B20 photography

[Niels Jonassen]

I stand corrected. Of course it is a second series. I did not look closely enough at the rear wings.

[RobD]

Hello all,
I'm a new member and a bit out of my depth when it comes to Aurelias but I thought this pic might be of interest. Piero Laverda of the late-lamented Laverda motorcycle company is a good friend of mine and a few years ago when I was doing some research on the Moto Giro [a long distance motorcycle race] Piero sent me this pic depicting one of the Laverda work's riders in the '56 Giro.
 I mentioned the Aurelias in the picture and Piero said his father owned an Aurelia  and used it as a chase car during the event. I don't know whether he was referring to the Aurelias in the pic, possibly not because they look like a pair of official cars to me rather than a private car, unless of course the Laverda team had two Aurelias. This is quite possible because they were a successful manufacturer who dominated the Giro production classes and could presumably run to owning a couple of expensive sports saloons as race support barges. Anyway, here's the pic. Piero told me his father was very fond of his Aurelia ....

[williamcorke]

 I mentioned the Aurelias in the picture...

What a fabulous photo.

I could easily be wrong about this, but isn't the front car behind the bike a Giulietta Sprint? Something about the shape of the screen/pillar and door top looks more like an early Sprint than a B20. Also, look at the downward curve of the window at the drivers back and under his arm.

[RobD]

Mmmm interesting... Perhaps the body moulding along the bottom of the door might provide a clue.

[williamcorke]

Mmmm interesting... Perhaps the body moulding along the bottom of the door might provide a clue.

Not sure that's much help. The early sprints have 3 piece cast Al moulding which are about the same width as a 3/4 series B20 (which would also be Al, IIRC).

Here's a picture of a first series Sprint ('whisker' grilles, 6" headlights).


The jacking points are missing their covers in this picture.

And just to settle the matter! I found another photo from a different angle that clearly shows the window line to be Giulietta not B20.

[RobD]

I told you I was out of my depth....

[Richard Fridd]

"Lancia at Speed". Not photography, but did anyone here see (or buy) this at Goodwood in September? 61x85cm, signed, mixed media abstract. Est £500-600.

[chriswgawne]

Is this one of Schianna's paintings Richard?

[simonandjuliet]

Love the Laverda photos - Laverda + Aurelia = fantastic, Laverda + Guilietta = not bad !

The plaster on the chin is to prevent chaffing

[Richard Fridd]

Is this one of Schianna's paintings Richard?

Yes. I wonder what it went for?  Here is his B12.

[stanley sweet]

Richard - what was the Italian bike you used to have displayed in your house?

[Richard Fridd]

That was a while back! The first of a line of motorcycles which were displayed in the house. It was a Ducati Monster 900. I swapped it for a Buell 1200 after a while, then a Triumph Bonneville Speedmaster bought new and little used (which I am going to sell to make way for a new project). Also a Vincent 500 and a racing BSA Bantam passed through. An Enfield also, which has moved between a couple of friends of mine since I sold it.

[RobD]

Strange to tell but I built myself a replica of the Laverda works bike in order to enter the Moto Giro retrospective. After I'd done the event I used to keep that bike in my house. For some reason the rest of the family didn't quite get it....
Apologies for contributing to this thread diversion...




Just for interest here's the original donor bike which I picked up in Italy

[simonandjuliet]

Gorgeous !

[stanley sweet]

Just the word I was going to use.

Richard - thinking about it, it was the racing Bantam I think I remember, not Italian at all!