1970 Lancia Fulvia HF Fanalone Is an Italian Racing Legend
Performance
Motorsports
Classics
European
The original Lancia Fulvia was unveiled as an unassuming four-door sedan at the 1963 Geneva Motor Show. But by 1967, the model was transformed when the Fulvia coupe made its debut. Road & Track described it as “a precision motorcar, an engineering tour de force.” Only 1,258 of the rally-tuned Fanalone models were produced between 1968-1970—with about a dozen of them earmarked for racing. The 1970 Fulvia HF Fanalone which sold on eBay Motors is the exact car that won the 1973 European Rally Championship.
Harry Kallstrom racing in the Lancia Fulvia, from the January 1971 edition of MotorSport magazine.
The HF Fanalone is powered by a performance-tuned version of the Fulvia’s 1.6-liter V4, dual overhead cam engine. That’s right—this little power plant is in a V configuration with two cylinders per side, rather than the inline bank of cylinders you might expect with a four-cylinder motor. It generates more than 150 horsepower with the help of a pair of Dell'Orto carburetors - opens in new window or tab..
That might not sound like a lot of power in today’s high-horsepower world. Yet, considering that the Fulvia weighed a mere 1,800 pounds in race trim—due to the extensive use of aluminum bodywork and the absence of any non-essential components—it provided enough grunt to make this coupe a formidable competitor at rally events like the Monte Carlo World Rally Championship with racing driver Harry Kallstrom at the helm.
Fanalone, which means “big lamps” in Italian, were models built for dynamic performance. Along with the more powerful motor and the pair of larger inner headlights up front, the Fulvia’s suspension geometry was altered for more negative camber to bolster the car’s handling characteristics. A close-ratio five-speed manual gearbox is also part of the Fanalone formula, as are wheel arch extensions - opens in new window or tab. and light weight 13-inch wheels.
The seller reports that this Fulvia HF Fanalone received an extensive restoration, yet remains original right down to the powertrain, which was also rebuilt. According to the seller, it’s ready to head back out on the track for vintage racing events.
Many vintage performance car owners are quick to tout their vehicle’s unique racing lineage. But few vehicles are available with the long list of major events they’ve participated in—and won. Not only does this Fulvia sport the inherent desirability of a rare vintage Lancia HF, it also has a documented history of racing success. For lovers of Italian motorsport heritage, it doesn’t get better than this.
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