Lancia - Lancia Aurelia
The Lancia Aurelia, designed by Vittorio Jano was introduced in 195O with what we now call the First Series, B10. The all new Aurelia had an V6 engine with a combined gearbox and rear axle called a transaxle at the rear. The all alloy engines started off at 1750cc and ending up with 2 litres with the B21 and 2 door B21. The Second Series Aurelias had the improved 2 litre engine also used in the B22, with the 2.5 litre capacity introduced for the Third Series Aurelia in 1953. The 4th series was redesigned to have a DeDion system at the rear. Later Lancia Aurelia models up to the 6th series gradually got heavier and more luxurious, so many today like the 4th Series which has the biggest engine capacity fitted in the lightest chassis, with a car which didn't have the swing axles! Lancia also produced couple of open topped Aurelias, the B24S, along with the more spartan B24 Spyder aimed at the American market.
Tyre size for all models of the Lancia Aurelia was the millimetric 165R400, which Blockley produces the superb 165HR400 example of. These period correct and steel belt construction Blockley 165HR400 tyres have the original taller diameter, and provide the best handling possible, in wet or dry, and have a higher speed rating than the Michelin. These millimetric 165HR400 tyres are tube type as per original specification. See full details of this Lancia Aurelia 165HR400 tyre at the link below.
Note that in more recent times non original but correct looking wheels have been made for the Lancias that take a 15" tyre, and this would have come about because of the expense and low speed rating of the Michelin 165R400 tyres, or their availability etc. But now with the Blockley 165HR400 available you can stick with the original 400mm (15.75mm) wheel and taller diameter tyre.
