General Description - Series I

Series I Aurelias are defined by the presence of an independent rear suspension with wishbone location and lever-type dampers. This was fitted to all models up to 1954 when the De Dion system was introduced (see Series II - De Dion): i.e. B10, B15, B20 1st, 2nd and 3rd series, B21, B50, B51, B52 and B53.


The unit remained similar throughout with variations for the weight and dimensions of the different models. The general scheme for the B10 is shown in Tav.48 below.

  1. RH rear suspension unit of lever-arm damper type, B10-0850R
  2. LH rear suspension unit of lever-arm damper type, B10-0852R
  3. Front axle, B50-0699/1R from B10-3025, B21-1029 but serving as replacements for earlier cars; complete with front suspension.
  4. Wheels & tyres (Michelin Pilote 165x400, or for export/to order 5.50-16" or 6.00-16")
  5. RH rear suspension complete, changed from B10-2269, B50-1293, B51-1054
  6. LH rear suspension complete
  7. Lever, B10-0735R for rear suspension units

Coil Spring & Support

Coil spring data is as follows, adapted from Sketch 128I (9.11.65)

The ‘A’ frame, or wishbone support, is located on the body through 2 silent blocs (see Tav.53). The correct dimensions are as follows (Adapted from Sketch 128I (9.11.65)

Distance ‘*’ should also be checked, centre-to-centre, after the frame has been assembled and the Silent-Bloc bushes tightened and locked. All measurements in mm.

Tav.53 – Rear Suspension

Tav. No : Description

  1. Spring locking ring for bearing cover (9)
  2. Anti-vibrator
  3. Silent bloc – RIV 89801384. Lancia part 49604. This was used on all Series I cars including all the B20's.
  4. Wishbone / Trailing Arm
  5. Damper mounting with nuts and washers
  6. Nut & washer fixing bump stop (15)
  7. Damper mounting with nuts and washers
  8. Damper mounting with nuts and washers
  9. Castellated rear wheel bearing cover
  10. Seals x2
  11. ‘O’ ring
  12. Tecalemit type greaser & washer
  13. Wishbone silent-bloc mounting bolts, nuts and washers
  14. Rear coil spring & protection. The coil spring seems to be the only part that changed amongst the Series I models – see above for details.
  15. Bump stop. This is obtainable as a new part from Cavalitto, Torino (2007) but it has a longer fixing stud requiring alteration to the stud or opening up the original hole with a thread tap.
  16. Wishbone silent-bloc mounting bolts, nuts and washers
  17. Rear coil spring & protection. The coil spring seems to be the only part that changed amongst the Series I models – see above for details.
  18. Seat for spring
  19. Tecalemit type greaser & washer
  20. Wishbone silent-bloc mounting bolts, nuts and washers
  21. Nut & washer fixing bump stop (15)
  22. Silent-bloc locking bolt and washer
  23. Damper mounting with nuts and washers
  24. Damper mounting with nuts and washers
  25. Seat for spring
  26. Silent-bloc locking bolt and washer


This is a comment from Nigel Trow, November 2020 concerning his car B20-2766:


Parts book Tav 53 shows item 5 Colonetta, which is straight. On my car this part is a heavy S shaped forging. The machined ends that locate in silent blocs below

the wheel bearing housing and into the bottom of the tie rod 47 on Tav 54 are 2mm thicker than those on the straight Colonetta on Tav 53. They lower the bottom of tie rod 47 by 35mm. These S forgings are nowhere to be found in the parts book. I don't know why they are different from standard but my car has adjustable dampers operated by a bell crank system that has all the qualities of a Lancia fitting. I have seen the system used on the Bracco modified Mille Miglia car (B20-1010) he used in the Carrera Pan America and it is very different, clearly an afterthought.

Damper & Modifications

A Lancia, lever-type damper was fitted as shown in Tav.54 below. Part (45) is the filler plug and the hydraulic liquid is a mixture of (as described in a contemporary instruction book) 70% Mobiloil Arctic or Shell/Essolube 20W and 30% Mobiloil Shock absorber light or Donax A1 or AMM LR. The capacity of each damper is 215 ml.

Tav.53 – Rear Suspension

Key Parts are as follows:


Tav. No : Description

1. Upper & lower suspension rod Silent-Bloc mountings RIV 88 212 431

2. Suspension rod Silent-Bloc RIV 89 800 538

3, 10, 22, 34.  These parts were changed from car B10-5247, B10S-1296, B52-1046, B53-1054, B21-3302, B21S-1296, B15-1005 and B20-1788 (part through 2nd series)

8.  Body of damper units – these are ‘handed’ – left-hand & right-hand parts are necessary.

43.  A spacer available in 0.10 and 0.15 mm thickness

47, 48.  These parts were changed from damper No. 32395

51.  This pinch bolt changed from damper No. 3124


Modification to Replace Lever Damper with Telescopic Type

KONI Shock absorber 80-1213 was available for Lancia Type B10, B20, and B21 as described on Technical Sheet No. 1545-4-718. The information on the sheet was as follows:


Left-Hand, Outer View