Lot details
Registration No: NSW 7M
Chassis No: 818.741 003871
Mot Expiry: T.B.A.

The Lancia Fulvia Saloon made its debut at the 1963 Geneva Salon. The newcomer featured a narrow angle DOHC V4 engine mounted ahead of, and driving, the front wheels. Front suspension was independent by wishbones and a single leaf spring while a solid axle with Panhard rod and leaf springs was employed at the rear. Braking was by discs all round. A two-door Coupe derivative was introduced at the 1965 Turin Salon, the wheelbase of which was 5.9in shorter than the saloon's. Later that year came the first Coupe HF model, a competition-oriented version with more powerful engine, aluminium bonnet, doors and bootlid, plus plexiglass side and rear windows. Countless race and rally victories were accrued by these feisty little cars, the icing on the cake being victory in the 1972 FIA International Championship for Manufacturers achieved by the Works rally team of Lampinen, Kallstrom, Munari and Ballestrieri at the wheel of 1.6 Coupe HFs. All versions of the Fulvia were facelifted in 1969. These Series II cars had superior disc brakes, five-speed gearboxes, a diaphragm clutch, stiffer springing and an alternator. A Lusso version of the 1.6HF became available with 115bhp engine, extra trim and bumpers.

The 1972 RHD 1.6 HF Lusso being sold sports Red coachwork and Black interior trim. In recent years it has been prepared for hillclimbing and historic rallies by Michael Beatty in Northern Ireland. We understand it was the first (and so far only) saloon car to compete in the run-off of a British Hillclimb Championship event. Built with due regard for originality, the Lancia apparently features correct seats, badges and Cromadora wheels, plus a close ratio gearbox, twin-pot brake callipers, hydraulic handbrake and electronic ignition. The vendor tells us that the coachwork, paintwork, engine, transmission and trim are all "very good".