Thornley Kelham, a UK specialist in restoring
classic European cars, has revealed its latest work: a 1953 Lancia Aurelia B20
GT that was brought back from the dead and now stands all shiny and proud,
ready to tackle the historic Mille Miglia classic rally.
The car was unearthed in an incredibly poor
condition in the USA, as it was completely rusted throughout after decades left
exposed to the elements. Floor pans, sills, door bottoms, even the top of the
wings and the transmission tunnel were completely eroded.
Despite the donor car being almost unsalvageable,
Thornley Kelham’s expertise and understanding of these classic Lancias enabled
them to resurrect this beautiful Aurelia B20 GT. It wasn’t easy as you would
imagine; the body required strengthening prior to being media blasted as the
car’s structural integrity was almost non-existent and the whole restoration
process took over two-and-a-half years.
The body was fully restored, demanding the
fabrication of entirely new panels, including a considerable portion of the
lower body and myriad other repairs to get it ready. The car was then painted
in the original beige color it came from the factory.
The car also features a set of Rally De Corsa style
seats, as well as period-correct competition upgrades, including a Nardi floor
shift, Nardi bonnet scoop and Nardi twin carburettors and Borrani “bi-metallic”
wheels.
The finished 1953 Lancia Aurelia B20 GT will now
enter Mille Miglia, with Thornley Kelham providing a dedicated support team
throughout the event.
