1970 Lancia Fulvia Sport Zagato

From a different design language, the Lancia Fulvia is a front-drive compact from the 1960s that brought the storied Italian brand its first rally championship.

Consistently at the fore-front of innovative design, Lancia later commissioned Carrozzeria Zagato to produce a more aerodynamic, lighter and more powerful “engineering tour de force” version of the Fulvia that could be used in hillclimbs and track events- the awesome Fulvia Sport Zagato was born.

Far more technically advanced than its sibling the Fulvia Zagato Sport features a narrow-angle V4 motor canted to its side at 45 degrees lowering the center of gravity powering the front wheels via a 4-speed transaxle, ultra-light-weight aluminium body panels with ultra thin pillars, electric elevator to slightly open the rear hatch maximising cabin air-flow, light-weight open rear bench seat and premium interior trim like the beautiful indicator bezel, this model was one of Zagato´s biggest successes.

Lighter and nimbler than the standard-bodied cars, the Sport distinguished itself in competition, particularly in long distance events. Fulvia Sport Zagato’s scored highly in the Sebring 12 Hours and Daytona 24 Hours (where a Sport earned a class win in 1969).

Ex-works HF rally cars aside, the Sport Zagato is the most desirable and collectable of all the Fulvia’s and undeniably one of the most striking designs and drives of its golden era.

This exceptionally rare, right-hand drive and Australian delivered 1970 Lancia Fulvia Sport Zagato was sold new by W.H.Lowe Automobiles to Canterbury, Victoria as it presents today in Rosso San Siro over Cream trim, according to its accompanying original bill of sale.

Restored some years ago this limited edition, coach built sports classic benefits from a fresh carburettor tune and service making it ready to thread any mountain pass and/or weekend cars and coffee run. The drive is simply sensational, Harry Metcalfe said, “Lancia Fulvia Sport Zagato, the car that turned me into a petrolhead!”.

With zero modification from the original recipe and offered with an extensive history file including its original bill of sale and warranty certificate from W.H Lowe, factory service invoices dated from 1972 to 1984, and a host of works receipts methodically kept right through today, this exceptionally rare and well maintained sports classic is something very special indeed.

Before they were relegated to the foul indignity of re-badged Chryslers upon uninformed and gullible 21st century Europeans, Lancia was once among the greatest of all “Engineering-first” automobile manufacturers, this model in particular is one of their ever last and very best.

Owned by its original owner for 20 years and recently released from a private collection, this RHD Lancia Fulvia Zagato Sport is a driver’s car any petrol head cannot go to the grave not having experienced.

Oh, and it’s pronounced “Lan-cha”.