Lancia Fulvia

Rédaction : Albert Lallement

TECHNOLOGY AND STYLE

The Lancia Fulvia started as a sophisticated saloon, but the coupé version became a formidable racing machine, and also earned its place in the world's greatest rallies.

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.

Like many Italian sports cars of that period, the Lancia Fulvia was characterised by a high level of refinement in terms of both styling and mechanics. © IXO Collections SAS - Tous droits réservés. Crédits photo © Lancia D.R.

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 CRUCIAL MODEL

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-OF-THE-RANGE 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.

The concave rear section, with its slightly pointed wings and large rear window, contributes to the elegance of the Fulvia Coupé.© IXO Collections SAS - Tous droits réservés. Crédits photo © Lancia D.R.

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.

The HF badge on the racing versions evokes the Squadra Corse created in 1963 by Cesare Fiorio, Dante Marengo and Luciano Massoni. © IXO Collections SAS - Tous droits réservés. Crédits photo © Lancia D.R.

Technical data Lancia

Lancia Fulvia Rally HF (1969)

• Engine: Lancia (type 818.540), 4-cylinder V-type, front overhang, longitudinal

• Displacement: 1,584 cm3

• Bore x stroke: 82 mm x 75 mm

• Power: 114 bhp at 6,000 rpm

• Fuel: 2 Solex C42 DDHF carburettors

• Ignition: battery (12 volts), coil and Magneti-Marelli distributor

• Timing: single overhead camshaft per bank, 2 overhead valves per cylinder

• Transmission: front wheel drive, 5-speed gearbox + M.A.

• Tyres: Michelin XAS 175 SR 13 (front and rear)

• Brakes: Girling ventilated disc brakes (diameter 267 mm front and 277 mm rear)

• Length: 3935 mm

• Width: 1570 mm

• Height: 1330 mm

• Wheelbase: 2330 mm

• Front track: 1390 mm

• Rear track: 1335 mm

• Weight (empty): 850 kg

• Maximum speed: 180 km/h

SPECIAL BODYWORK

In addition to the Sport version designed by Zagato in 1965, which is now part of Lancia's official catalogue, many other stylists worked on the elegant Fulvia coupé. Beginning with Ghia in Turin, presenting its Fulvia 1600HF Competizione coupé at the 1969 Geneva Motor Show. The model, designed by Tom Tjaarda, was distinguished by its electrically retractable rear spoiler. Coachbuilder Coggiola unveiled the Lancia Dunja, designed by Aldi Sessano, at the 1971 Turin Motor Show. Several Spiders were also designed based on the Fulvia, such as the version designed by Zagato in 1968 and the one by Felber in Switzerland based on a design by Robert Jankel in 1975. The Fulvia even inspired the Milanese coachbuilder Touring in creating a station wagon called the Guardiniera in 1963.