Lancia Fulvia 1.3S

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First shown in Berlina saloon form at the 1963 Geneva Motor Show, the Lancia Fulvia is one of those beautiful little cars that the Italians do so well. The gorgeous Coupe version was launched in 1965 – dainty and chic, it also had a fabulously airy interior.

It also went well with superb handling and an amazingly willing 1,298cc V4 engine that pumped out 80 - 100bhp depending on the state of tune. No wonder it did so well in competition – right from the start it became the car to beat in everything from rallying to circuit racing, hillclimbs to sprints. Works Fulvias were used for ten seasons between 1965 and 1974, racking up countless wins in events as diverse as the Daytona 24 Hours, the Safari Rally and the Targa Florio. Production finally came to an end in 1976.

This particular car dates from 1971 and is the 90bhp 1.3S Series 2 model with a five-speed gearbox and improved brakes. It spent its early life in Italy, coming to the UK in 1996 where it was owned by an Italian living in London from whom our vendor acquired it in 1997. Various bills show subsequent upkeep including a bottom end rebuild with new big end and main bearings in 1998 since when the car has covered less than 4,000kms (2,500 miles), mainly running around London.

When our vendor relocated to Wales about a dozen years ago, she brought the Fulvia with her, entrusting it to a local restoration company for a thorough refurbishment and a repaint which reputedly cost well over £5,000 although, at the time of cataloguing, the bills for this could not readily be located. The car was then put into an outbuilding and has been unused since, the last MOT having expired in 2008. About three years ago the Fulvia was moved from its dry storage and left outside in the elements, an unfortunate turn of events which means that it is now in need of attention once again.

In good running order when parked up 10 years ago, it is being offered here at a very modest guide price which leaves plenty of scope for the remedial works now required.

PS: The history file for the Fulvia has now arrived. It shows that £5,320 was spent in 2007 mainly on bodywork repairs and a repaint with invoices and photos. In 2003 another £2,128 was spent including a full brake overhaul.