Lancia Fulvia Coupé
Sold/no built 1965-’76/138,300 (all Coupés) Engine dohc 1298cc V4; 80bhp @ 6000rpm; 77lb ft @ 4000rpm Transmission four-speed manual, FWD Suspension wishbones (f), beam axle (r); leaf springs, telescopics f/r Steering worm and sector Brakes discs 0-60mph 14 secs Top speed 104mph Mpg 31
The vast majority of sporting Italian classics from the ’60s have increased in value beyond the reach of the average motoring journalist – such is today’s ballooning market – but one model remains a tempting proposition for its attractive Pietro Castagnero-penned coachwork, characterful driving experience, and surprisingly low cost: the Lancia Fulvia. The Appia replacement broke cover in 1963, offered first only as a saloon – the sort of boxy berlina beloved by baddies in Bond films – with the more sporting Coupé being added to the range two years later.
Unlike with the four-door, Castagnero was given greater license when styling the Coupé, creating a crisp, beautifully proportioned and unmistakably Italian shape that was so successful it remained in production until 1976 – four years longer than the futuristic Sport Zagato.
Despite their sporting overtones, the first Coupés weren’t exactly fireballs, fitted as they were with the same 1216cc 80bhp narrow-angle V4 as the Berlina GT. But the attractive and forward thinking 2+2 gained legions of fans anyway. A good job, because the firm had sunk a huge amount of resources into its new Chivasso plant and was banking on the Fulvia’s success. The model also brought good fortune to the Zagato brothers, who followed the Coupé with the Ercola Spada-styled Fulvia Sport. This angular interpretation featured more room for rear passengers and a slippery shape that, allied to a taller final drive, resulted in a higher top speed. It became their best-selling model.
Zagato-bodied Fulvias are budget-busters – particularly the early all-alloy efforts – so your search will be limited to factory Coupés. That’s no bad thing, because it’s arguably the betterlooking car and there’s little to choose between them when it comes to performance.
While it’s true that the earliest cars were a bit limp, it didn’t take long for hotter engines to be added to the option list. Peppiest until the arrival of the 1.6-litre variant in 1969 was the Rallye 1.3 HF, which offered 101bhp compared to 115bhp for its bigger-engined brother. The same 1298cc engine was used, in various stages of tune, in all 1.3-litre Coupés from 1967 until the end of production. The 1.6 became the weapon of choice in numerous competitions, from Rallye Monte-carlo to the Safari Rally – both of which spawned special editions aping the works cars.
Our test Coupé comes from marque specialist Richard Thorne, having been built for a customer in the late ’90s. Such a sporting example is likely to stretch our budget to breaking point (and beyond), but if it’s a standard car you’re after – or better yet a Series II – then you should be in luck: Thorne is currently offering a very tidy 1972 example with 46,000 miles on the clock for £14,995. At that price, the Fulvia has to be one of the bestlooking cars on our list. GM
‘For his Coupé Castagnero created a beautifully proportioned, crisp and unmistakably Italian shape’