kelham was able to reconstruct the rear of the car. And only after receiving the blessing of various Lancia experts was it sent to the paint booth. Thornley Kelham describes this restomod as "a deeply modified B20GT, resolutely modern and one that will not please purists".

And why not small-scale production?

Unveiled at the 2014 Peeble Beach show, this B20 Bracco was enthusiastically received and gave rise to a new idea: to produce a limited series of Aurelia B20GT "Outlaw" restomods, i.e. with modern upgrades but without the constraints of traditional restoration standards. All that remained was to find the donor cars and get the owners' checkbooks out! The restorations were based on the less sought-after Series 5 and 6, which were already in a fairly dilapidated state. And off we went for 5000 hours of work! 

The bodywork underwent major operations. The roof pillars are shortened by 8 cm, as is the roofline, lowered by around seven centimetres to recall Giovanni Bracco's original model. The front and rear fenders are flared, widening the track by 1.5 cm, and the exterior is enriched by refined details such as the Monza-inspired fuel filler cap and the Nardi air intake on the hood. No detail has been overlooked, from the widened fenders and Jaguar D-style wheels to the custom exhaust and upgraded steering rack. The rounded rear-view mirrors are even an in-house creation.

An engine from the Lancia family and some modernized components

The original engine is replaced by a fuel-injected 2.5-liter V6 from a Lancia Flaminia, whose displacement is increased to 2.8 liters. The V6 from 2.8 liters realés also uses the Flaminia's original transaxle - supplemented by a new driveshaft to handle the extra power - and the donor car's Weber carburetors give way to Omex fuel injection.

The suspension is lowered and the damping optimized, a more efficient camshaft is installed and the original drum brakes are replaced by a hydraulic system with modern discs. Next, the aluminum airbox, exhaust manifolds, exhaust line, aluminum radiator and racing fuel tank are custom-made.

Inside, the cabin is trimmed in aniline leather, with an Alcantara headliner and wood-rimmed steering wheel for a modern touch. The narrower windshield is custom-made, the side windows are in Plexiglas and, in a nod to the car's racing past, a four-point harness is combined with a roll bar.

A restomod appreciated by aesthetes

Thornley Kelham doesn't disclose the Outlaw's performance, but the power output of the various restored models ranged from 180 to 220 HP at 5,100 rpm. That's more than enough power for a 1,200 kg car. Among the various "Outlaws", chassis no. 2 is unique in that it belongs to Danny Sullivan, former F1 and CART driver and winner of the 1985 Indianapolis 500. Sullivan's personal touches included Ferrari seats, Tilton pedals and a smaller Lancia steering wheel. The hand-formed sloping roofline, reminiscent of classic American cars, still makes quite a visual impact, the charm still working after all these years. The timeless beauty of Italian cars! One example sold at auction for $533,000 in 2025. Not bad for a car that "won't please purists".