Lancia Fulvia S2 1.6 HF Lusso

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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, all-round disc brakes 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 1.6 HF, launched in 1969, which had lightweight aluminium doors, bonnet and boot, plexiglass side windows, revised suspension, a close-ratio 5-speed gearbox, special sports seats with a minimalist rear bench and a distinctive yellow-painted cam cover. Aimed mainly at competition use with between 115bhp and 132bhp on tap depending on the state of tune (works ‘Fanalone’ versions produced up to 158bhp), it weighed just 825kg with a top speed of 120mph.

A road-going ‘Lusso’ (‘Luxury’) version was also available (Tipo 818.740/741) with extra equipment such as stainless steel bumpers, flared arches and the same Campagnolo alloy wheels as the competition HF. The interior was also less spartan with an attractive wooden dash, radio, improved switchgear and heating/ventilation controls. Production ceased in 1973 after just 3,690 Lussos had been built of which perhaps only around 400 were in RHD making this a rare beast indeed.

First registered in May 1973, this stunning HF Lusso was treated to a major restoration at renowned Lancia specialists Omicron of Norfolk between 2001 and 2003 at a cost of around £30,000 with many bills and photographs on file documenting the extent of the work carried out. The gearbox was also rebuilt by Omicron in 2004, the car having covered around 6,000 miles since.

Other bills document maintenance and improvement right back to the mid-1980s. More recently the carburettors have been rebuilt by specialists Gower & Lee of Watford. The engine had previously been rebuilt by Fulvia guru Peter Gerrish in 1988 and has now done some 12,000 miles, as documented by a long run of old MOTs going back to 1983.

Needless to say the car is now in fine order throughout and is said to drive as well as it looks with an MOT until October 2016. The body is all steel, as per factory spec, apart from the bonnet which is lightweight GRP. An original owner's handbook is also included.

An ideal fast road car that is also eligible for many historic events, this rare and beautiful RHD HF Lusso looks seriously good value at the guide price suggested, this being a model that is widely tipped for future greatness. Another one to buy now before the whole world cottons on to just how brilliant these little sportscars are…