I seem to have a thing for wretched condition Italian coupes that have lost their headlights because this is the second that I have covered in as many days, the other being a 1965 Alfa-Romeo 2600 Sprint. Lancia is a marque with a history but today, it’s barely visible and that makes me wonder what overlord Stellantis has in mind for this disappearing brand – their website doesn’t even seem current. But instead of getting ahead of ourselves, let’s see what Lancia was up to in 1967 when this Fulvia was constructed. It’s located in Ono, Pennsylvania and is available, here on eBay for a BIN price of $3,200, there is a make an offer option too.
Lancia’s Fulvia was offered between 1963 and 1976 and assembled in one of two different two-door hardtops, a fastback and a coupe (such as our subject car), and a four-door sedan. Specifically, this Lancia is a model “Rallye 1.3” which is a performance-oriented variant. It’s hard to discern from the listing images but the Fulvia coupe was a sprightly looking, cleanly designed sports tourer with typical Italian flair.
The listing claims, “Will need rust repair to floors. Body can be saved but needs the front half of the floor replaced” Looking at the images closely, it appears that it’s going to need a lot more than just floor repair work. The rust-through is extensive, the quarters have been repaired with welded patches but the rot still persists and is beyond body panel damage, there is plenty of rocker panel and inner fender damage too. There’s also no hood, doors, or trunk lid. As to all of the missing components, like the previously mentioned headlights, there’s no word as to their whereabouts.
The 86 HP, 1.3-liter, in-line 12 degree (single cylinder head) V4 four-cylinder engine has been pretty well stripped and there is a pile-o-parts that are included with the short block assembly that, according to the seller, will not turn over. The gearbox is a four-speed manual transaxle as this Fulvia is front-wheel drive. The seller mentions that the suspension has been “cobbled together” to make it roll.
The interior is mostly gutted and the damage to the floor is plainly evident. The seller adds that the underside suspension attaching points are sound but there’s a lot of visual degradation revealed in the accompanying images – you have to wonder…The seats, instruments, other dash components, etc are gone and one can see where the inner rocker boxes are decomposing. There’s little here with which to work.
It is suggested that “This car has a lot of potential but it will be a major restoration project“. True that! At least the major restoration part; as for the potential, that realization may be a hill too high to climb. The missing body components and seized engine seem like a major show-stopper, wouldn’t you agree?
Sorry to see this one in its current sad state. Unfortunately there isn’t enough meat on the bone to make this car worthwhile. Still has a little meat left for spare parts but that’s about it. You can buy a nice one for a lot less than it would be to restore this even if it was given to you.
I’m thinking about making an offer, how much can I flip the clock for?
An ugly car in more ways than one. Not the greatest design to come out of the box and made worse by the rust enhancements.
Agree to disagree. Good-looking cars and a joy to drive. This one is a sad fright pig.
That’s not a inline 4, it’s a narrow angle V4.
You’re right, the single-cylinder head and in-line ports threw me.
JO
The 1924 V4 Lancia Lamda used the same style of cylinder head except the block was vertical. There was also a V8 Di-Lamda, the same style but twice the block length. Much later came the VW & Audi copy.
The Lamda is said to be the first production car with modern front independent front suspension. As the story goes, Mr Lancia was out one day driving with his mother and the front suspension broke (I presume the car was the normal solid front end and the main spring in the leaf spring pack broke). He went back to the factory and lined up all his engineers and technical staff and said, design a suspension where the front wheel can’t fall of – by tomorrow morning! That apparently is how front independent suspension was born.
Lambda.
Will need lots-o-luck and lots-o-cash. . .sad state
Rear-wheel drive, too.
Nope, that’s a front wheel drive car.
Just a little time & money,& it can look like this one I saw in Salem,Virginia.
Not a bad looking car at all (the Red one).
Really good ones struggle to make $20000 on BaT despite guaranteed love lines from BaT Lancisti faithful. There’s a nice one on offer as we speak.
This may tempt someone for spares but will never see the road again. Parts are expensive and less well supplied compared with Alfa equivalents.
History has taught us two things: 1. Never get in a land war in Asia. 2. Never buy a car held up by jacks. Our fishing club could use it for an artificial reef.
This was already someone’s parts car and they took all the good stuff (alloy doors and lids). Not much left of any value!
The price was reduced to $2700.
Don’t get greedy. Just post it as no reserve and be glad someone hauls it away.
One Direction car – straight back to ralley (2 much $ to ‘restore’) or ‘no more” (parts, other racing).
Love to grab the motor for something, just to play (optimize) with.
Never hada Tannus (60*) either. I guess you’d need 3 or 4 to go thru machining, set up different asperation, what I call “play”…
Also like a Autobianchi Bianchina Furgoncino van, low roof; Thamse 300E; or Japanese equlivelanr to test with. All seems a lill too rare around here for more than dream material
Ended: Mar 28, 2022 , 12:26PM
Price: US $2,700.00
Relisted
https://www.ebay.com/itm/224920912391?ViewItem=&item=224920912391&vxp=mtr