・Presenting in great condition throughout ・Recent attention to the floor pans with invoices ・Original Italian documentation present
The Background
Introduced in 1965, the Lancia Fulvia Coupé designed by Piero Castagnero, utilising the typical ‘three box’ design principle of the time.
The Fulvia has always been somewhat of an automotive oddity, but in the best way possible. A front-wheel-drive, V4-powered coupé, the Fulvia went on to dominate world rallying, including a win of the WRC in 1972 and became the last front-wheel-drive car to dominate the World Rally Championship in such a dramatic way.
With the so-called ‘narrow angle’ V4 engine, the Fulvia used a longitudinally mounted setup mounted in front of the transaxle at a 45-degree angle, with one cam each for the inlet and exhaust valves, making this a DOHC engine. Underneath, the Fulvia used independent front suspension and a beam axle with leaf springs out the rear, and facelift cars such as this one had a full set of Girling disc brakes, along with the handbrake using a separate drum and brake shoes on the rear wheels.
American automotive magazine Road & Track summed up the Fulvia in one concise sentence, simply noting it as being "a precision motorcar, an engineering tour de force."
This particular example is a post-facelift Series II 1.3 S coupé, offering redesigned bodywork and an updated five-speed transmission compared to first-generation models. The 1.3-litre (1298cc) engine produced 89hp at 6,000rpm, which was less than the first-generation Rallye 1.3 S.
Finished in a gorgeous shade of Lancia Blu Agnano over a cream vinyl interior, this Fulvia spent its life in Rome before being imported to the UK in early 2018. During the vendor’s ownership, new galvanised floor pans have been fitted (as seen in the invoices and photographs) and new inner and outer sills have been fabricated. The car is not in “Concours” condition but is a very good example which drives beautifully.
During the vendor’s ownership, the car has performed absolutely perfectly, has taken part in many classic vehicle rallies and tours across the UK and is in regular use.
Supplied with the vehicle is the Automotoclub Storico Italiano certificate, FIVA passport, invoice for various parts shipped from Italy including reinforced and galvanised front floor panels and the original Italian registration plate. In addition to this, the vehicle is also supplied with two spare Solex carburettor units and two sets of keys.
The cabin of this Italian thoroughbred is in great shape, considering the age and mileage of the vehicle, and would only require a deep-clean and some TLC to bring it back to its best.
The headliner is still in one piece and appears to be free from any major sagging, though it is quite significantly stained and dirtied. The same is true of the seats, in that they are free from any rips or major signs of wear that we can see, but the vinyl covers would benefit from a thorough cleaning and conditioning to tidy them up.
Elsewhere, the carpets seem to be showing signs of wear in particular on the upper-left of the driver’s footwell, though this is commensurate with the age of the vehicle. The over-mats, too, are looking a little tired, but certainly don’t need replacing immediately.
The wood-trimmed dashboard is in good shape with no signs of cracking or peeling. All the dials and instruments work properly including the clock!
There is a period Pioneer radio/cassette player which is connected to an electric aerial, all in good working order.
The exterior condition of this Fulvia looks fantastic, with very little in the way of the usual stone chips and age-related wear that you’d expect from a 1970’s vehicle. There are some minor marks to the leading edge of the grille frame, though these can only be seen when the bonnet is raised.
The brightly chromed bumpers and other brightwork look to be in good shape, with no major signs of pitting, corrosion or dents, which shows that the vendor is a careful and diligent owner.
The rally-inspired yellow spot lights on the front bumper are a wonderful and period-correct addition, giving a ‘nod’ to the success of the Fulvia in competitive rallying. At the back is a red rally fog warning light and the boot has been fitted with an additional light.
Around the rear of the vehicle, the paintwork again presents in very good condition, with all the light lenses also being in great shape. The chrome bumper on the rear appears to have a minor crack in the nearside corner judging by the photographs, and the exhaust tip is showing surface corrosion - a common sight on these cars.
This Fulvia also benefits from the factory upgraded alloy wheels, which are shod in matching Zeta ZTR50 tyres and show only very minor signs of kerb rash and stone chipping to the outer edge.
Underneath, the floor pan of the Fulvia is in very good shape as the invoices mentioned above show that the floor pan has been replaced in September 2019..
The exhaust system shows the usual signs of surface ‘bloom’ though this appears to be the only minor corrosion that we can see in the photographs we’ve been provided, and as previously mentioned the new floor and sills have taken care of the major fault areas on the Fulvia.
The most recent MOT took place on 29 May 2019 and resulted in a clean pass with no advisories, and the same story is true for the MOT in February of 2018. The vehicle is now exempt from mandatory MOT testing due to its age, though it is still strongly encouraged to ensure the car is kept in top mechanical condition.
The phrase “they don’t build them like they used to” certainly rings true with Lancia, as their modern day offerings are pitiful compared to their glory days, with cars such as the Fulvia, Delta Integrale and Stratos.
This 1973 Fulvia 1.3 S is in fantastic shape, requiring only minor TLC and offers one lucky bidder the chance to relive the glory days of Lancia for themselves, however they see fit. If you’re a fan of classic rallying or gorgeous Italian sports cars, this is one not to miss!
Notice to bidders
Although every care is taken to ensure this listing is as factual and transparent as possible, all details within the listing are subject to the information provided to us by the seller. Car & Classic does not take responsibility for any information missing from the listing. Please ensure you are satisfied with the vehicle description and all information provided before placing a bid.
As is normal for most auctions, this vehicle is sold as seen, and therefore the Sale of Goods Act 1979 does not apply. All bids are legally binding once placed. Any winning bidder who withdraws from a sale, is subject to our bidders fee charge. Please see our FAQs and T&C's for further information. Viewings of vehicles are encouraged, but entirely at the seller's discretion.
Car & Classic's secure payment system protects buyers and sellers. At the end of the auction, the winning bidder transfers payment into a third-party escrow account. Once the transfer of the vehicle is complete, both parties confirm they are happy with the sale and the money is released to the seller.
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1973 Lancia Fulvia S Coupe
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