Visit to the Aurelia exhibition at the Bonfanti-VIMAR Museum
Posted: 01 Apr 2007, 21:29
I have just come back from Italy where I had a look at the in exhibition organized by the Bonfanti-Vimar Museum near Bassano di Grappa, with the help of the Registro Aurelia Italiano. It was incredibly thorough, with 27 cars spanning the period between the Aprilia based prototypes, with 45°V engine, and the Florida, which previewed the coming Flaminia.
All Aurelia models are exhibited, the berlinas including a rare B15 limousine, the B20 coupe, the B24 spider and convertible, and most interesting, the « Fuoriserie » Aurelias. There were sporting coupes and spiders, the luxurious Pinin Farina cabriolets, and the representative Pinin Farina B51 berlina, with its 4 doors in an extended B20 shape.
Most interesting for me was the seldom seen « Bimotore » prototype, which De Virgilio designed for military purposes as a fast all-terrain reconnaissance vehicle during his summer holidays in 1953. Lancia was no newcomer to the field, having already produced the Astura based « Lynx » during the war. But De Virgilio’s idea was far more advanced. He had carefully studied the american Jeep, and had noticed that in case of failure of the only engine, not infrequent at the time, the whole vehicle was incapacitated, with serious consequences for its occupants. He decided on using 2 detuned Aurelia 2l engines, the same as those used in the B15 berlinas, each coupled to its own « bloco propulsore », i.e. the well known clutch + gearbox + final drive, by a special casting that allowed the engine to be placed in parallel to each gearbox. That special casting also included a 2-speed reductor gearbox, and an additional fluid flywheel coupling, so that in addition a low range of 4 speeds was available for all terrain work.
One each of those very compact powerplants was placed at each end of the vehicle, which offered in the middle a passenger compartment capable of transporting five fully equipped soldiers, in addition to the driver, which was seated in an advanced position, in front of the soldiers. All wheel independent suspension and homokinetical driveshaft couplings were of the succesfull « Lynx » design. With a 1'760 Kg weight (fully fuelled, ready for battle) and a power of 130 HP (2x 65 HP) the performance of the 12-cylinder « Bimotore » was the highest in its class.
According to the exhibition catalog 4 of those prototypes were built, of which the one exhibited was discovered only recently in a barn of the italian « Frecce Tricolore » infantry regiment, based in Vistaguardia, near Como. It is well known that after comparative testing between the competing Alfa, Fiat and Lancia offerings, the Fiat made « Campagnola » was finally prefered, and purchased in important numbers by the italian forces.
The only remaining Lancia « Bimotore » is kept in working order by its italian private owner, who will be participating at the next Aurelia Registro Meeting in Sardinia, where in its capable hands it will demonstrate its incredible terrain climbing capabilities.
The exhibition is due to finish on april 9th, I hope that it is not too late to once more encourage all Lancia afficionados to visit this unique reminder of Lancia engineers’ inventiveness.
All Aurelia models are exhibited, the berlinas including a rare B15 limousine, the B20 coupe, the B24 spider and convertible, and most interesting, the « Fuoriserie » Aurelias. There were sporting coupes and spiders, the luxurious Pinin Farina cabriolets, and the representative Pinin Farina B51 berlina, with its 4 doors in an extended B20 shape.
Most interesting for me was the seldom seen « Bimotore » prototype, which De Virgilio designed for military purposes as a fast all-terrain reconnaissance vehicle during his summer holidays in 1953. Lancia was no newcomer to the field, having already produced the Astura based « Lynx » during the war. But De Virgilio’s idea was far more advanced. He had carefully studied the american Jeep, and had noticed that in case of failure of the only engine, not infrequent at the time, the whole vehicle was incapacitated, with serious consequences for its occupants. He decided on using 2 detuned Aurelia 2l engines, the same as those used in the B15 berlinas, each coupled to its own « bloco propulsore », i.e. the well known clutch + gearbox + final drive, by a special casting that allowed the engine to be placed in parallel to each gearbox. That special casting also included a 2-speed reductor gearbox, and an additional fluid flywheel coupling, so that in addition a low range of 4 speeds was available for all terrain work.
One each of those very compact powerplants was placed at each end of the vehicle, which offered in the middle a passenger compartment capable of transporting five fully equipped soldiers, in addition to the driver, which was seated in an advanced position, in front of the soldiers. All wheel independent suspension and homokinetical driveshaft couplings were of the succesfull « Lynx » design. With a 1'760 Kg weight (fully fuelled, ready for battle) and a power of 130 HP (2x 65 HP) the performance of the 12-cylinder « Bimotore » was the highest in its class.
According to the exhibition catalog 4 of those prototypes were built, of which the one exhibited was discovered only recently in a barn of the italian « Frecce Tricolore » infantry regiment, based in Vistaguardia, near Como. It is well known that after comparative testing between the competing Alfa, Fiat and Lancia offerings, the Fiat made « Campagnola » was finally prefered, and purchased in important numbers by the italian forces.
The only remaining Lancia « Bimotore » is kept in working order by its italian private owner, who will be participating at the next Aurelia Registro Meeting in Sardinia, where in its capable hands it will demonstrate its incredible terrain climbing capabilities.
The exhibition is due to finish on april 9th, I hope that it is not too late to once more encourage all Lancia afficionados to visit this unique reminder of Lancia engineers’ inventiveness.