CLASSIC SHOWROOM
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(Keith Cornwell)/(Tony Brown)
Lancia Fulvia 2C Berlina (1967)
La Dolce Vita! Beautiful original Italian supplied car.
This is a rare example of the Lancia Fulvia Berlina (saloon) in the Series 1 1091cc twin carburettor version. Correctly registered in the UK as a historic vehicle but can be exported to the EU with ease.
Always noted for producing technically advanced vehicles, Lancia launched the Fulvia range in the early sixties, including features which buyers of UK cars especially could usually only dream of. In Lancia style, the model was named after the Via Fulvia, a Roman road in the north of Italy which led to Lancia’s home city of Turin. The US magazine Road & Track described the car in a road test as: "a precision motorcar, an engineering tour de force". The Fulvia came as a Berlina 4-door saloon, 2-door coupé, and special Zagato designed Sport. The range continued into the mid-1970s.
The Fulvia had front wheel drive and was powered by a narrow angle V4 longitudinal engine mounted in front of its transaxle. The angle of the V was less than 13° allowing for just the one cylinder head and, with the engine set at a 45° angle slant, this kept the front of the car low. The earliest engines were a compact 1091 cc with 58 bhp (44 kW). However the addition of twin Solex carburettors raised power to 71 bhp (53 kW) soon after. These cars are indicated by the addition of an “SC” badge on the front grill (like this example, also verified by the original documentation). Sporting independent front suspension and Dunlop disc brakes on all four wheels meant the car was technically very sophisticated by comparison with a lot of the competition in the small saloon/coupé market at the time. As would be expected from its history below, this car is LHD and also has the standard fit column-mounted gear change and a very effective (and startling!) steering wheel lock.
Manufactured in the Lancia factory in Borgo San Paulo, Turin in 1967 (heritage letter supplied), this lovely little car was delivered new to its first owner in Pescantina, a comune halfway between the city of Verona and Lake Garda. In 1972 it moved to a new owner in Peschiera del Garda right on the lake and then, later in 1989, to San Bonifacio between Verona and Venice where it remained until recently. In 2010 it was bought by a resident of Bardolino, back on the east side of Garda until it was traded in to a car dealer just over the border in the neighbouring province of Vicenza. So, it has spent its whole Italian ownership life within the province of Verona (and always within the Veneto region). Its Italian registration was VR173745 endorsing its location. This is an area loved by visitors for the city of Verona itself (a World Heritage site plus its Romeo and Juliet connection) and its proximity to the Italian Lakes and to Venice. This local history may account for the apparently low odometer reading of 48,000 km (approx 30,000 miles), although this cannot be warranted (and, indeed, could be 148,000 km or 92,000 miles although the condition strongly suggests otherwise). Imported from the Italian dealer and registered in the UK in late 2015 with an age-related registration plate (Historic Vehicle).
In solid dark Lord Blue (a common Lancia colour) with replacement excellent condition grey cloth interior and the apparent austerity level but very extensive and practical rubber mats favoured by Lancia in the sixties even on the more expensive models. Cream painted steel wheels with chromed hubcaps. This car is bodily extremely sound, clearly benefitting from its life in Italy. There is no visible rust anywhere on the body or floorpan underneath and everything is as you would wish it to be. The paint is still solid, not dull, with some evidence of repainting and a number of small marks corresponding to the car’s age. The brightwork is strong with a good shine. All the windows work and the car sports Perspex deflectors on the front windows. The original radio is still fitted but not working. Besides its advanced engineering, the car benefits from a number of exquisite design details which mark it out from the run of the mill contemporary three-box four door saloons, such as the clear plastic interior door handles, the “kink” as the chrome wraps around the boot and the jewel-like rear light clusters.
Earlier this year, apart from a full grease, oil, plugs and filters service, the car underwent a carburettor strip down with new old stock refurbishment kits, overhauled ignition, new HT leads and condenser and renewed rocker cover gasket following valve timing adjustment. These enhancements resolved an issue with poor running. In total, over £1,500 was spent at a recognised Italian car specialist. It is fitted with good Continental tyres all round and has front seat belts fitted. Driver’s manual, heavily annotated in manuscript. The boot is a reasonable size for touring and, like the rest of the car, is lined with practical rubber matting. Current MoT to end October 2016.
These cars were built in an era when Lancia had yet to be “saved” from financial ruin by the Fiat Group and cost cutting wasn’t a priority. Not sound business practice, but it meant that the cars from the sixties are the last products of a company devoted to engineering excellence and Italian style with affordability. This is an opportunity to acquire a more practical and, frankly, more economical, alternative to Lancia’s small sporting coupés of the sixties and early seventies which are now going up in value. Genuine enquiries only please.
Price - £7,995 GBP or €9,600 euros
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