Lancia Fulvia

Chassis

The Fulvia Berlina was designed by Antonio Fessia, to replace the Lancia Appia with which it shared almost no components. The Appia was a rear wheel drive car, however, while the Fulvia moved to front wheel drive like the Flavia. The general engineering design of the Fulvia was identical to that of the Flavia with the major exception of the engine, the Flavia having a four-cylinder horizontally opposed engine and the Fulvia a 'Narrow Angle' vee configuration as featured on most production Lancias from the Lambda. The Fulvia used a longitudinal engine mounted in front of its transaxle. 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 back. Four wheel Dunlop disc brakes were fitted to first series Fulvias. With the introduction of the second series in 1970 the brakes were uprated with larger Girling calipers all round and a brake servo. The handbrake design was also changed - using separate drums and brake-shoes operating on the rear wheels.

Engine

One element that was new was the narrow-angle V4 engine. Designed by Zaccone Mina, it used a narrow angle (12°53'28") and was mounted well forward at a 45° angle. The engine is a DOHC design with a one camshaft operating all intake valves and another operating all exhaust valves. The very narrow angle of the cylinders allowed for use of a single cylinder head.

Displacement began at just 1091 cc with 58 bhp (44 kW) with a 72 mm bore and 67 mm stroke. A higher (9.0:1) compression ratio and the fitment of twin Solex carburettors raised power to 71 bhp (53 kW) soon after.

The engine was bored to 6 mm to enlarge displacement to 1216 cc for the HF model. This, and some tuning, raised output to 80 to 88 bhp (60 to 66 kW).

The engine was re-engineered with a slightly narrower bank angle (12°45'28") and longer (69.7 mm) stroke for 1967. Three displacements were produced: 1199 cc (74 mm bore), 1231 cc (75 mm bore), and 1298 cc (77 mm bore). The new 1298 cc engine was produced in two versions; the type 818.302 produced 87 bhp (65 kW) at 6000 rpm and was fitted to 1st series Coupés, Sports and Berlina GTE and later to the 2nd Series Berlina. The Type 818.303 was first produced with 92 hp (69 kW) and was fitted to the 1st series Coupé Rallye S and Sport S. For the 2nd Series Coupé and Sport power was slightly reduced to 90 hp (67 kW) at 6000 rpm. The 1199 cc engine was only fitted to the Berlina sold in Greece.

The engine was completely reworked for the new 1.6 HF with an even-narrower angle (11°20' now) and longer 75 mm stroke combined with a bore of 82 mm gave it a displacement of 1584 cc, and power ranged from 115 to 132 bhp (85 to 98 kW) depending on tune.

Berlina

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.

Coupé

The Fulvia Coupé was a compact two-door, three-box coupé introduced in 1965. Like the saloon it was designed in-house by Piero Castagnero. The coupé used a 150 mm (5.9 in) shorter wheelbase. It was the last Fulvia model to be discontinued, being replaced only in 1977 by a 1.3-litre version of the Beta Coupé. When leaving the factory all but a few of the Coupés originally fitted Pirelli Cinturato 165HR14 tyres (CA67).

Sport

The Fulvia Sport was a fastback 2-seater based on Coupé mechanicals, built for Lancia by Zagato—where it had been designed by Ercole Spada. The Sport was commissioned by Lancia to Zagato as more aerodynamic and sportier version of the coupé, which could be used in road and track competitions.

Three peculiarities of the Sport body were the engine bonnet hinged to the right hand side, the rear hatch, which could be lifted electrically by an handful of centimetres to aid cabin ventilation, and the spare wheel, housed in a separate compartment, accessed from a rotating panel which held the rear number plate. The tail lights were sourced from the NSU Prinz 4.

The second series Fulvia Sport was launched at the 1970 Turin Motor Show. 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 tyres. The body was now all-steel, and seated 2+2 passengers. Some of the Zagato's most unusual features were lost: the bonnet was now hinged at the front, and the spare wheel compartment hatch was deleted. Several other changes set the second series apart from the first: new driving lights, side mirror moved from the wing to the door, larger bullet-shaped tail lights from the Peugeot 204, and stamped steel wheels without hubcaps.

Inside the 1600 had an oil temperature gauge, bucket seats with headrests and electric front windows as standard. Cromodora alloy wheels like those found on the 1600 HF were optional.

Lancia Fulvia Sport Spider (1968)

At the October 1968 Turin Motor Show Milanese coachbuilder Zagato showed the Fulvia Sport Spider, a 2-seater roadster based on the Fulvia Sport. The prototype reprised the lines of the Fulvia Sport, but was built on a 150 mm (5.9 in); the soft top folded underneath a flush tonneau cover. The car was finished in red, with matching leather covering the seats, dashboard and steering wheel; Plexiglas-covered headlamps were fitted. Outside details like the black front grille and Peugeot 202-derived tail lights previewed the 1970 Series 2 Fulvia Sport.

Lancia Fulvia Berlinetta Competizione (1969)

The Fulvia Berlinetta Competizione was a concept car by Ghia first displayed at the March 1969 Geneva Motor Show. It was built with a fastback berlinetta body designed by Tom Tjaarda, on Fulvia Rallye 1.6 HF Fanalone floorpan and mechanicals.

Dunja 1.6 HF (1971)

The Dunja 1.6 HF was a concept car with kammback coupé body based on Fulvia 1600 HF mechanicals, first shown on the Glasurit stand at the 1971 Turin Motor Show. Commissioned by Glasurit, it was designed by Aldo Sessano and built by Turinese coachbuilder Carrozzeria Coggiola upon a Fulvia Coupé 1600 HF (type 818.740) chassis.

Lancia Fulvia Coupé concept (2003)

In 2003 the Fulvia name was revived on a concept car, the Lancia Fulvia Coupé Concept, inspired by the original 1965 Coupé. Designed by Centro Stile Lancia under the direction of Flavio Manzoni, the car made its début at the September 2003 Internationale Automobil-Ausstellung in Frankfurt am Main. The strictly two-seater cabin was upholstered in Testa di moro (dark brown) leather and trimmed in Tanganika wood, contrasting with the tree-layer Avorio (ivory) exterior paint colour. The prototype was front-wheel drive and weighed 990 kg (2,180 lb), and was powered by a transverse-mounted 16-valve 1.8-litre VVT, 140 PS (103 kW) inline-four engine which could propel the vehicle from 0–100 km/h (0–62 mph) in 8.6 seconds and to a top speed of 213 km/h (132 mph). The suspensions were McPherson struts at the front and trailing arms at the rear; electronic control systems were limited to ABS. Despite the needs of a possible production model having been considered during development, the new Fulvia Coupé did not progress past the prototype stage.

Rallying

It was with the Fulvia that Lancia went officially back into racing after its withdrawal from Formula 1 in 1955; this time the effort was focused on rallying. In 1965 the company absorbed the HF Squadra Corse, a privateer racing team founded by Lancia enthusiasts which previously received some factory support, which became the works team under the direction of Cesare Fiorio. The same year the Fulvia Coupé made its racing debut at the Tour de Corse, placing 8th overall. Starting with the lightened and more powerful 1965 Rallye HF, special HF version were put on sale to the general public to homologate improvements for the rally cars. In 1967 the larger displacement Rallye 1.3 HF followed. As the V4 engine had reached the limit of its development, an all-new 1.6-litre V4 engine was developed and installed on the 1967 Rallye 1.6 HF. 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 racing 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 S, Lampinen/Andreasson at the Rallye du Maroc, and Ballestrieri/Bernacchini at the Rallye Sanremo. In 1973 Lancia did not score any podium finishes valid for that year's first-ever World Rally Championship season; though at the hands of Munari the Fulvia won its second European Rally Championship, after the 1969 victory by Harry Källström. During the 1974 season the Lancia Stratos HF replaced in rallying the—by then ageing—Fulvia. That year Lancia won its second World Championship, also thanks points scored by the Fulvia in the first races—such as the third place Munari caught in the grueling East African Safari Rally.

Endurance racing

The Fulvia Sport was prepared and raced by several privateers in track events. During 1968 Zagato built 27 Sport Competizione competition versions, as well as two specials which later became known as Sport Daytona. These were modified with twin, different sized round headlamps under flush Plexiglas covers, a mesh front grille, widened fenders, Plexiglas side and rear windows, quick-fill fuel cap, and a 155 PS engine. In 1969 these two cars were entered with Maglioli and Pinto as drivers at the 12 Hours of Sebring, placing 18th overall, and at the 24 Hours of Daytona, where they scored a remarkable class win in the sports prototype category and an 11th place overall.

Fulvia HF F&M

In 1969 three competition Fulvia 1.6 HF were transformed into racing barchettas by Claudio Maglioli. The roof and about 28 cm (11.0 in) of rear bodywork were cut away; heating, interior trim, the passenger seat, and the inner pair of headlamps were removed, while the fuel tank took place of the rear bench seat. In spite of the chassis bracing needed to preserve rigidity without the roof, the car resulted 200 kg (441 lb) lighter than the coupé; the suspension had to be retuned to compensate for the lighter weight, and one leaf was removed from the front spring. The car was christened Fulvia HF F&M Special, where F and M stood for the initials of Lancia team manager Cesare Fiorio and of Maglioli. The barchetta's first major race entry was the 1969 Targa Florio. Sandro Munari and Rauno Altonen drove one to a ninth overall placement as well as to a class victory.