1973 Lancia Fulvia Coupe (1.6 Liter)

Not all things are the same, just look at the history of the Lancia Fulvia. While the sedan version would continue in production for a decade, its smaller coupe brethren would become famous, making Lancia famous on the streets, as well as, on the forest roads of International rally events.

Lancia would first introduce its HF model Fulvia coupe in 1965. And it would be noted right away that the model car had been designed with racing very much in mind. In many ways, the HF Fulvia would bear a similarity to Alfa Romeo's coupe. Both would feature rather advanced engines, all-round disc brakes, and other competitive design layout features. However, while the Alfa seemed particularly suited to circuit racing, the HF Fulvia would be particularly focused on rallying.

The HF Fulvia would be particularly suited to rallying. First of all, the design of the car would lend itself to being considered a rally car of a special pedigree. Lancia introduced its sedan model in 1963. However, it would be the coupe model introduced a couple of years later that would become the basis for the rallying effort.

Lancia was still to be acquired by Fiat. Therefore, the company's reputation for engineering first was still well intact. The HF Fulvia Coupe, therefore, would be a mixture of beautiful styling and impeccable engineering and build. The result would be a small, contemporary coupe with solid performance.

By the early 1960s, car manufacturers were experimenting with the idea of front-wheel drive. Lancia would be no different. The Lancia four-cylinder engine would be suspended in front of the front axle and in front of the aluminum transaxle. From there, the drive would be sent to the wheels.

Lancia had developed its venerable narrow-angle V4. At 13 degrees of angle, the engine would be evolved to include two overhead camshafts and helped to fill in the space in between the banks of the engine. In an effort to reduce the center of gravity, the engine would then be canted at 45 degrees. To many, this would give the mechanical layout of the car a very elegant touch. Mated with twin Weber, twin-choke carburetors, the 1.6-liter engine would be capable of producing 160bhp when properly tuned.

Combining the engine performance with solid handling from the independent front suspension and live rear axle with semi-elliptic leaf springs, the HF Fulvia Coupe would go on to win the International Rally Championship in 1972. The car would also help to make Lancia the most successful manufacturer in rally racing history.

One works Lancia Fulvia Group IV rally car would be chassis 2272. Completed in early 1973 with a Scocca Alleggerita (lightweight) body, chassis 2272 would compete as a works rally car throughout the 1973 season. Registered in Turin and numbered TO 233323, this particular chassis would take part in the San Remo Rally where it would be driven by Lampinen to an 8th-place overall finish. Also, in 1973, the car would take place in the Rally of Switzerland, as well as, the Monte Carlo Rally, where it would earn yet another 8th-place finish at the hands of Kallstrom.

Following its rallying career, the car would remain on its original registration until it became the property of Beni Italo in 1977. In the years following being sold, not much is known about the car. However, today, the car is presented in its period rallying livery with the iconic Marlboro adorning the car.

The restoration of the car didn't stop with the livery. In fact, the car comes with gold-painted wheels and such period-correct features as the wired retaining pins on the boot-lid and large Cibie spotlights. The large tachometer, lack of a speedometer, rally timer and quick-access fuse box only go further to take the onlooker back to a day when the HF Fulvia dominated the International Rallying scene.

A former works car, 2272 certainly is a highly desirable example of the coupe that helped to create the Lancia rallying legend. Boasting a successful racing history and a lightweight body restored to period correct livery it would be little wonder why the Lancia Fulvia 1.6 HF Group IV Coupe would be expected to draw between €140,000 and €160,000 heading to auction.

Sources:
'Lot No. 389: 1973 Lancia Fulvia 1.6 HF Group IV Coupe', (http://www.rmauctions.com/featurecars.cfm?SaleCode=MC12&CarID=r415&fc=0). RM Auctions. http://www.rmauctions.com/featurecars.cfm?SaleCode=MC12&CarID=r415&fc=0. Retrieved 3 January 2013.

'Lancia Fulvia Coupe HF (1965)', (http://www.autozine.org/Archive/Lancia/classic/Fulvia.html). Autozine.org. http://www.autozine.org/Archive/Lancia/classic/Fulvia.html. Retrieved 3 January 2013.

'1969 Lancia Fulvia HF Competizione News, Pictures and Information', (http://www.conceptcarz.com/vehicle/z1172/Lancia-Fulvia-HF-Competizione.aspx). Conceptcarz.com: From Concept to Production. http://www.conceptcarz.com/vehicle/z1172/Lancia-Fulvia-HF-Competizione.aspx. Retrieved 3 January 2013.

By Jeremy McMullen