Italian driver’s classic 1971 Lancia Fulvia sport coupe

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Lancia
The Lancia Fulvia is powered by a small but powerful V4

What kind of car would a sporting gentleman drive? Well, if you consider motorsports legend Stirling Moss to be an authority on such things, he reportedly claimed: “Gentlemen drive Lancias.”

There is plenty of truth in that statement as any classic Lancia achieves another level of class and quality when compared with fellow Italian road cars Alfa Romeo or Fiat.  There is just something about how these advanced cars were put together that can rival even much-more-expensive cars. A Lancia is built like a Swiss watch.  

Lancia
Fulvia’s styling is simple and refined

Lancia styling is understated but stunning, just what a gentleman would seek. The interiors are very well finished, making the cockpit a great place to spend time behind the wheel. In a nutshell, a Lancia is a small-bore Italian exotic.

That craftsmanship came at a price, and like so many other higher-end brands, Lancia often struggled to make ends meet. The marque was  finally abandoned in 2017 due to lack of interest; the modern Lancias were basically badge-engineered Fiat products and nowhere near as special as the classic cars.

The Pick of the Day is one of the last classic models, a 1971 Lancia Fulvia two-door coupe being offered by a Boise, Idaho, dealer advertising the car on ClassicCars.com.  Introduced in 1963 and continuing through 1976, the Fulvia was the end of an era for the storied brand.

Lancia
The front-wheel-drive Fulvia has an athletic stance

Its gem-like 1.3-liter engine is a unique narrow-angle DOHC V4 designed by Zaccone Mina. It is one of the truly great Italian engines, eager to rev and deliver power well beyond what its displacement would lead one to expect.

Combine this with an amazingly successful record in World Rally Championship racing, and the Fulvia is one of those cars that gets respect wherever it goes.  The Fulvia was available as a four-door sedan, the standard two door coupe – like this one – and a special-edition fastback coupe styled by Zagato. 

According to the seller, this Fulvia is a 1971 Series II car with its V4 delivering 90 horsepower and paired with a 5-speed manual transmission.  The car is finished in Beige Mirabello with complimentary deep-red seats, which look very comfortable.  

Lancia
The interior boasts a real-wood dashboard

The Fulvia has had one high-quality repaint in the ’90s, the seller notes, and while there are a few minor cracks in the paint on the driver’s side rear fender, the paint overall presents really well.

An interesting side note about the Fulvia is that it is front-wheel drive but with none of the unwelcome torque steer that was common with that configuration until modern electronics.  The reason for its straight, uneventful acceleration is the rarely seen equal-length drive shafts.

This would be the perfect car for vintage rallies, and it would be a welcomed entry for any Italian car show, even such higher-end events as Concorso Italiano, which will be held during the upcoming Monterey Car Week. The Fulvia is quickly gaining a place on many collectors’ buy lists, and values during the past four years have been climbing.

Lancia
The red-leather seats look very comfortable

The seller describes the Fulvia as “a true driver’s car with Italian styling that you don’t have to fret about.”

An elegant, sporty, rare and high-quality car that is immensely fun to drive, the Fulvia has an asking price of $31,995.  Its exclusivity would be hard to beat at any price.

To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day

4 COMMENTS

  1. I wonder if the v4 1300 could be made to day with up grades. It would go nice in a classic 60’s mini. Sponser me and i will do just that as well as 4 wheel drive. And all in a classic mk1 mini. I would need a shell from british motor herirage but they cost £10.000. Then all the other parts .but in the end it would be one fantasic machine. I wonder id lancia or should i say ferrari would make the v4 for me. Now that would go down rather well. It could be a internatiinal project and if i where to build 4 ie 3 mk1s and a 1275 gt shell . Then i would put a team together plus back up vehicle and drive round thw world.

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