Lancia Fulvia
1963 - 1976
The Lancia Fulvia was a compact sports coupe and sedan known for its elegant styling, front-wheel drive layout, and sporty handling. Its advanced narrow-angle V4 engine offered peppy performance, and the Fulvia's success in motorsport cemented its reputation as a true driver's car that punched above its weight class.
The Lancia Fulvia History, Variants & Ultimate Guide
The Lancia Fulvia started as a sophisticated saloon, but became a formidable racing machine.
By 1956 Lancia was in deep trouble. Financial problems were mounting. Part of this was down to poor cost control which meant that their cars were often uncompetitive pricewise; and Alfa Romeo were gradually eating into their market. They had given up racing and their chief designer had left to go to Ferrari. It was time for the family to move on and do other things, so in 1956 the business was sold to a real estate investor called Carlo Pesenti.
Before that however they had recruited Professor Antonio Fessia, a senior engineer from Fiat, as technical director, to try to bring some order to a company which was in danger of spiraling out of control.
Fessia improve both cost and quality controls, and by 1963 he brought out the Fulvia; named, as per the Lancia tradition, after yet another Roman road, the one between Turin and Tortana.
This was a somewhat boxy and, to some, unattractive car but appearance belied it's abilities. It's relatively small V4 1100 cc engine was revvy with plenty of poke; and with front wheel drive, transverse leaf spring front suspension and four-wheel disc brakes, steering was precise, handling superb, roadholding excellent. This was a car which was perfect for rallying.
Between its launch in 1963 and the end of production in 1976 the Fulvia went through a bewildering list of series, models, and upgrades but they all shared the same characteristic; let loose on a fast twisty road they were in their element and there was little else that could touch them for nimbleness. It was no surprise whatsoever that the Lancia works team won the International Championship for Manufacturers in 1972; this was a series of nine rallies and a Fulvia 1.6 Coupe HF, which benefited from aluminium bodywork and Plexiglas windows, took top spot, in front of Fiat and Porsche.
Throughout the 13 years that the Fulvia stayed in production it remained a serious competitor on the rally circuit. Having pulled out of Formula One racing in 1955, the Fulvia put Lancia firmly back on the race track, winning every Italian Rally Championship between 1965 and 1973 and private owners had several notable successes in international endurance races.
Sadly Fulvia didn't live to share in all of these successes; he died in 1968 after a long illness.
The Details
As a manufacturer, Lancia always worked off the beaten track. Its models were distinguished by an engine with a V-shaped architecture that provided a small opening angle. This was a trademark of the Turin-based company, which saw this configuration as a model of balance and compactness. The Fulvia, which appeared in 1963, was an effective combination of the best technical concepts developed by the Italian brand until that date.
Presented at the 1963 Geneva Motor Show, the Fulvia was placed in the Lancia range alongside the mid-size Flavia saloon launched in 1960 and the large family saloon Flaminia with its six-cylinder engine dating from 1957. Baptized with a name inspired by ancient Rome, the Fulvia was supposed to replace the Appia, popular in Italy, but already ten years old. In fact, all it adopted was the V-shaped architecture of the engine.
A Critical Model For Lancia
For the Fulvia, Lancia's Technical Director, Ingeniere Antonio Fessia, wanted to adopt some of the solutions already used on the Flavia, such as front-wheel drive, disc brakes and triangulated front suspension. The Fulvia saloon, initially equipped with a 1,216 cm3 V4 engine producing 58 bhp, received a more powerful engine (71 bhp) in 1964 with the 2C version (two carburettors).
While the lines of the saloon were rather massive and square, those of the 1.2 coupé, which was introduced in the spring of 1965, were slender and elegant. They were designed by Pietro Castagnero in association with Aldo Castagno, Lancia's head of styling. The aim was to offer a chassis with a wheelbase 15 cm shorter, while retaining as many of the saloon's mechanical components as possible beneath the new bodywork.
The design was immediately appealing, but was not to the taste of sports car enthusiasts, even though the 80 bhp engine from the GT saloon was installed in this coupé. In 1967, a Rallye 1.3 version was presented that was more in line with their expectations, equipped with a 1,298 cm3 V4 offering 87 bhp at 6,000 rpm, then 92 bhp at 6,200 rpm with the Rallye 1.3 S, which was introduced at the 1968 Geneva Motor Show.
At the same time, an HF series with the old 88bhp 1.2-litre engine made its appearance in January 1966.
The Top-Dog 1.6 HF
The 1.2 HF was followed by the Rallye 1.3 HF in March 1967, with the same 1,298 cm3 engine now developing 101 bhp. Then the most accomplished version, the Rallye 1.6 HF, appeared in November of the following year.
On this model, launched at the time of Lancia's takeover by Fiat, a major effort was made to save weight. The front and rear bonnets and doors were made of aluminium alloy, while the side windows were made of Plexiglas. Absolutely sporty, the Fulvia 1.6 HF came with bucket style seats and a dashboard featuring a particularly comprehensive instrument panel.
Like the other Fulvias, the 1.6 HF was equipped with a self-supporting steel body and the front suspension comprises superimposed unequal wishbones combined with a transverse leaf spring and telescopic shock absorbers. At the rear, a rigid axle, semi-elliptic leaf springs and a crossbar, complemented by anti-roll bars. The brakes, with separate circuits, were fitted with Girling discs.
In November 1970, the Lancia Fulvia Rallye 1.6 HF was replaced by the Fulvia 1,600 HF (also known as the Series 2). It had the same engine, but came with the "Lusso" (luxury) finish, which included a more sophisticated interior and standard bumpers.
A Traditional V4
As in the previous Fulvia Coupé, the engine architecture of the 1.6 HF is a V4. Displacement had been increased to 1584 cm3 thanks to a new three-bearing crankshaft, which provided an increase in bore and stroke. On this engine, the angle between the two cylinder banks was even tighter: 11.20° compared to 12.45° previously.
The block and cylinder head were made of alloy and the whole assembly was mounted longitudinally in a removable auxiliary cradle, cantilevered at the front and inclined 45° to the left. Fuel was supplied by two large horizontal Solex twin-barrel carburettors, delivering 114 DIN hp at 6,000 rpm and a maximum torque of 15.6 mkg at 4,500 rpm. The race version developed 132 bhp at 6,600 rpm.
The dual overhead camshaft timing features a single overhead camshaft per bank, with two 60° V-valves per cylinder. The cylinder head is common to both cylinder banks, with separately controlled intake and exhaust.
The transmission is positioned longitudinally as an extension of the engine. It is thus a transaxle with five closely spaced gears.
Lancia Fulvia Basics
Manufacturer: Lancia
Production: 1963–1976
Designer: Piero Castagnero at Centro Stile Lancia (Berlina and Coupé), Ercole Spada at Zagato (Sport)
Class: Large family car (D)
Body style: 4-door saloon (Berlina), 2-door coupé (Coupé), 2-door fastback coupé (Sport)
Layout: Front-engine, FWD
Engine: 1,091 cc Lancia V4, 1,199 cc Lancia V4, 1,216 cc Lancia V4, 1,231 cc Lancia V4, 1,298 cc Lancia V4, 1,584 cc Lancia V4
Transmission: 4-speed manual, 5-speed manual
Wheelbase: 2,480 mm (97.6 in) (Berlina '63-'69), 2,500 mm (98.4 in) (Berlina '69-'72), 2,330 mm (91.7 in) (Coupé, Sport)
Length: 4,110 mm (161.8 in) (Berlina), 3,975 mm (156.5 in) (Coupé), 4,090 mm (161.0 in) (Sport)
Width: 1,555 mm (61.2 in) (Berlina, Coupé), 1,570 mm (61.8 in) (Sport)
Height: 1,400 mm (55.1 in) (Berlina), 1,300 mm (51.2 in) (Coupé), 1,200 mm (47.2 in) (Sport)
Predecessor: Lancia Appia
Successor: Lancia Beta and Lancia Trevi (1980–1984)
Did You Know?
The Fulvia stood out with its narrow-angle V4 engine design, unusual for the time, offering compact packaging and a unique sound.
Lancia embraced front-wheel drive with the Fulvia, giving it nimble handling and surprising on-road performance.
The Fulvia HF dominated rallies throughout the 1970s, winning the International Rally Championship in 1972 and becoming an icon of the sport.
Celebrated coachbuilders like Zagato reimagined the Fulvia with stunning custom bodies, creating ultra-rare and desirable limited editions.
The Fulvia wasn't just about sportiness; it also offered comfort and refined Italian styling, making it a well-rounded package.
Fulvia Model History
The Lancia Fulvia was built in three series from 1963 to the mid 1970’s. The Fulvia also had three body styles. The first Fulvias were Berlina four-door sedans but most of the interest these days is around the Coupe and the Sport models. The coupe was designed in-house at Lancia and the Sport had a completely different body styled by Zagato. The Sport sounds exotic, but the coupe is the one to go for IMHO.
Lancia Fulvia Berlina
The Lancia Fulvia Berlina was introduced in 1963 to replace the Lancia Appia as a compact four-door sedan. Exterior features included a single vent grill with quad headlights integrated into the steel body, chrome steel body trim, and bumpers. Interior amenities included four seats, metal vents, and a column-mounted, later floor mounted, gear selector. Suspension components included independent front and leaf springs at the rear, with discs brakes at all four corners. A 1.2-liter V4 engine was standard, replaced by a 1.3-liter V4 in 1967. Power was sent to the front wheels via a three or four-speed manual transmission. The Fulvia Berlina was updated in 1970 as the Lancia Fulvia Berlina Series II and featured exterior and interior updates.Series I
Berlina (Tipo 818.000/001): 1963–64.
A compact four-door saloon introduced in 1963 with a 1091 cc, single twin-choke carburettor engine producing 58 bhp (43 kW) at 5800 rpm.
Berlina 2C (Tipo 818.100/101): 1964–69.
Improved, more powerful Berlina launched late in 1964, with a 71 bhp (53 kW) engine fitted with double twin-choke Solex carburettors. 155R14 Michelin X radial tires. The body-shell also had revised front subframe mountings.
Distinguished by an enamelled "2C" badge on the radiator grille and rear "Fulvia 2C" script.
Berlina GT (Tipo 818.200/201/210/211): 1967–68.
Introduced at the 1967 Geneva Salon with the 1216 cc (later 1231 cc) engine from the Coupé, producing 80 bhp (60 kW) at 6000 rpm. Distinguished by an enamelled "GT" badge on the radiator grille and rear "Fulvia GT" script. Fitted with 155R14 Michelin X
Berlina "Grecia" (Tipo 818.282/292): 1967–69.
Greece-only version fitted with a smaller 818.282 1.2 L (1,199 cc) engine, putting out 79 PS (58 kW; 78 hp) at 6200 rpm. 145R14 Pirelli Cinturato CA67 radial tyres
Berlina GTE (Tipo 818.310/311): 1968–69.
Introduced in 1968 with the 1298 cc (818.302) engine from the Coupé Rallye 1.3, for an output of 87 bhp (65 kW) at 6000 rpm. In addition, the brakes were uprated with a brake servo, and fitted with 155 SR 14 Michelin ZX radial tyres
Series II
The Fulvia saloon was updated in August 1969 with a redesigned body on a 20 mm (0.8 in) longer wheelbase, and an updated interior. An altered roofline also provided more space for rear-seat passengers.
Berlina (Tipo 818.610/611): 1969–71.
Series 2 was introduced in 1969 with the 1298 cc.
Berlina "Grecia" (Tipo 818.682): 1969–70.
Series 2 Greece-only limited displacement version; the 818.282 1.2-litre engine was unchanged.
Berlina (Tipo 818.612/613): 1970–72.
Series 2 with the 1298 cc (818.302) engine and 5-speed gearbox, introduced in 1970. Larger Girling callipers and pads replaced the Dunlop system fitted to first-series cars.
Berlina "Grecia" (Tipo 818.694): 1970–72.
Updated with the 5-speed gearbox like the regular saloon.
Lancia Fulvia Coupe
The Fulvia Coupé was a compact two-door, three-box coupé introduced in 1965. As the last Fulvia model to be discontinued, it was replaced in 1977 by a 1.3-litre Beta Coupé.
Series I
Coupé (Tipo 818.130/131): 1965–67.
Equipped with a 1,216 cc 818.100 engine—from 1967 enlarged to 1,231 cc—producing 79 hp at 6,000 rpm.
Coupé HF (Tipo 818.140): 1966–67.
The competition version carried a tuned version of the 1,216 cc engine producing 87 hp at 6,000 rpm. Bodywork was lightened by removing the bumpers, using an aluminium bonnet, doors and boot lid, Plexiglas side and rear windows, and bare steel wheels.
Rallye 1.3 HF (Tipo 818.340/341):
1967–69. 1.3-litre HF. New 1,298 cc engine with 100 hp.
Rallye 1.3 (Tipo 818.330/331): 1967–68.
An updated coupé with the 818.302 1,298 cc engine with 86 hp.
Rallye 1.3 S (Tipo 818.360/361): 1968–70.
Updated, more powerful Rallye 1.3 with a new 818.303 1,298 cc engine producing 91 hp.
Rallye 1.6 HF (Tipo 818.540/541): 1969–70.
Known as Fanalone because of the characteristic upsized inner pair of headlamps. It had a new 1,584 cc engine producing 113 hp. Other changes unique front suspension geometry, alloy 13 inch 6J wheels; and a close ratio 5-speed gearbox.
Rallye 1.6 HF tipo 818.540 variante 1016: 1969–70. Works rally-spec Fanalone. The most powerful Fulvia with a 1,584 cc engine producing up to 130 hp. Used by the works rally team until 1974.
Series II
Coupé 1.3 S (Tipo 818.630/631): 1970–73.
Face-lifted body and new 5 speed gearbox with 1298 cc (818.303) engine producing 90 CV (66 kW; 89 hp) at 6000 rpm. Larger Girling callipers and pads replaced the Dunlop system.
Coupé 1.3 S Montecarlo: 1972–73.
Special edition based commemorating Lancia's victory at the 1972 Monte Carlo Rally. The livery resembled the works car, with matte black bonnet and boot lid bearing Monte Carlo rally plate-style stickers.
Coupé 1600 HF (Tipo 818.740/741): 1970.
Face-lifted all steel body with 1,584 cc engine with Solex C42DDHF carb producing 113 hp.
Coupé 1600 HF "Lusso" (Tipo 818.740/741): 1970–73.
As 1600 HF, but with extra trim, radio and fitted with bumpers.
Coupé 3 (Tipo 818.630/631): 1974–76.
Updated Coupé introduced in 1974, mechanically the same as the earlier Series 2 1.3 S except for the addition of emission control on the Solex carburettors.
Coupé 3 Montecarlo: 1974–76.
As the earlier Montecarlo, but with Coupé 3 accoutrements.
Coupé 3 Safari: 1974–76.
A limited edition based on the standard Coupé 3 with simplified trim and equipment.
Lancia Fulvia Sport (Zagato)
The Fulvia Sport was a fastback two-seater based on Coupé mechanicals, built for Lancia by Zagato — where it had also been designed, by Ercole Spada. The Sport was commissioned by Lancia to Zagato as more aerodynamic and sportier version of the coupé.
Three peculiarities of the Sport body were the engine bonnet, which was hinged to the right-hand side, the rear hatch, which could be lifted electrically by a handful of centimetres to aid cabin ventilation, and the spare wheel, which was housed in a separate compartment and accessed from a rotating panel which held the rear number plate.
Series I
Sport (Tipo 818.132/133): 1965–67.
The first Sport had an all-aluminium alloy bodyshell and used the coupé's 1.2-litre engine. Inside it reprised the wood-trimmed dashboard of the coupé, and featured two small bucket seats of Zagato's own design. Just 202 were made in total.
Sport 1.3 (Tipo 818.332/333): 1966–69.
In 1966 Sport was upgraded to an 818.302 1,298 cc engine from the Rallye 1.3, producing 87 hp (65 kW) at 6,000 rpm. Early versions still had all aluminium bodyshells (700 were produced with both 1,216 cc & 1,298 cc engines), but later ones were fitted with steel bodyshells with aluminium bonnet, doors, and spare wheel hatch. Whereas the first Sport was homologated as a two-seater, the car was now classified as a three-seater—or 2+1.
Sport 1.3 S (Tipo 818.362/363): 1968–69.
An updated Sport 1.3 with 1,298 cc (818.303) engine producing 92 hp (69 kW) at 6,000 rpm. These Sports were normally fitted with brake servos. It is recognizable by its larger hubcaps, decorated with Lancia flag logos instead of being plain.
Series II
The second series Fulvia Sport changes included a 5-speed gearbox, revised suspension geometry, taller ride height, an alternator in place of the previous dynamo, a taller final drive compared to coupés, and wider tires. The body was now all-steel, and seated 2+2 passengers. Several other changes set the second series apart from the first: new driving lights, a side mirror moved from the wing to the door, larger bullet-shaped tail lights from the Peugeot 204, and stamped steel wheels without hubcaps.
Lancia Fulvia Sport 1600 Zagato - Sport 1.3 S (Tipo 818.650/651): 1970–73.
Same engine as Series 1 1.3 S, but five-speed transmission. Very early versions of these Series 2 cars were fitted with Series I bodyshells with a separate spare wheel-hatch, smaller rear lights and aluminium bonnet and doors. Later versions have all-steel bodyshells, no spare wheel hatch, and larger rear lights.
Lancia Fulvia Sport 1600 Zagato - Sport 1600 (Tipo 818.750/751): 1971–72.
Top of the range Sport, with 1,584 cc engine from the HF, producing 115 hp (86 kW). With a top speed of 118 mph (190 km/h), this version was the fastest production Fulvia ever produced. The 1600 was distinguished by a matte black radiator grille with chrome edges, black rubber over-riders on the bumpers, a matte black band on the engine bonnet.
"The Fulvia proves that driving excitement doesn't have to come at the expense of refinement"
Sports Car Digest
"The Fulvia is a wolf in sheep's clothing – its compact size belies its spirited performance."
Supercars.net
Our Favorite Lancia Fulvia Images
