The 1951-1958 Lancia Aurelia Coupe and Spyder was hailed by many as the first "true" GT. The Aurelia coupe was a two-door fastback based on the chassis and drivetrain of the Aurelia sedan.
Styling by Pinin Farina was distinguished by a proud, distinctively shaped Lancia grille and a smooth, sloping roofline. Like all contemporary Lancias, the coupe had a sliding-pillar front suspension, and shared its V-6 engine and rear-mounted gearbox with the sedan.
Two engine sizes were offered through six marginally different "series" in the model's life: 1991cc (1951-1953) and 2451cc (1953-1958). Available beginning in 1954 was a pretty Farina-styled open roadster (Spyder) on a shorter wheelbase.
The first Z40 built had a trendy wraparound windshield and no door windows. After that a conventional windshield and roll-up glass appeared. A major chassis change occurred in 1954, when the semi-trailing-link independent rear suspension was exchanged for a de Dion layout on coupes. Spyders used the de Dion arrangement exclusively.
Pluses of the 1951-1958 Lancia Aurelia Coupe and Spyder:
•Significant modern Lancia
•Milestone status
•Agile handling
•Styling (especially Spyder)
•Engineering
•Performance
Minuses of the 1951-1958 Lancia Aurelia Coupe and Spyder:
•Rust-prone
•Parts now hard to obtain
•Not numerous any more
Production of the 1951-1958 Lancia Aurelia Coupe and Spyder:
•Cpe: 3,871
•Spyder: 761
Specifications of the 1951-1958 Lancia Aurelia Coupe and Spyder:
Wheelbase, inches: 104.7/96.5 (cpe/Spyder)
Length, inches: 172.0/165.4 (cpe/Spyder)
Weight, pounds: 2,630/2,500 (cpe/Spyder)
Price, new: Approximately $5,500 U.S. for 1956 Spyder; $5,800 for 1958 GT coupe
Engines for the 1951-1958 Lancia Aurelia Coupe and Spyder:
| Type | Size | Horsepower | Years |
| ohv V-6 | 1,991 cc (121 cid) | 75/80 | 1951-1953 |
| ohv V-6 | 2,451 cc (150 cid) | 118/122 | 1953-1958 |