1971 Lancia Fulvia 1.3S Coupe

Ostensibly a competitor for the pretty Alfa Romeo 105-series coupes, Lancia's Fulvia was typically a far more complex, cleverly engineered machine. Developed with rallying in mind, the coupe version of the Fulvia first appeared in 1965 on the sedan platform shortened by some 150mm and was of suitably compact proportions. Designed under the direction of Pietro Castagnero, the Fulvia coupe was an exceptionally pretty shape, with a large glass area and plenty of cabin space. To achieve weight reduction, Lancia made the doors, bonnet and bootlid from aluminium and no expense was spared in the quest for rallying success. Mounted longitudinally ahead of the transaxle, the Fulvia's narrow angle V4 engine, inclined at 45 degrees, had twin overhead camshafts and initially displaced 1.2-litres. In 1967, a larger 1.3 model appeared with 90bhp, along with a facelifted body. Handling was always the Fulvia's strong suit, along with superb braking thanks to Dunlop discs on all four wheels. On Series 2 models, a five-speed gearbox was the major upgrade. Notable as the last real Lancia prior to the takeover by Fiat, the Fulvia has a dedicated and very enthusiastic following amongst marque devotees and the market for these lovely little cars has always remained strong.