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.
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