Background
The Lancia Fulvia was launched at the 1963 Geneva Motor show. It was built over a period of thirteen years and in three different variants: a four-door saloon, a Zagato-bodied sport and a 2-door sport coupé, the latter being the version on offer here. The small coupé attracted universal praise, Road & Track magazine calling it “a precision motorcar, an engineering tour de force”. Australia’s Wheels magazine concluded in a 1966 road test: “By nature the Lancia owner is an insufferable snob (…) but he is not insufferable in the way Alvis or Citroën owners are, in that they feel obliged to force on you their awareness of the superior product they own; the difference is that the Lancia owner couldn’t care less whether you know or not”. How right they were; Lancia is today largely regarded as a brand that dared to innovate and think outside the box, building some of the most beautiful and most refined cars in history.
The Fulvia was no exception and featured an interesting technical layout, with a small V4 engine mounted at the front and driving the front wheels, an unusual concept at a time when most vehicles were rear-wheel driven. The Fulvia was penned by Antonio Fessia and replaced the Appia, with which it shared no components. The narrow angled V4 engine was mounted longitudinally in front of the transaxle. The power unit, designed by Zaccone Mina, was indeed so small, and the 12° V of the engine so narrow, that a single cylinder head could be used to cover all the four cylinders. Early engine versions featured a displacement of 1091cc and up to 70hp. It was later bored out to 1261cc, expanding to 1298cc producing 87hp in 1968. Top of the tree was the 1.6 litre HF variant, producing 132hp.
An independent suspension at the front and a beam axle with a Panhard rod and leaf springs was used at the rear. The Fulvia was fitted with state-of-the-art four wheel Dunlop disc brakes.
Light, quick and nimble, with exceptionally precise handling, it did not take long until the Fulvia made its first appearances in motorsport. After retiring from Formula 1, Lancia adopted privateer team HF Squadra Corse and entered the world of rallying in 1965 – with the Fulvia. The car’s biggest success came in 1972 when it won the International Championship for manufacturers, with a victory in Monte Carlo along the way. Most people will remember Lancia’s rally successes from the Stratos and Delta, but it was with the Fulvia that it all really started.
