Chassis 2389 is an early 3rd Series Aurelia completed on the 8th June 1953 was believed to have first been owned by an elderly doctor in Milan. The doctor specified a Nardi steering wheel, Fiamm horns, Borrani bi-metal wheels and special dashboard instruments.

In 1965 the Aurelia was purchased from the Milanese doctor by British Lancia specialist Harry Manning who imported it into the UK. Manning then sold the Aurelia to Mike Galt who in turn sold it to Dave Scheldt of Scheldt & Pettet, Lancia specialists in Harrow. The car was then acquired in November 1967 by an officer in the army named Mike Hill. In 1968 Harry Manning installed a rebuilt 4th Series engine and Hill used the car for a few years until he was posted to Germany and the Aurelia was placed into storage in Wales. The car came out of storage in 1977 and was sold to Alan Comley of Sevenoaks that same year.

In July 1987 the Aurelia was purchased by Dr. Michael Powell of London who had Lancia specialist Tim Burrett go through the car and rectify a number of minor faults and recommission the car for regular use. This work escalated into a major body and mechanical restoration carried out between 1988 and 1992, photographs of the work are on file.

Glenn Gibbs restored the body and finished it in Lancia Warm Water Green. Lancia specialists Omicron carried out a full engine rebuild in 1991 and the interior was retrimmed beige West of England Cloth by S & H Motorsport.

Shortly after completion the car achieved a class concours win and in 2000 the Aurelia was displayed on the UK Lancia Motor Club stand at the NEC as part of the Aurelia 50th anniversary celebrations.

Omicron continued to maintain the car for Dr. Powell, fitting a stainless steel exhaust system in 1996 and rebuilding the gearbox in 2008. Omicron carried out repairs to a door and wheelarch by in 2008 and the underside received a coat of body Shutz and Waxoyl to the wheelarches and door internals.

The Aurelia provided much enjoyment and was driven from England to Sicily to participate the Targa Florio rerun. A sticker still present on the windscreen references the adventure.

The invoices generated during Powell’s twenty-nine-year ownership total over £78,000.

The current British owner, well-known British Bentley and Lancia collector based in Italy, acquired the Aurelia in 2017 and he too diligently maintained the car in order to provide reliable continental motoring, including a 2019 drive from London to Rome via the Champagne and Burgundy regions of France.

The car went to specialists Thornley Kelham for a major service which included removing the transaxle to rebuild rear brakes, the front wheel bearings were replaced as were the engine mounts, rear dampers and fanbelt.

Works carried out in 2022 included the installation of a new electric fuel pump and front suspension overhaul. A full engine rebuild was completed in early 2025 and included polishing of the cylinder liners, hydraulic testing of the block and cylinder heads, new pistons to original specification, crankshaft grind, new main bearings, new timing chain, overhauled carburettor, water pump and radiator. In addition a new vent valve (to factory specification) was fitted, the braking system was serviced and all fluids replaced.

Today this beautiful Aurelia remains in great order and oozes style with its classic Nardi wood rim steering wheel and desirable Borrani bi-metal wheels. The car retains its FIAMM horns and features several sensible modifications including an electric fan, a bypass fuel pump (to resist fuel vaporisation in heavy traffic) and 12v accessories socket.

The car is currently Italian (and ASI) registered and comes with a thick history file containing many invoices, MOT certificates and a photograph album that documents its 1988-1992 restoration.