Comments? What do I need to look out for? Parts availability? Fun-to-drive quotient? Image Unavailable, Please Login
While I have not driven one, every article or review puts the fun-to-drive off the scale as being one of the best driving fun cars ever. These 'pure' Lancias are really quite nice pieces.
The worst seats in the world, while the car sticks to the road you slide about the interior. To make matters worse it has the typical Italian driving position, being built for someone with long arms and short legs, the combination of which makes it very hard to hang on and brace yourself. There is also a lot of torque steer so the wheel tends to fight back. That said it can be a blast to drive. Are there any left? The rust proofing of the day was horrible.
I recently sold my 1.3s and replaced it with the Zagato Alfa in my profile. I had the Fulvia for about 6 or 7years. Never any mechanical problems. New oil pressure sender, new exhaust, otherwise great. Rust is the main problem, like all cars of the 60's and 70's. Some trim parts are hard to come by now. Here in europe Beilstein in germany or Omicron in the UK were the best sorce for parts. The V4 engines are works of art and rev like crazy. To drive they are a blast, even the little 1.3. You really have to wind the engine up, not much happens below 3500rpm. I never had a problem with the driving position and I don't think I'm a funny shape either but as Kram said the seats aren't the most supporting. Very comfortable though. I dDrove the car lots, and long distances aswell, from Bologna to St Gallen in Switzerland after only having driven it around the block once, didn't miss a beat. Lots of wind noise, otherwise 140kph on the autobahn was no problem. I try and post a picture or two. Good luck with the search, there are actually more good ones out there than you think, especially in europe.
Torque steer? I don't recall that at all, but it has been many years since I owned my Fulvia Sedan and Fulvia Coupe. The transaxle is centered, so the drive shafts are of equal length and very substantial in construction. I think I posted some thoughts on Fulvia ownership in an earlier thread, which should be in the archives. My sedan was a 1.1 liter, very slow, but very roomy, great visibility, etc. My coupe was a 1.3 liter, much peppier, great fun to drive, but quite "tinny".
Thanks for the feedback. The car in question is a former California car now residing on the east coast, so rust isn't an issue. As for being rev happy, my last "toy" car was a 64 Honda S600 roadster, which had a 9500 rpm redline, and didn't come alive until 6 or 7k. Sold that car a few months back to Jay Leno. I'm looking forward to learning aboout the Lancia. Don't see too many of them around, even out here in So Cal.
Just thought I'd post some pictures of my old Fulvia. Pretty cars. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
