1969 LANCIA FULVIA RALLYE 1.6 HF ‘FANALONE’

This Lancia Fulvia Rallye 1.6 HF is a wonderful classic coupe, presented in excellent condition, and boasting period competition provenance. It is a numbers-matching example, ready to campaign, show, or simply enjoy on the road. The engine is the characterful 1.6-litre Lancia V4, coupled to a close-ratio five-speed manual transmission. The odometer shows 72,507km (45,053 miles).

Known as the ‘Fanalone’ due to the appearance of the two large inner headlights, this version of the Fulvia Rallye included 13-inch alloy wheels, revised suspension geometry, and wheel arch extensions to enable fitment of wider tyres.

This particular Rallye 1.6 HF is a very early example - understood to be the 109th of 1,278 cars. Approximately the first 600 of these are understood to have been built to a more robust competition-focused specification, with hand-polished engine components manufactured to stricter tolerances. The car offered here also has the Works-specification features of high-lift camshafts, aluminium door handles, and a plexiglass rear screen and rear quarter lights.

Supplied to its first owner via a main dealer in Turin, this Fulvia is understood to have remained in their position for nine years until April 1978. It was subsequently sold to a 19-year-old by the name of Alessandro “Sandro” Nannini, who would later be driving for Benetton in Formula One, competing against Ayrton Senna, Alain Prost and Nigel Mansell - and placing sixth overall in the 1989 World Drivers’ Championship.

Nannini’s racing career began with rallying, going from a Citroen Dyane to a Lancia Stratos - and with this Fulvia Rallye 1.6 HF evidently as the link between the two. He teamed up with master engine builder and Lancia expert, Fabio Neri, who reworked the engine with higher compression in addition to its ‘Variante 1016’ high-lift camshafts, and fitted a Tipo 818.740 gearbox from a Series II 1.6 HF. Its suspension was lowered, a roll cage was installed, and quick-release bonnet and boot lid straps were fitted. The finishing touch is understood to have been Nannini’s own small-diameter Fusina race wheel, which it still wears today.

Nannini piloted this car in the 1978 Italian Rally Championship, alongside a Stratos which was also entered by the Neri F. Racing Team. Nannini and Neri accumulated over 10 first place finishes with these two cars, and photos of the competition exploits are in the car’s history file.

When Nannini moved from rallying onto Formula Italia the following year, the Fulvia was sold to another resident of Siena, and subsequently passed through a handful of other owners in Italy. It has competed in various national events throughout its life so far, including the Coppa Carotti, the Rally del Corallo, and the Coppa Liburna Storico. The car was imported to the UK by the seller in 2016 and, keeping up with its rally history, was taken back to Italy in 2017 to participate in the Via Flaminia Classic event.

Today, this Fulvia presents in superb cosmetic condition, having been treated to a repaint in 2019. Upon arrival in the UK, the car was also given a Dinitrol rust-proofing cavity treatment. The bodywork itself is straight and solid, with consistent panel gaps all round - and all four opening panels are aluminium, as they should be. Its Grigio Escoli finish is smooth and even across all the panels, and it retains charming period features such as the Vitaloni Sebring wing mirror. When it was repainted, the windscreen was replaced, and both front and rear window rubbers were renewed. All of the badges and body trims are in very good order, and the car is adorned with stickers highlighting some of its previous event entries. The satin black wheel arch extensions shroud the 13-inch alloys, which are in great shape.

In the cabin, the two correct Fanalone seats are in excellent condition, as are the original door panels, lightweight fittings, and the rear bench area. The dashboard is original, and has two small cracks in the outer skin near the air vents, as shown in the photo gallery, while there is also a tiny hole in the headlining. The sill carpeting and floor matting were replaced in 2017. The Fusina steering wheel, believed to be Nannini’s own, remains installed and exhibits a pleasing patina, ahead of the 10,000rpm marked tachometer.

An in-date fire extinguisher is secured on the passenger floor, and there is a battery cut-off switch in the glove box. At the back of the car, the boot area is straight and entirely rust-free, and houses the spare wheel and original Battaini jack and tool kit. The fuel tank was replaced around 10 years ago. There are no faults with any of the switchgear or gauges, other than a slightly erratic oil temperature readout.

Approximately 10 years ago, the car was delivered to Ezio Campoli of Campoli Classic Motorsport - widely regarded as one of the leading Fulvia specialists. He completely rebuilt the engine, maintaining the competition tune, but changing the ‘1016’ camshafts for Group 2 specification items. The result is a V4 that is believed to produce around 140bhp, with a good deal of extra low-down torque that makes it a joy to drive on the road. The well-balanced and free-revving engine races around to 7,000rpm with a fantastic throttle response.

The suspension, steering and brakes appear to have also been attended to in recent years, including the fitment of competition specification shock absorbers. All of the mechanicals are in very good order, and the seller states that the car “handles sublimely with super tight and direct steering”. Within the last four years, a new exhaust has been fitted, the brakes have been refurbished with a new master cylinder, the ignition and fuel systems have been overhauled, and a new electric fuel pump and regulator have been installed. The car has had annual lubrication services in the UK, and a set of 185/70HR13 Avon CR6ZZ tyres was fitted.

The most recent MOT test was on 30 November 2019 at 72,462km, when the car achieved a first-time pass with no advisories whatsoever - the same annual result it has always had since arriving in the UK, covering some 5,100km in that period.

Accompanying the car is a full PRA (Pubblico Registro Automobilistico) ownership report from its life in Italy, as well as the log book, brochure, and owner’s manual. The tool kit, jack, and original keys are also present, as well as many receipts and a Lancia Motor Club dating letter.

This Lancia Fulvia Rallye 1.6 HF ‘Fanalone’ is a numbers-matching example of a classic Italian sporting GT. Prepared for competition usage very early in its life, and raced by F1 driver Alessandro Nannini, this is a car with superb provenance and thrilling performance.

Many Fulvias have been modified as Fanalone ‘replicas’, but this is the real deal, and one which has lived its life as intended, completing numerous rallies and tour events over the years. Its uprated Campoli mechanicals and Works-specification features mean this is a unique Fulvia that is just as well-suited to a Sunday morning B-road blast as it is to a San Remo special stage.

All cars and motorbikes on Collecting Cars are run through an online HPI check. This vehicle shows no insurance database markers for damage or theft, and has no finance owing.

Car Overview

  • 72,507km (45,053 miles)
  • manual
  • LHD
  • Grigio Escoli Metallizzato
  • Black
  • 1.6L
  • VIN818.540#001109


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  • Lot #01033
  • private Sale
  • East Sussex, United Kingdom

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