The Lancia Aurelia was a car built in the 1950s before it was replaced by the more modern Flaminia. The most famous example is a racing version of the car that was based on the B20 two-door GT and competed in the Mille Miglia (where it came second overall in 1951), won its class at Le Mans the same year, and it was also raced in the Carrera Panamericana. Now, there's a new model in the spotlight as it has been the subject of a rather extensive restomod.
The original racing car was considered long lost, but was discovered and ultimately painstakingly restored to its original state by a shop in the U.K., in Gloucestershire, called Thornley Kelhman. Then, as they were showing off the car to the public, an onlooker suggested they do an upgraded, restomodded limited series model in the same spirit. And, that neatly brings us to the star of this video by Carfection.
Host Henry Catchpole travels to the Gloucestershire-based shop to drive the new outlaw and is left hugely impressed not only by the sheer quality of execution but also the tasteful and respectful manner in which the cars are modified.
The original had a 2.0-liter V-6, but this outlaw build features a larger and slightly newer V-6 from the Flaminia. It’s still not largely fast, with just over 170 horsepower on tap but, between its great handling and chuckable nature, and the experience of being inside it, straight-line performance doesn’t seem that important.
