Lancia Fulvia Coupe: Classic Cars forum: Classic Motorsports

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May 11, 2011 9:19 a.m. rconlon HalfDork

http://tinyurl.com/3vu5z6t This hard to find car might be of interest. The owner is a reliable member of the Fiat/Lancia community. The Fulvias that I have known have really impressed me. It is in California. peter@petercripps.com

I'm sure Mira folk know all about Fulvias: 5 speed manual transmission, 4 wheel disc brakes, etc. In the 5 years that I've owned this car, it's never let me down. I've done just over 12,000 miles in it, including one round trip to the Oregon event.

Recent maintenance work includes rebuilt carburetors, upgraded ignition, new alternator, new brakes, new steering joints, and new exhaust. Work done before I owned the car includes replacement of both front wheel bearings, a difficult and expensive job on this model.

Pictures at http://tinyurl.com/3vu5z6t. If you right click on any image you can get the full resolution version.

asking $8,500.
May 11, 2011 3:19 p.m. kreb Dork

That is so funny. I saw the Cl ad here and was coming to this site for a little education:

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/pen/cto/2366010996.html

I love the way that they look. I'm also seeing 5 speed tranny, dual Webbers, 4 wheel discs and am thinking that these look a lot like a similar but less costly alternate to the Alfa GTV. The motors are smaller, of course, but this is real appealing.

Skimming the internet, these seem to offer a fine driving experience. What's the skinny on reliability, parts availability/cost, and what not?

It is better to wear out than to rust out.
May 11, 2011 3:53 p.m. BoxheadTim SuperDork

Less costly only in purchase, IMHO. They're also FWD...

They're pretty well built mechanically IIRC but they do rust. Boy, do they rust...

Sanity is vastly overrated.
May 11, 2011 4:14 p.m. rconlon HalfDork

Don't get a rusty one. I drove one (a 67 Zagato Sport) over several hundred miles for a friend to a couple of car shows. I watched the restoration and helped some. They are peppy to drive like a true sport sedan. It never felt over stressed at highway speeds. The gearbox was great and engine smooth with nice carburetor song. Roomy in the front seats. Front wheel drive did not feel so and it handled very well. I was impressed. The engine is a very narrow V-4 or more like an offset inline. Best of all they will show very well. For the cost of the car, you will be lined up with a lot of high end cars at a show. This Zagato Sport was very well sorted. Parts are common in Europe.

Cheers Ron
May 11, 2011 10:17 p.m. TR8owner Reader

I've been around Italian cars but have always done the run and hide from them when it came to potential ownership, but really like this baby. It'll find a good home I'm sure.
May 12, 2011 11:32 a.m. rconlon HalfDork

There is a certain joie de vive about Italian cars that is not the tweed coat and patches of the British cars. They would complement each other nicely in a collection. One car goes to the horse races and the other for a visit to the winery.

Cheers Ron
May 12, 2011 4:05 p.m. kreb Dork

rconlon wrote: There is a certain joie de vive about Italian cars that is not the tweed coat and patches of the British cars. They would complement each other nicely in a collection. One car goes to the horse races and the other for a visit to the winery. Cheers Ron
Funny, my Lotus mainly seemed to take to the backroads. Does that make me a bad classic car owner?
It is better to wear out than to rust out.
May 12, 2011 5:01 p.m. TR8owner Reader

In reply to kreb:

I'm a solid British car guy having owned all kinds in the past and currently with a TR8, but there is something very stylish about Italian cars, and most things Italian for that matter. I drink Italian wine and rode a Bianchi bicycle and my ex wife was of Italian origin, but just haven't brought myself to cross over to the dark side yet with classic cars choices.
May 18, 2011 1:49 p.m. Andy Reid Auction Editor

A Fuvlia is an amazing car, much more than the sum of its parts. The engines are terrific, they are a FWD car with virtually no torque steer and they are pretty reliable. Is this car still available? If so I would be very interested in it.
May 18, 2011 3:14 p.m. rconlon HalfDork

Andy: Contact Peter. His thread does not say sold yet. As I said, he is a reliable member of the Fiat community. Ron
May 26, 2011 10:06 a.m. rconlon HalfDork

I recently wrote this as part of a longer submission, A tale of two Lancias, for the FLU pubication, Ricambi. Ron

My first impression of the Fulvia is that it is an urbane city car for the modern successful businessman or administrator. He lives in the city in an expensive apartment and has his own dedicated parking space at work. He has small villa in the picturesque Italian countryside and goes there with his lady friend on the weekend. This is a Sport Zagato, after all, for the debonair sophisticate. The car starts with a pleasant subdued note of the smaller displacement yet eager-to-rev motor. The twin Dell’Ortos whisper at idle. I carefully move the car to the street and familiarize myself with the clutch, steering, brakes and long gearshift. It all feels very natural. Fourth gear is tall for cruising with a wide gap from third. The full set of gauges is easy to read and of the kind found in the best sports cars. The steering is light and the car is very nimble in town with sufficient power. The front wheel drive never asserts itself in the corners and tracks true on the straights. On the highway, the Fulvia carburetors begin to sing and the 1.3 liter motor pulls smoothly to 70 mph and beyond. The car revs happily around 3500 to 4000 rpms at cruising and is quiet enough for the radio to play. Never did the car feel over-extended or under-powered. I am still fresh after 3 hours. I let the reins out a bit on the return leg and attempt a few full throttle runs. The carbs howl and the throaty exhaust accompanies but there is a decided lack of torque at lower rpm. Cornering is very sure and crisp like a true sports car or more modern sports sedan. I see why these did well in the rally circuit. My fantasy takes me from work to home to exchange my briefcase for a fly fishing rod and overnight bag. Then I race to the villa after collecting Gina who will accompany me with a loaf of good Italian bread and bottle of Chianti.