The oldest surviving Lancia Aurelia B24 Spider, a rare factory prototype, will be offered at Bonhams 4 February Grand Palais Sale, estimated at €900,000-1,300,000.

The oldest surviving Lancia Aurelia B24 Spider, a rare factory prototype, will be offered at Bonhams 4 February Grand Palais Sale, estimated at €900,000-1,300,000.

In the post-war era, the first cars to emerge needed to be stylish, exciting, and full of 'La Dolce Vita'. The 1950 launch of the Lancia Aurelia beautifully encompassed this.

The first production car ever to use a V-6 engine, the powerful and revolutionary Aurelia was a masterpiece of Italian design and engineering. In its two years of manufacture, just 240 cars were built. This makes the motor car offered at Bonhams sale – the oldest surviving Lancia Aurelia B24 Spider, chassis 'B24S1002'– incredibly rare.

Philip Kantor, Bonhams European Head of Motoring, said: "A rare factory prototype, the motor car offered was used as the display car for the 1955 motor show in both Brussels and Geneva. Offered from long term private ownership, the Aurelia boasts a continuous history and is fully restored to original specification."

Fast-forward twenty years and the Italian motoring powerhouse brought to life the Lancia Stratos. Vastly different to its 1950s predecessor, the Stratos boasted the signature, geometric styling popular of the decade, coupled with speeds of up to 225 km/h.

A limited production 'homologation special', the Lancia Stratos is historically significant as the first car from a major manufacturer conceived specifically for rallying – it was the spearhead of the brand's international rally campaign in the 1970s. The production Stratos of 1972 retained the striking 'wedge' styling of its forbear, but employed the powerful Ferrari Dino 2.4-liter V6 engine.

Finished in orange with tan alcantara interior, the highly original 1975 Lancia Stratos HF Stradale Coupé offered at Bonhams sale is offered at €350,000-450,000.