1968 Lancia Fulvia 1.3 Rallye

‘WGU 530F’ is Lancia Fulvia Rallye from 1968 that’s spent decades in the same family, eventually moving from Italy to the UK in 2016 and into the owner’s care a year after that.

Finished in red and fitted with the 1.3 engine and four-speed manual gearbox, it’s been lightly refreshed and the interior presents very well, with certain mechanical components overhauled. The engine is running a bit rough, and could do with a tune up.

Only for sale because the seller spends more time driving his Lotus Elise than he does this, the need for some attention to the bodywork should make this a very cost-effective way to get your hands on an Italian sportscar you thought you couldn’t afford any more.

The Fulvia’s pert lines disprove the lie that a three-box silhouette must be dowdy because no car is prettier than this coupé, despite the deceptive simplicity of its lines.

And that simplicity is enhanced with some lovely details like the humble chrome bumpers fore and aft, delicate door handles on either side, quadruple headlamps to light your way, and a pair of wonderfully designed lamps at the back.

It presents well with glossy red paintwork and shiny chrome, although there are some blemishes and blistering in the paint. The bonnet and boot lid are lightweight aluminium, as they should be on early Fulvias.

It’s got good badges too, plus a set of steel wheels for the win. Mind you, they might be humble, but they’ve been recently refurbished and are fitted with a good set of chrome hubcaps and brand new, period-correct Pirelli Cinturato CA67 tyres – the perfect rubber to suit the Fulvia’s suspension geometry and handling.

This Fulvia’s cabin is sublime; Lancia was very much the upmarket option and nowhere is this more obvious than here where high-quality materials like chrome, leather, and wood make impeccable design something you can touch.

The seats, for example, are subtle and elegant yet supportive and comfortable; the engineering adage that ‘if it looks right, then it is right’ has never been more true – and they’re in great shape, being plump and virtually unmarked.

The wooden dashboard is sleek thanks to it having been refurbished with genuine wood veneer while in the seller’s care. It also plays host to a suite of beautifully marked Veglia instruments, with fresh warning light lenses and illumination having been installed by the current owner. The Fulvia’s original rubber floor mats are present and correct, and in good condition, as well as an original set of Lancia keys.

There’s also period-correct security by way of an exposed steering lock that clamps one of the ribs of the wood-rimmed, two-spoke steering wheel, which is in excellent condition. And there’s no unsightly radio wedged in the dash either – the correct blanking plate and metal Fulvia script remain.

As for the rest, the door cards are very nice and the headlining is firm and taut, even if it is a little grubby. The good-sized boot contains a spare wheel and its cover, along with a warning triangle and the tool kit.

One good four-speed manual gearbox was made from two used ones by the Heath Motor Company in 2018, during which brand new baulk rings, selector bushes and oil seals were fitted before reinstalling it with a new clutch and release bearing.

The Fulvia has also benefited from a pair of rebuilt Solex carburettors, an electric fuel pump and a Filter King fuel pressure regulator in recent years. A new battery too, and the seller tells us that it starts and drives, but would profit from a tune-up and a service. On the suspension side, the owner has replaced the tired original dampers with Spax adjustable units at all four corners.

During the seller's ownership, a rebuilt brake master cylinder has also been fitted, and the steering box has been adjusted for minimal play in the system.

If you can see past the grubbiness and the surface rust on some of the components, you’ll see solid, well-painted metal on the inner wings, which is important. There’s what looks like the original chassis plate, too. The underside looks to be well protected by underseal.

NB: It also comes with some spares but, as the seller puts it, they’re “nothing major”.

There are plenty of invoices on file for parts from folk like Omicron over the years, plus servicing from Nutts Performance Classics.

The recent Vehicle History Check is clear except for the marker for not being taxed.

The Lancia doesn’t have a current MoT certificate, and while it is exempt by virtue of its age, we would strongly encourage the new owner to have it MoT’d at the earliest opportunity. The cost of an MoT is a small investment when offset against the purchase and upkeep of any classic vehicle, and it gives an independent, third-party assessment of the car’s condition, which not only provides reassurance to the owner (and any subsequent purchasers) but might also be invaluable in the event of a bump when negotiating with the police and any interested insurance companies…

Having previously owned a Series 3 Fulvia, the current owner’s desire to own an early car led them to this absolute gem.

And yet, once the itch had been scratched, it was “put on the back burner” and hasn’t been used – and fettled – as much as they would like.

In need of some attention to the bodywork, our guide price of between £16,000 and £19,000 turns a model that a lot of us thought had moved out of our grasp into something that might now be a little more affordable.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this particular car is located with the vendor in Cardiff. To arrange an appointment to view this vehicle please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.