SOLD!!!!!!!!!!!! 

Year: 1967

Make: Lancia

Model: Fulvia Rally 1.3 HF

Orange County surprises us yet again with a truly unique piece of automotive history.

In 1963 Lancia introduced the Fulvia at the Geneva Motor Show. Designed by Antonio Fessia the Fulvia was intended as the replacement for the Lancia Appia.
The Fulvia was a front wheel drive car whereas the Appia was rear wheel driven.

The DOHC narrow angle V4 was designed by Zaccone Mina and positioned forward at a 45 degree angle. The earlier cars engines displaced 1091cc and were capable of about 70hp depending on configuration and compression ratios.
The HF model had a 1216cc engine that produced about 88hp.

The rally version of the Fulvia Coupe HF was introduced in 1966 and featured 1.2 and 1.3 liter engines. Engine sizes would eventually be increased to 1.6 liters; the cars only weighing in at about 900 Kilos.

In 1969 Fiat took over production of Lancia and in 1972, Lancia Fulvias took the world by storm, winning the International Rally Championship and in the process beating the likes of Porsche, Cooper, BMW and Alfa Romeo.

This car:

In 1967, Otto Zipper, of Alfa Romeo fame here in Southern California, imported only 4 of these Lancia factory rally cars. It is believed that only two of the original four still exist, but, that this car may indeed by the only survivor with the correct 1.3 liter engine. The car was sold to Briggs Cunningham and was part of the Cunningham collection for years. The car is now in the possession of only its third owner.

The car has covered only 39,670 miles since new; some 41 years ago. This little car runs great and is an absolute joy to drive. The exhaust snarl sounds rather like pouring milk on rice crispies…..snap, crackle, pop! It is just fantastic. The car received only one repaint to its correct color a few years ago. The interior, leather, dash, carpeting, door panels, etc are all in amazing original condition as is; all of the glass, chrome and bright-work.

Add all of that up and throw in the Briggs Cunningham connection of this fantastic factory built rally car and we have one very, very rare piece of automotive history living here in Orange County.

What’s next???
O.C.C.E

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What do tires have to do with how a car drives and handles? EVERYTHING!

Our everyday driver is a terrific BMW 335i sedan. We wrote a previous story about the car and how it was to drive on-track. Perhaps the most unimpressive part of the car was the Bridgestone run-flat tires. Note: was! Driven hard on a race track the tires just suck!  Sorry Bridgestone guys-they do!

The terrific guys at Nitto were kind enough to provide us with a set their tires. WHAT A DIFFERENCE! The difference was noticeable as soon as we left the tire shop. The ride quality of the car was instantly better, but, it wasn’t until we had the opportunity to track the car again that the difference was truly revealed.

The level of grip that these tires from Nitto provide is light years beyond what the car came with as standard issue. What became an ice skating ring with the ol’ Bridgestone’s, once tire temps came up, was now confidence inspiring and predictable. The car was “transformed” to what it should have been when it left the dealership.

A few weeks ago we also had the chance to race on Nitto’s, for the first time at the NASA six hour endurance race at Button willow Raceway. Running on a bit of a budget (hell, we had no money at all) we had only one set of tires to last the weekend. Rich Elliot decided to leave the tires at full tread depth, rather than having them shaved, in hopes of getting more life out of them. So, for Friday’s practice, Saturday’s warm-up, qualifying and the race itself, we had but one set of rubber.

The tires were awesome! About one half hour after the start, the tires started to go away, it was hot out there, but they came back and were fantastic for the balance of the race. Unfortunately we lost a cylinder head gasket about 3 hours in, running 8^th overall, in a car that should never have been that competitive. We heard that it may have had something to do with the driver J and the tires!

We had always raced on Toyo’s and were convinced that they were the tire for the job. Nitto, a sister company to Toyo, does however manufacture a very competent tire indeed. Needless to say, we were impressed with the performance level of the tires and would strongly recommend their use to anyone.

OK, so we understand the safety aspect of run-flat tires and yes; on the street they are far more than adequate. If however, you plan on taking your car to a real race track and drive it to its absolute limits (the ONLY place one should) stop and get a set of Nitto’s first; you’ll be glad you did.

Most importantly we want to thank Nitto for providing us with these great tires; we love ‘em! Thanks guys!

O.C.C.E

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Follow up-

Tony and the Eagle competed in the cars first return race at Sears point raceway. Tony finished on the podium in third place. Remarkably, the same position that Tony and the Eagle finished in their first outing nearly 40 years ago at Riverside international Raceway!

If history does indeed repeat itself, Tony and the Eagle will win their next race at Road America, Elkhart Lake Wisconsin; in July.

Good on ya lads!

O.C.C.E.

photos provided by : DC

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