Lancia Fulvia Coupe (1967)

Lancia Fulvia Coupe

The Lancia Fulvia is an Italian car introduced at the Geneva Motor Show in 1963 by Lancia. It was produced by that company, and later by FIAT, through 1976. Fulvias are notable for their role in automobile racing history, including winning the International Rally Championship in 1972. On testing it in 1967, Road & Track summed up the Fulvia as "a precision motorcar, an engineering tour de force".

Chassis

The Fulvia was designed by Antonio Fessia to replace the Lancia Appia, with which it shared some components. The Appia was a rear wheel drive car, however, while the Fulvia moved to front wheel drive like the Flavia; the general engineering design of the Fulvia was identical to that of the Flavia with the major exception of the engine, the Flavia having a four cylinder horizontally opposed engine and the Fulvia a 'Narrow Angle' vee configuration as featured on Lancias from the Lambda. The Fulvia used a longitudinal engine mounted in front of its transaxle. An independent suspension in front used wishbones and a single leaf spring, while a solid axle with a panhard rod and more leaf springs was used in back. Four wheel Dunlop disc brakes were a welcome novelty, though Road & Track still noted some significant brake fade.

Engine

One element that was new was the narrow-angle V4 engine. Designed by Zaccone Mina, it used a narrow angle (12°53'28") and was mounted well forward at a 45° angle. The engine is a DOHC design with a one camshaft operating all intake valves and another operating all exhaust valves. It is unique in that though a vee configuration, the very narrow angle of the cylinders allowed for use of a single cylinder head.

Displacement began at just 1091 cc with 59 hp (44 kW) with a 72 mm bore and 67 mm stroke. A higher (9.0:1) compression ratio raised power to 71 hp (53 kW) soon after.

The engine was bored to 6 mm to enlarge displacement to 1216 cc for the HF model. This, and some tuning, raised output to 80 to 88 hp (60 to 66 kW).

The engine was reengineered with a slightly narrower bank angle (12°45'28") and longer (69.7 mm) stroke for 1967. Three displacements were produced: 1199 cc (74 mm bore), 1231 cc (75 mm bore), and 1298 cc (77 mm bore). The latter engine is most common, with the former only sold in Greece. The American-spec 1.3 L produced 87 hp (65 kW) and was described as "highly tuned" by Road & Track at the time.

The engine was redone again for a new HF with an even-narrower angle (11°20' now) and longer 75 mm stroke for its final incarnation. A bore of 82 mm gave it a displacement of 1584 cc, and power shot up to 114 to 132 hp (85 to 98 kW) depending on tune.

Body styles

The Fulvia was available with a number of bodies:

• Berlina - A compact four-door introduced in 1963.
• Berlina 2C - An updated Berlina for 1963 with 71 HP engine.
• Berlina GT - An updated Berlina for 1967 with the 1216 cc or 1231 cc engine.
• Berlina GTE - Another Berlina update for 1968 with the 1298 cc engine.
• Berlina '69 - Another Berlina update for 1969 with the 1298 cc engine and different body.
• Berlina '5m - Last Berlina update for 1970 with the 1298 cc engine and 5 speed gearbox.
• Coupe - A compact two-door introduced in 1965, the coupe uses a 150 mm shorter wheelbase along with the larger (1216 cc) or 1231 cc engine.
• Coupe HF - A rally car version of the coupe introduced later in 1965
• Rallye 1.3 HF - An updated HF with the new 1298 cc engine with 101 HP.
• Rallye 1.3 - An updated coupe with the new 1298 cc engine with 87 HP.
• Rallye 1.3s - An updated Rallye 1,3 with the 1298 cc engine producing 93,2 HP.
• Rallye 1.6 HF - The evoution of Rallye 1,3 HF with a 1584 cc engine producing 115 HP.
• Rallye 1.6 HF Variante 1016 - The most-powerful Fulvia with a 1584 cc engine producing 132 HP.
• Coupe 1,3s - Face-lifted body and new 5 speed gearbox with 1298 cc producing 90 HP.
• Coupe 1600 HF - Face-lifted body with 1584 cc engine producing 114 HP.
• Coupe 1,3s Montecarlo - Replica of 1972 Montecarlo Rally works car livery with 1298 cc producing 90 HP.
• Sport - a 2-seat Zagato rebody of Coupe with aluminium panels and 1216 cc engine.
• Sport 1,3 - An updated Sport with 1298 cc producing 87 HP, first 700 cars still have aluminium body.
• Sport 1,3s - An updated Sport 1,3 with 1298 cc producing 93,2 HP.
• Sport 1,3s 2nd series - An updated Sport 1,3 with 5 speed gearbox.
• Sport 1600 - An updated Sport with 1584 cc engine producing 114 HP.

The Fulvia saloon was updated for 1969 with a 20 mm longer wheelbase, new styling, and an updated interior. The Fulvia Coupe and Sport were updated in mechanics and styling in 1970.

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