Lancia Fulvia Sport Zagato 1.6

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Launched in 1965, the Lancia Fulvia Coupe is one of those beautiful little cars that the Italians do so well. Chic and dainty from all angles, it also has a fabulously airy interior that is austerely yet elegantly trimmed.

More than just a pretty face, it also went extremely well with superb handling and an amazingly willing 1,298cc V4 engine that pumped out 92bhp. 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 to 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.

Even more exotic was the Fulvia Sport, Zagato's coachbuilt version of the coupe which had a more aerodynamic body that made it possibly the fastest 1.3-litre vehicle in the world with a top speed of 112mph. From 1969 a 1.6-litre Fulvia was also made available, aimed mainly at competition use, with between 115bhp and 132bhp on tap depending on the state of tune, with a top speed of 120mph. It also had a bespoke interior with distinctive sports seats and a minimalist rear bench seat.

Less wilfully eccentric than some of the famous carrozzeria's other creations, the Fulvia Sport became the best selling Zagato-bodied car ever, but of the 7,000 Fulvia Sports built by Zagato, a mere 800 had the 1.6-litre engine of which only 62 were in right-hand drive, making this a rare beast indeed.

As the original purchase invoice confirms, this 1600 Sport Zagato was bought new by Frank Baker in August 1972 from Jack Rose (Lancia and Volvo) Ltd of Wallington, Surrey, for the sum of £2,326.52 including a Blaupunkt Koln radio with electric aerial, seat belts, an alarm and 10 gallons of petrol. Baker was to keep the car right up until March 2008 when it was acquired by the vendor from Lancia specialist Richard Thorne of Reading, at which point it was described as: “One owner, 55,000 miles warranted. Invoices for back to bare shell restoration in 2003. Not quite concours but an outstanding useable example. One of only 62 made in RHD”.

Kept as part of a private collection ever since, it still shows only 55,627 miles on the clock and remains as good today as it did when purchased seven years ago. Originally Argento Nevada Metallic (silver with a blue bonnet stripe, as shown in a picture of OOY 51L in ‘100 Great Cars’ in the history file), it was repainted red during the restoration which is well documented by invoices and other photos on file (the restoration being carried out by Richard Shrive Cars of Bedfordshire in 2001, not 2003 as stated by Thorne). A good file of bills and hand-written notes document other maintenance over the years, including a thorough check-over by marque specialists Omicron in 2006 at 54,850 miles at a cost of over £2,500.

The car is supplied with the original owner’s handbook and book of approved Lancia service centres, along with a number of old MOTs, much technical literature relating to the model and two sets of keys. A set of four Cromadora alloy wheels are also available by separate negotiation if desired.

This matching numbers, low mileage, two-owner Italian exotic ticks all the right boxes and is surely a sound investment at the sensible guide price suggested. Find another one, let alone a better one...