Lancia Fulvia Fanalone
Lancia was famous for their engineering innovations; they were famous for their craftsmanship. They were famous for turning a blind eye to what this all cost. As a business model not so good—but for creating amazing automobiles “Esecuzione domestica,” great!
The Fulvia was Lancia’s official reentry into the racing world after leaving Formula 1 in 1955. Enclosed tracks were no longer their battlefields, they were going rallying!
In 1965 Lancia saw their own Cesare Fiorio was doing good things with his privateer team, HF Squadra Corse. It soon became the factory’s semi-works team. HF for High Fidelity. Nothing to do with sound, but the fact that the team members owned nothing but Lancias.
The team distinguished themselves in competition and by 1969 they were the official Works team. At that time the car of choice was the Fulvia. They had taken 8th place at the Tour de Corse in the team Fulvia Coupe. To homologate, the car’s special versions were offered to the public. By 1967 the 1.3 Rally HF made its appearance. The little V4 was reaching the outer limits of development.
A new 1.6 V4 was created and installed and raced as a prototype until it received homologation from the FIA.
Excepting 1970, the little Lancia that could won the Italian Rally Championship from 1965 through 1973. in 1972 Lancia had the International Championship for Manufacturers tied up two rounds before the end of the season. A rather heavy hitting CV.
But what if you want your fun on the streets? Well you won’t be in for a letdown if you get yourself into a Stradale version. Say, this 1.6 HF Fanalone. Fanalone, in literal translation from Italian, means “Big Headlights.” (I know—it’s other big Italian pairs that spring to mind, isn’t it?) On a Lancia it means big headlights—but not really. They’re of normal size; the car is just small. But that doesn’t matter one bit! You have 115 Hp in a front wheel drive car with no torque steer, weighing 1874 pounds, so it’s party time.
The greenhouse on this little jewel is fantastic. You can see everything from the local flower shop or— if you’re lucky—the next turn in the Targa Florio. The Lancia gives you even more of that vibe, with your hands wrapped around the Ferrero HF wheel that is normally found in the work’s cars. Lancia adds a touch of elegance by giving this little hot rod a wood dash to contain the Veglia equipment. In another Fanalone touch, the clock is replaced by an oil pressure gauge, far to the driver’s right…
Who needs to know the time? Well you do if you’re rallying, that’s what they make chronometers for.
The Flying buttress seats hold you firmly and comfortably in place as you recreate your own stage in the Monte Carlo Rally.
Lancias always seem to have a purpose, and the Fanalone, like its works brothers, is rallying. But at the same time, it’s a very civilized little car. The 1.6 liter, V4 engine is free-revving, and the steering has none of that numbness often found in front drive cars. The double front wishbone suspension and the live rear axle seem to be the perfect ingredients for handling. Like a proper racer it has a dog-leg first gear, because once you get going you’re not going to be anywhere near that gear until you’ve crossed the finish line. All this wrapped up in a clean, simple, elegant package that emits a no-nonsense style all its own.
The Fulvia will tickle all your senses; the sensation behind the wheel makes you hunger for more. This little beast is 1 out of 1,278 built. After experiencing it, I think it’s more like 1 in a million.
My thanks to Ben Tarlow and Mid Century Motors http://midcenturymotoring.comfor this joy ride.
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