Lancia Fulvia Berlina (1963 – 1972) Review

Like the Flavia, the all-new entry-level Lancia Fulvia was designed by Antonio Fessia, to replace the Lancia Appia. Also like the Flavia, it was front-wheel driven and powered by an all-new longitudinally-mounted narrow-angle V4 engine (so narrow, it had a single cylinder head) designed by Zaccone Mina. Revised styling with longer wheelbase - and squarer nose - arrived in 1970.

So, consequently, under its oh-so conservative skin, the Fulvia saloon was a true engineering tour de force - leagues ahead of pretty much all the opposition. Early cars featured four-wheel Dunlop disc brakes all round, but these were replaced by Girling items in the S2 models. All-synchomesh gearbox on all models. With its fully independent suspension (by wishbones and a single leaf spring at the front and a beam axle with a panhard rod and leaf springs at the rear) and all-round disc brakes, it might not have been conventional, but it drove brilliantly.