1971 Lancia Flavia

When Lancia introduced the Flavia in 1960 at the Turin Motor Show, it came equipped with a 1,500cc four-cylinder engine and was introduced to major European markets during the twelve months that followed (in the U.K. in 1961). It had been developed by Antonio Fessia during the close of the 1950s and was initially offered as a four-door saloon. Its 1.5-liter aluminum boxer engine with overhead valves breathed through a single carburetor and offered 77 horsepower. It had Dunlop disc brakes at all four corners and an unequal-length wishbones suspension in the front. The engine was placed in the front and powered the front wheels. A two-door coupe body style was soon added to the lineup with styling by Pininfarina and resting on a shortened platform. The two-door convertible wore coachwork by Vignale and 1,601 examples were built. Zagato built a lightweight two-door 'sport' version with 626 examples produced, plus three prototypes. Of those, ninety-eight were equipped with the 1500cc engine, while the remaining 512 were powered by the larger 1800cc engine.

Around 1963, a larger 1,800cc engine became available with a single or double carburetor and fuel injection. The single-carbureted version developed 91 horsepower, while the double-carb setup boosted power to 104 horsepower. The 1800 Iniezione mechanical Kugelfischer fuel-injected version produced 101 horsepower and was backed by a five-speed manual gearbox.

In May of 1967, Lancia introduced a re-bodied version of the Berlina with a new interior known as the Series II (model number 819). With the introduction of the Model 819, the Zagato and Vignale versions were discontinued. Initially, the Model 819 used the same engines as the earlier cars, including the 1500, 1800, and 1800 with fuel injection, and all had a stroke of 74mm. In 1969, the stroke increased to 80 mm resulting in the new 2-liter 820 series engine.

In March of 1969, Lancia introduced a new coupe version at the Geneva Motor Show equipped with the 2.0-liter engine in either carbureted or fuel-injected guise, backed by either a four- or five-speed gearbox. Available body styles included either the Lancia sedan or the revised Pininfarina coupe.

After Fiat took control of Lancia, the 'Flavia' badge was discontinued and replaced by the '2000.' The 2000 was built from 1971 through 1974 and was similar to its predecessors, but came with stainless steel bumpers, Girling disc brakes instead of the Flavia 2000's Dunlops, and a Bosch D-Jetronic Analog-electrovalve fuel injection system (on fuel-injected versions of the engine).

by Dan Vaughan

Coupe by Farina

Never sold in the United States, the Flavia 2000 Coupe is a rare sight on the U.S. shores. It rewards Lancia devotees with Pininfarina style packaged around a punchy boxer flat-four. This 1971 example was restored in 2012 in the U.K. and imported to the U.S. in 2017.

This Italian grand tourer is true to its legacy as the last of the pre-Fiat Lancias - and as a baby Ferrari of sorts. There are echoes of the 330GT in the roof and rear body lines - and in profile, its elegance even evokes the Aston Martin DB5. Restrained yet purposeful, practical yet sporting, this late Flavia is the very definition of elegant motoring. Lancia's hallmark high build quality is evident throughout, despite minor meddling from Fiat.

This car is equipped with:

- 1991cc flat 4-cylinder (boxer) engine with a single Solex carburetor (original, recently rebuilt) and a slick 4-speed gearbox

- Front-wheel drive

- Powerful Dunlop disc brakes all around (original, recently rebuilt calipers and brake lines)

- An intoxicating, raspy exhaust note underpinned by a Fulvia-Esque growl, thanks to a new factory-original IMASAF exhaust

- Factory-correct 14-inch Cromodora wheels and Pirelli Cinturato CN36 tires

- Leather interior retrim and exterior respray in original color (2012)

- Metric Veglia Borletti gauges, labeled in Italian

- Matching numbers, Lancia Club Certification

Other notes of interest:

As the ultimate expression of the long-lived Flavia platform, the Flavia 2000 itself nevertheless had a short production life. After 1974, it was killed, given a radical redesign, dropped the 'Flavia' name it had used since 1963, and renamed the 'Lancia 2000.' The Series 1 and Series 2 models of the Flavia were very different cars, and were equipped with 1.5-liter and 1.8-liter engines, respectively.

The Lancia Flavia was produced from 1961 through 1975, with a total of 105,848 examples produced. The design was courtesy of Professor Fessia and initially offered only as a four-door saloon. Mounted in the engine bay was an aluminum boxer engine that displaced 1.5 liters. Power was sent to the front wheels, with Dunlop discs being placed on all four corners. The saloon was soon joined by a Pininfarina-designed coupe sitting on a shortened wheelbase. Other coachbuilders were soon creating their own interpretation of the Flavia, including Vignale, who produced a two-door convertible, and Zagato created a two-door sports version constructed of lightweight design principles. The Vignale and Zagato versions would continue until Fiat took control of the company in the late 1960s, and these two were discontinued. At this time, the coupe and saloon versions were given new bodywork.

A 1.8-liter engine was introduced in 1963, featuring mechanical fuel injection using the Kugelfischer system and mated to a five-speed manual gearbox. The engine was replaced in 1967 by a 2.0-liter version available as a carbureted or fuel-injection version. A four- or five-speed manual gearbox was also offered.

In the early 1970s, the Flavia was redesigned and renamed the Lancia 2000. This version featured Girling disc brakes which replaced the Dunlop version. The fuel-injected version of the engine used a Bosch D-Jetronic Analog-electro valve fuel injection system.

The Flavia 2.0-liter versions and the Flavia 2000 were only produced with Pininfarina Coupe and Lancia Sedan bodies.

by Dan Vaughan