Author Topic: My 1970 Lancia Fulvia Rallye 1.3 S (Read 7590 times)

TT · « **Reply #140 on:** 21-Mar-2009, 20:33:49 »

So... lately I mostly talk about the Esprit, as it's the new little queen of the garage, but it has to be said I keep using them all as often as I can. And I'd like to spend a couple of words on the Fulvia, which, at the end of the day, still shine as the best all rounder I have. Tonight, after a full day with two Lotuses, I left the Esprit, 912 and 964 in Lugano to take the Fulvia home in Mendrisio (I can only keep one car and the Ducati there). I took the back roads route I know like the back of my hand instead of the highway and as always, I was amazed on how quick the little Lancia can be. And you should ask the regular loony that thinks it is fun to tail me on the straights if the Fulvia can't teach a lesson or two.
The way the 1.3 engine revs is pure sex, with that deep growl between 1500 and 2000 rpm, transforming into manic scream above 3000 and punching the car down the road, absolutely not ashamed by modern machinery. The tires are skinny, the brakes are old, the steering wheel a bit vague, but you can feel the chassis to well and you are so intimate with it that only a very dedicated driver can keep up on a those roads, honestly. It's probably because nobody expect such reaction, and I love to approach my fav twisty bit, leaving Lugano at a steady 50 kmh, even a bit slower... then the city ends and limitation goes to 80... you have an uphill 90° righthander followed by a short "pif-paf", snake like part with 3 open corners. On the crest you have another righthander, quick, and pretty blind, diving downhill on the other side, then another sneak of quick corners, narrow road and rocks on your right. After that, some short straights, still slightly downhill, with a couple of 3rd to 4th gear corners you can easily take at 80-100 kmh even in the Fulvia.
Well, I still have to find somebody able to stick to the Lancia's bumper on that bit of road. I love it while riding the Ducati, but it's too easy and not fair as 120 hp on a bike on a familiar road are devastatingly effective, but I have the best fun in the Lancia, always wondering if that stupid Golf tailing me 50 cm from my bumper all the time at the stoplights in town could at least cope in the uphill part...

Long story short? The Fulvia is a blast to drive, even for today's standards. Quick, poised, genuinely entertaining and sooo sexy!

On a side note, the same bit of road in the Esprit is a nightmare as asphalt is very rough and you just keep crossing your fingers for the body panels to stick on the car a minute longer...

DMF · « **Reply #141 on:** 21-Mar-2009, 22:33:06 »

Awesome. I've feel the same way about my E30 and MR2... over here nobody expects an E30 can still perform. I gave a E63 M6 and E36 M3 a run for their money on some back roads last summer.

On the other hand, the MR2's suspension is so stiff there are some roads on my way to and from work I just hope everything stays put!

danidmas · « **Reply #142 on:** 23-Mar-2009, 15:01:15 »

Great read Matteo... and I truly agree with you! This weekend I've attended a classic car meeting with the GT Turbo... and there was some sort of route around some backroads (mostly ex-WRC rallystages). I was chasing a rally-prep Seat 1430 and a Renault 5 Alpine Turbo, and you wouldn't believe how quick and nimble through the corners these cars are!

TT · « **Reply #143 on:** 13-Jan-2010, 21:52:13 »

2009 has come and gone, and the Fulvia is still my fav by far. I can't stress enough how good of a drive it is. It always is my first choice and as soon as I'll get my license back, my first drive for sure (Jan the 26th BTW).

In 2009 the Fulvia covered 5'083 km (3'160 miles) burning 'round 430 liters of super unlead, with an average consumption of 8.62 l/100 km (27.29 MPG).
The main cost was the insurance, as the car isn't registed as an historic vehicle yet (didn't pass the inspection at first in 2008 and was registered as a normal car). I also had to add some oil here and there, changed a light bulb, fixed the instruments panel that stopped working at times and refurbished the passenger sear (new stiching basically). Total costs, petrol aside were around 2'300 swiss francs (1'500 euros). That's a mere 0.58 swiss francs per km!

Nothing to add, apart from the fact this car is a BLAST!

chest3r · « **Reply #144 on:** 13-Jan-2010, 22:10:55 »

What happened with your license ?

Speeding ?

TT · « **Reply #145 on:** 14-Jan-2010, 07:11:57 »

Nope, a big accident back in 2006. The decision from the judge fell in 2009 and I got my license suspended for 6 months, from August till the end of January...

danidmas · « **Reply #146 on:** 18-Jan-2010, 16:20:48 »

The Fulvia would also be my fav ride I guess, such a nice car!

pzgren · « **Reply #147 on:** 20-Jan-2010, 16:55:06 »

Quote from: TT on 14-Jan-2010, 07:11:57

I got my license suspended for 6 months

holy sh!t, that's a very long penalty...

wackary · « **Reply #148 on:** 21-Jan-2010, 02:10:37 »

That Fulva would surely at least be my favorite to look at!

danidmas · « **Reply #149 on:** 07-Jul-2010, 12:53:56 »

ARMAN · « **Reply #150 on:** 07-Jul-2010, 13:06:56 »

lul

Phobo · « **Reply #151 on:** 07-Jul-2010, 18:32:44 »

prank from a disabled person or some kind of wedding prank?

TT · « **Reply #152 on:** 07-Jul-2010, 21:43:03 »

LOL, wedding prank sadly ;-)

spanky · « **Reply #153 on:** 10-Jul-2010, 12:51:28 »

Hehehehe thats a great prank... harmless but fun

lookin pretty spiffy in the suit matteo!!

also thought I'd show you a car a customer of ours had... had only work phone but thought i had to take a couple of pictures for matteo...

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TT · « **Reply #154 on:** 12-Aug-2010, 09:56:40 »

Nice one!! I suppose it is pretty damn rare down there!!

TT · « **Reply #155 on:** 19-Aug-2011, 16:45:14 »

Ok, so, short but big Fulvia related news:

I had the engine fully rebuilt, and the job was finally completed. It was done in Italy, and the engine just got back and is ready to be dropped into the car finally! Damn, last time I drove the lady was in november!!!! Can't wait to welcome it home again! Damn ready for the run-in period!

gucom · « **Reply #156 on:** 19-Aug-2011, 18:09:43 »

wow, nice! that's a long time no fulvia though

glad your wait will soon be over!

MIHALS · « **Reply #157 on:** 19-Aug-2011, 20:48:12 »

wow, you must feel the same just like the day you brought your Fulvia home for the first time

well done Matteo, Fulvia really deserved the threatment!

danidmas · « **Reply #158 on:** 23-Aug-2011, 00:49:24 »

That's great! I still remember when I drove that car back in... 2008? It was just for a little bit, 2km at most probably, but it was quite... interesting: the driving position, the engine noise, no seatbelts, etc. As far as I remember, isn't this the car you used to your wedding?!

TT · « **Reply #159 on:** 23-Aug-2011, 07:47:36 »

Yep dani, we used the Fulvia indeed, and if there is a classic I want to keep in the garage, that's the one (well, apart from a nice Miura and a Stratos...)

Engine being dropped in