The Lancia Fulvia – Italy’s Most Elegant Classic

The Lancia Fulvia – Italy’s Most Elegant Classic

The Lancia Fulvia was one of the most elegant sports cars of the 1960s, with a classic front-engine/rear-wheel-drive configuration..

Named after Via Fulvia, the Roman road leading from Tortona to Turin, it was introduced at the Geneva Motor Show in 1963 and manufactured in three variants: Berlina 4-door saloon, 2-door Coupé, and Sport, an alternative fastback coupé designed and built by Zagato on the Coupé floorplan. This Fulvia moved to front-wheel drive like the Flavia.

Under The Hood

This classic car has a  5-speed gearbox with a front suspension. The Fulvia Berlina was designed by Antonio Fessia, to replace the Lancia Appia with which it shared almost no components.  We shall talk about the Lancia Appia in our next Tuscany drive.

Lancia Fulvia Classic Car - Tuscany Italy Lifestyle Drive (2)

Performance

The car raced as a prototype until August 1969, when it received FIA homologation. With the exception of 1970, Fulvias won the Italian Rally Championship every year from 1965 to 1973. The Fulvia’s rallying career reached its zenith in 1972 when Lancia won the International Championship for Manufacturers two rounds in advance. First placements at rallies valid for the Championship were three: included Sandro Munari and Mario Mannucci at the famous Monte Carlo Rally, with a 10′ 50″ margin over the runner-up, Larrousse/Perramond on a much more powerful Porsche 911.

This all-aluminum Fulvia in its time in the early 1970s offered a lifestyle and looked very sophisticated.

When I first looked at the bodyshell I was impressed with it and I love the grille. In opening the aluminum doors I knew I was in for a Fulvia rallye experience like no other.

The Lancia Fulvia Italy's Most Elegant Classic Gracie Opulanza Tuscany Italy

The crochet Gracie Opulanza dress she is wearing was the same as the original Lancia Fulvia car colour.

Performance And Handling

This V4 engine and what was under the bonnet was going to impress me the most. How could a cc engine 1298 sound and race around Tuscany so effortlessly? I could not believe it’s the top speed of 118 mph (190 km/h),

The cylinders mounted at a narrow-angle allowing for use of only one cylinder head, and which produced 92 bhp, 6,000 rpm.  This is why it sounded and handled the hills of Tuscany as if it was made yesterday. The two overhead camshafts were really being put to the test.

Tuscany has very narrow hills so we were going to the Dunlop disc brakes to the test. The front wheels designed by Ercole Spada were all about a sportier version.  An independent suspension in front used wishbones and a single leaf spring, while a beam axle with a Panhard rod and leaf springs was used in the back this is why when racing around Italy. The brake pads and the five-speed gearbox were being put to the test.

The Lancia Fulvia Italy's Most Elegant Classic Tuscany 2021 Italy

Interior

The black and red Ferrari-inspired racing car interior was lovely. The Lancia Fulvia Coupe’s unique exterior and interior elements is why it is still this coupe looks very sexy indeed. The stitching on the dashboard was very Maserati indeed. The  Lusso interior fittings such as bucket seats with headrests felt very comfortable at top speed.

For me, This Lancia Fulvia is very aesthetically pleasing to my eye.

Owner Ben Gooder highlights this cc engine and the cost of running it is very affordable when it comes to maintaining a classic car. What is under the hood is why we loved the Lancia Fulvia coupe driving experience.

The Lancia Fulvia Italy's Most Elegant Classic Ben gooder

 

DMCA.com Protection Status

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This