The Lancia Fulvia (Tipo 818) is a car produced by Lancia between 1963 and 1976. Named after the Via Fulvia, a Roman road leading from Tortona to Turin, it was introduced at the Geneva Motor Show in 1963 and manufactured in three variants: Berlina 4-door saloon, 2-door Coupé, and Sport, an alternative fastback coupé designed and built by Zagato on the Coupé floorpan.
Fulvias are noted for their role in motorsport history, including a 1972 win of the International Rally Championship. Road & Track described the Fulvia as "a precision motorcar, an engineering tour de force".Road & Track, September 1967, page 66
Total production number of the Fulvia berlina was 192,097 cars, of the Fulvia Coupé 139,797 cars, and of the Fulvia Sport 7,102 cars.
Specifications Chassis The Fulvia Berlina was designed by Antonio Fessia, to replace the Lancia Appia with which it shared almost no 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 most production 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 beam axle with a panhard rod and leaf springs was used in back. Four wheel Dunlop disc brakes were fitted to first series Fulvias. With the introduction of the second series in 1970 the brakes were uprated with larger Girling calipers all round and a brake servo. The handbrake design was also changed - using separate drums and brake-shoes operating on the rear wheels.
Engine
The Fulvia's narrow-angle DOHC Lancia V4 engine was mounted well forward at a 45° angle. A new design, by Zaccone Mina, its unusually narrow 12° V allowed a single cylinder head to cover all the cylinders, with one cam each for intake and exhaust valves.
Displacement started out at just 1091 cc, with a 72 mm bore and 67 mm stroke. Fitted with a single carburettor, the V4 produced . A higher (9.0:1) compression ratio and twin Solex carburettors raised power to soon after.
The engine was bored to 76 mm for the 1216 cc HF model. With additional tuning output was raised from .
The engine was re-engineered with a slightly narrower bank angle (from 12°53'28" down to 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 new 1298 cc engine was produced in two versions; the type 818.302 produced at 6000 rpm and was fitted to first series Coupés, Sports and Berlina GTE and later to the second Series Berlina. The Type 818.303 was first produced with and was fitted to the first series Coupé Rallye S and Sport S. For the second Series Coupé and Sport, power was slightly reduced to at 6000 rpm. The 1199 cc engine was only fitted to the Berlina sold in Greece.
The engine was completely reworked for the new 1.6 HF with an even-narrower angle (now 11°20'), and a longer 75 mm stroke combined with a bore of 82 mm gave it a displacement of 1584 cc, and power ranged from depending on tune.
Model history
Berlina Series I Berlina (Tipo 818.000/001): 1963–1964. A compact four-door saloon introduced in 1963 with a 1091 cc, single twin-choke carburettor engine producing at 5800 rpm. Berlina 2C (Tipo 818.100/101): 1964–69. Improved, more powerful Berlina launched late in 1964, with a engine fitted with double twin-choke Solex carburettors. 155R14 Michelin X radial tyres. The body-shell also had revised front subframe mountings. Distinguished by an enamelled "2C" badge on the radiator grille and rear "Fulvia 2C" script. Berlina GT (Tipo 818.200/201/210/211): 1967–1968. Introduced at the 1967 Geneva Salon with the 1216 cc (later 1231 cc) engine from the Coupé, producing at 6000 rpm. Distinguished by an enamelled "GT" badge on the radiator grille and rear "Fulvia GT" script. Fitted with 155R14 Michelin X Berlina "Grecia" (Tipo 818.282/292): 1967–1969. Greece-only version fitted with a smaller 818.282 engine, putting out at 6200 rpm. 145R14 Pirelli Cinturato CA67 radial tyres Berlina GTE (Tipo 818.310/311): 1968–1969. Introduced in 1968 with the 1298 cc (818.302) engine from the Coupé Rallye 1.3, for an output of at 6000 rpm. In addition, the brakes were uprated with a brake servo, and fitted with 155 SR 14 Michelin ZX radial tyres Series II The Fulvia saloon was updated in August 1969 with a redesigned body on a longer wheelbase, and an updated interior. An altered roofline also provided more space for rear-seat passengers. Berlina (Tipo 818.610/611): 1969–1971. Series 2 was introduced in 1969 with the 1298 cc. Berlina "Grecia" (Tipo 818.682): 1969–1970. Series 2 Greece-only limited displacement version; the 818.282 1.2-litre engine was unchanged. Berlina (Tipo 818.612/613): 1970–1972. Series 2 with the 1298 cc (818.302) engine and 5-speed gearbox, introduced in 1970. Larger Girling callipers and pads replaced the Dunlop system fitted to first-series cars. Berlina "Grecia" (Tipo 818.694): 1970–1972. Updated with the 5-speed gearbox like the regular saloon.
Coupé
The Fulvia Coupé was a compact two-door, three-box coupé introduced in 1965. Like the saloon it was designed in-house by Piero Castagnero, using a wheelbase shorter than its sedan counterpart. As the last Fulvia model to be discontinued, the coupe was ultimately replaced in 1977 by a 1.3-litre version of the Beta Coupé.
Series I Coupé (Tipo 818.130/131): 1965–1967. Equipped with a 1,216 cc 818.100 engine—from 1967 enlarged to 1,231 cc—producing at 6,000 rpm. The same engines were subsequently used on the Berlina GT. Coupé HF (Tipo 818.140): 1966–1967. The competition version of the coupé, introduced later in 1965, carried a tuned version of the 1,216 cc engine producing at 6,000 rpm. Bodywork was lightened by removing the bumpers, using an aluminium bonnet, doors and boot lid, Plexiglas side and rear windows, and bare steel wheels without hubcaps. Rallye 1.3 HF (Tipo 818.340/341): 1967–1969. 1.3-litre HF. New 1,298 cc engine with at 6,400 rpm. Rallye 1.3 (Tipo 818.330/331): 1967–1968. An updated coupé with the 818.302 1,298 cc engine with at 6,000 rpm. Rallye 1.3 S (Tipo 818.360/361): 1968–1970. Updated, more powerful Rallye 1.3 with a new 818.303 1,298 cc engine producing at 6,000 rpm. Rallye 1.6 HF (Tipo 818.540/541): 1969–1970. Known as Fanalone ("big lamps") because of the characteristic upsized inner pair of headlamps. The evolution of Rallye 1.3 HF, equipped with an all-new 818.540 1,584 cc engine producing at 6,500 rpm. Other changes included negative camber front suspension geometry, with light alloy 13 inch 6J wheels; and a close ratio 5-speed gearbox and wheel arch extensions. The easiest way to distinguish this version is by the triangular holes between headlamps and grille. Rallye 1.6 HF tipo 818.540 variante 1016: 1969–1970. Works rally-spec Fanalone, produced in very limited numbers. The most powerful Fulvia with a 1,584 cc engine producing up to depending on tune. This was the version used by the works rally team until 1974 when it was superseded in competition by the Stratos HF. 45 mm bore Solex carburettors were used that were later replaced by 45 DCOE Webers. The cam cover had a special blue stripe over the yellow paint job (HF cars had just a yellow paint job).
Series II Coupé 1.3 S (Tipo 818.630/631): 1970–1973. Face-lifted body and new 5 speed gearbox with 1298 cc (818.303) engine producing at 6000 rpm. Larger Girling callipers and pads replaced the Dunlop system fitted to 1st series cars. Coupé 1.3 S Montecarlo: 1972–1973. Special edition based on the 1.3 S, commemorating Lancia's victory at the 1972 Monte Carlo Rally. The livery resembled the works car, with matte black bonnet and boot lid bearing Monte Carlo rally plate-style stickers. This version used his own bodyshell with flared wheel arches, similar to the 1.6 HF bodyshell. Other accoutrements included 1.6 HF Lusso interior fittings such as bucket seats with headrests, rectangular front fog lamps, no bumpers and black single wing mirror; 4.5J steel wheels of the standard Coupé were fitted. Coupé 1600 HF (Tipo 818.740/741): 1970. Face-lifted all steel body with 1,584 cc engine with Solex C42DDHF carb producing at 6,000 rpm. The bodywork was changed from the standard 1.3 Coupé to incorporate flared wheel arches (replacing the extensions used on 1st series HFs).
Coupé 1600 HF "Lusso" (Tipo 818.740/741): 1970–1973. As 1600 HF, but with extra trim, radio and fitted with bumpers. Mostly produced for export. Coupé 3 (Tipo 818.630/631): 1974–1976. Updated Coupé introduced in 1974, mechanically the same as the earlier Series 2 1.3 S except for the addition of emission control on the Solex carburettors. Other than for "Fulvia 3" badges, it is easily recognized by its matte black grilled and headlight frame. It featured a new design of seats incorporating headrests and new white-faced instrument dials with an updated range of trim colours, materials and options. Coupé 3 Montecarlo: 1974–1976. As the earlier Montecarlo, but with Coupé 3 accoutrements. Safari: 1974–1976. A limited edition based on the standard Coupé 3 with simplified trim and equipment, celebrating Fulvia's participation in the Safari Rally. It came without bumpers, with matte black exterior trim, seats upholstered in denim cloth and leatherette, exterior badges on the bonnet and on the boot lid and also a special numbered plaque on the dashboard.
Sport
The Fulvia Sport was a fastback two-seater based on Coupé mechanicals, built for Lancia by Zagato — where it had also been designed, by Ercole Spada. The Sport was commissioned by Lancia to Zagato as more aerodynamic and sportier version of the coupé, which could be used in road and track competitions.
Series I Three peculiarities of the Sport body were the engine bonnet, which was hinged to the right-hand side, the rear hatch, which could be lifted electrically by a handful of centimetres to aid cabin ventilation, and the spare wheel, which was housed in a separate compartment and accessed from a rotating panel which held the rear number plate. The tail lights were sourced from the NSU Prinz 4.
Sport (Tipo 818.132/133): 1965–1967. Introduced at the 1965 Turin Motor Show, the first Sport had an all-aluminium alloy bodyshell and used the coupé's 1.2-litre (1,216 cc) engine. Inside it reprised the wood-trimmed dashboard of the coupé, and featured two small bucket seats of Zagato's own design. Just 202 were made in total. Sport 1.3 (Tipo 818.332/333): 1966–1969. In 1966 Sport was upgraded to an 818.302 1,298 cc engine from the Rallye 1.3, producing at 6,000 rpm. Early versions still had all aluminium bodyshells (700 were produced with both 1,216 cc & 1,298 cc engines), but later ones were fitted with steel bodyshells with aluminium bonnet, doors, and spare wheel hatch. Whereas the first Sport was homologated as a two-seater, the car was now classified as a three-seater—or 2+1. The 1.3 can be distinguished from the 1.2 for its silver- instead of ivory-painted steel wheels, and the side mirror on the driver's side front wing. Sport 1.3 S (Tipo 818.362/363): 1968–1969. An updated Sport 1.3 with 1,298 cc (818.303) engine producing at 6,000 rpm. These Sports were normally fitted with brake servos. It is recognizable by its larger hubcaps, decorated with Lancia flag logos instead of being plain.
Series II