Lancia

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Lancia Ardea

The Ardea was introduced in 1939 as a new 'luxury' utility model, following the style of the bigger Aprilia. The external design was very similar to its bigger brother, as was the V4 concept for the engine, whilst the technical solutions were rather simpler, especially the rear suspension and the lack of an openable boot for luggage. Conflict halted production, which was restarted in 1945. Second series cars introduced a 12V (rather than the 6V of the earlier model) electrical system, whilst the third series, produced from 1948, used a five-speed gearbox. The fourth series saw the use of aluminium alloy for the cylinder head and an increase in power to 30bhp.
Despite the lack of a commercially available chassis for the coachbuilders (one was developed but never put into production) a few variants of the Ardea were built by Zagato and Pinin Farina amongst others.
The Ardea was also built in commercial variants, a taxi, a small truck (camioncino) and a van (furgoncino). Manufacture continued up until 1953 when it was replaced by the Appia. A total of around 22,000 vehicles were produced.
Technical Details
Driveline-longitudinal engine at front with rear wheel drive
Engine-903cc (65x68mm) sohc 20° V4 with 28,8bhp @ 4,600rpm (later 30bhp)
Suspension-front : Sliding pillar rear : live axle with leaf springs wheelbase : 2440mm (Taxi : 2950mm)(Furgoncino & Camioncino : 2500mm) front track : 1162mm (Taxi, Furgoncino & Camioncino : 1286mm) rear track : 1180mm (Taxi : 1280mm)(Furgoncino & Camioncino : 1320mm)
Brakes-hydraulically operated drums on all four wheels
Gearbox-4 speed manual (later 5 speed)
Steering-Worm and sector
Kerb weight-series I : 780kg
Identification
The berlina's were all Tipo 250, the Taxi was Tipo 450, the Furgoncino Tipo 550 and the Camioncino Tipo 650. The chassis intended to be made available to the carrozzeria was the Tipo 350.

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Lancia Appia

The replacement for the Ardea, the Appia was launched in 1953. A four door (pillarless) design with a new V4 (approx 10deg) engine of 1090cc and producing 38bhp, the Appia retained the standard Lancia sliding pillar suspension at the front and had a live axle with leaf springs and telescopic dampers at the rear.
In 1956 the second series was introduced. This had a noticeably different external style, with a more pronounced boot and more vertical rear window. The wheelbase was also extended by 30mm and the power was increased to 43bhp. Inside, the individual front seats were replaced by a single bench seat.
The third series was released in 1959 and again incorporated a different exterior, this time focussing around a new front end. The traditional shield shaped grille had gone and was replaced by a new horizontal grille and lower bonnet line. The engine also increased in power again, up to 48bhp.
Three other variants were also produced by Lancia, the furgoncino, a small van, the camioncino, a pick-up truck and the autolettiga, an ambulance.
Several coupés were built by Zagato on the basis of the Appia. The first was a one-off shown at the 1956 Turin Motorshow (and known as 'the camel') which also competed in the Mille Miglia the following year. Production models using the standard wheelbase were the GTZ (from 1957 with 53bhp) and the GTE (from 1958 with 60bhp) whilst the 'Sport' had a shorter wheelbase (2350mm, from 1961 with 60bhp). All three cars had different bodystyles and were built in small numbers (a few dozen GTZ's, 521 GTE's and 200 'Sport's).
Other variants of the Appia included a coupe by Pininfarina, a convertible by Vignale and a giardinetta (or estate) by Viotti.
Production of the Appia ceased in 1963.
Technical Details
Driveline-longitudinal V4 engine at the front with rear wheel drive
Suspension-front : Sliding pillar rear : live axle with leaf springs and telescopic dampers wheelbase : 2480mm (srsI); 2510mm (srs II and III) front track : 1178mm (srs I and II); 1180mm (srs III) rear track : 1182mm (all)
Brakes-hydraulic on all four wheels handbrake operating on the rear
Gearbox-4 speed manual
Steering-Worm and sector
Kerb weight-series I : 820kg series II : 900kg series III : 920kg

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Lancia Flaminia

To replace the Aurelia, Lancia developed the Flaminia, first shown as a prototype at the 1956 Turin Motorshow. The production car emerged the following year at the Geneva Show. The basic chassis was an evolution of the Aurelia unit, shortened by some 80mm, coupled with an all new engine, still a 60? V6 but now displacing 2458cc and producing 102bhp. Pininfarina were contracted for the styling, which was to follow their earlier concept cars, the Floride series, also based on an Aurelia chassis. Significant differences from the previous model included the front suspension which adopted unequal length wishbones with coil springs whilst a de Dion setup was used at the rear. As on the Aurelia, the clutch and gearbox were situated at the rear whilst the former car's drum brakes were substituted by discs after the first 500 Flaminias had left the production line.
In 1961 the engine gained 8bhp thanks to a different carburettor, but sales were poor, a situation which continued to deteriorate, despite the arrival of an increased capacity engine in 1962. This was a 2775cc unit which produced 125bhp, a figure still relatively modest given the weight of the car, a generous 1490kg. Production continued until 1970, but only 599 of the bigger engined cars were sold by then. A total of around 3349 smaller engined saloons were built, production ceasing in 1963.
Four principle variants were built, coupés by Pininfarina, Touring and Zagato and an open-topped version by Touring.
Pininfarina produced the Coupe with a wheelbase shortened by 120mm and an engine producing 119bhp. This was a two-door four-seater with styling heavily based on that of the Floride II.
Carrozzeria Touring produced the GT with a wheelbase shortened by 350mm (from that of the berlina) and the same 119bhp engine as the Coupé. This was strictly a two seater and utilised much aluminium in the bodywork to reduce the weight.
Zagato produced the Sport, released in 1958, another two seater with an all aluminium body and the 119bhp engine.
Pininfarina also produced four Presidenziale cars in 1960 for use by the Italian government during state visits. These has a wheelbase stretched by 480mm.
Carrozzeria Touring also produced the Convertibile which was a GT without the roof, a hard top being optional.
When the 110bhp engine was released in 1961, a version for the Police was developed using triple carburettors which generated 140bhp. This engine then became available in the GT, Convertible and Sport models.
The Coupe also received a boost in 1962 when it gained a single triple-barrel carburettor which gave it 128bhp. That year also saw the addition to the Touring products of the GTL, a 2+2 version of the GT with a 80mm longer wheelbase.
The revised 2.8-litre engine was also tuned for use in the various variants, giving 136bhp in the Coupé and 150bhp in the Sport, Convertibile, GT and GTL.
1964 saw the cessation of production of the Convertible and Sport, the latter being replaced by the Super Sport 2.8 3C which, with its 152bhp engine, continued in production until 1967, as did the Coupe. In the meantime the GT and GTL ceased being built in 1965.
Approximate production figures are :
Berlina : 2,5-litre : 3349 ; 2.8-litre : 599
Coupé : 5284
GT & GTL : 2016
Sport & Super Sport : 599
Convertibile : 847
Technical Details
Driveline-longitudinal engine at front with rear wheel drive transmission mounted at rear
Engines-2458cc (80x81.5mm) 60° V6 ohv with 102-140bhp depending on variant (see above) 2775cc (85x81.5mm) 60° V6 ohv with 129-152bhp depending on variant (see above)
Suspension-front : double wishbone with coil springs and telescopic dampers plus anti-roll bar rear : independent with semi-trailing links, coil springs and telescopic dampers (early cars) rear : de Dion with leaf springs and telescopic dampers wheelbase : 2870mm (Berlina); 2750mm (Coupe); 2520mm (GT, Sport & Convertible); 2600mm (GTL) front track : 1368mm rear track : 1370mm
Brakes-discs on all four wheels (drums on all four wheels on first 500 cars) handbrake operating on the rear
Gearbox-4 speed manual Semiautomatic 'Saxomat' unit available in some models
Steering-Worm and sector
Kerb weight-1430kg (early 2.5 berlina); 1560kg (2.8 berlina) 1490kg (early 2.5 coupe); 1320kg (early GT); 1370kg (early convertible); 1260kg (early sport)

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Lancia Flavia and 2000

At the Turin motorshow in November 1960 Lancia showed a new car, the Flavia. With a 1500cc four cylinder horizontally opposed engine (78bhp) driving the front wheels it was a departure from the norm for Lancia. The front suspension consisted of unequal length wishbones and a transverse leaf spring whilst at the rear there was a dead axle located by a Panhard rod, leaf springs and telescopic dampers as well as an anti-roll bar. The brakes were discs all round and a four speed transmission with a column mounted shift was standard.
In 1962 the Coupe, a 2+2 designed and built by Pininfarina and fitted with a 1500cc engine developing 90bhp, was introduced, built on a wheelbase shortened by 170mm and fitted with a floor mounted gearshift. Also in that year Vignale introduced the Convertible, this being a four seater with the same 90bhp engine as the Coupe. Zagato also contributed the Sport, a 2+2 coupe design with an all aluminium body and improved aerodynamics giving it the best performance.
1963 saw the introduction of an 1800cc variant of the same engine. This produced 92bhp in all versions except the Sport where in had 100bhp, soon upped to 105bhp by changing from Solex to Weber carburettors. The saloon was offered with both 1500 (from 1963 actually a 1488cc unit with 80bhp) and 1800 engines whereas the other variants were only available with the 1800. Kugelfischer mechanical injection became on option in 1965 on all the 1800 engines, giving them an extra 10bhp.
In 1967 production of the Sport and Convertible stopped, and a new, redesigned berlina was introduced. This still used the same 1800 and a modified 1500, still 1488cc but with only 76bhp although with better driveability. An LX version also offered power assisted steering.
The Coupe was restyled in 1969, with new front and rear styling, and in that same year the engines were also revised. The 1488cc was increased to 1490cc, the 1800 up to 1816cc and a new 1991cc engine was introduced with 114bhp, or 126bhp with the optional fuel injection. The following year saw some revisions to the 2 litre cars with an improved braking system and power assisted steering as standard.
At the beginning of 1971 the berlina was restyled and relaunched as the 2000 at Venezia. Despite being an evolution of the preceding model, it was visually noticeably different with a completely new front end design where the vertical shield shaped grille was reintroduced. At the Geneva Motorshow of the following year the 2000 IE was introduced, which was fitted with electronic fuel injection (and 125bhp) and a five speed gearbox. The Coupe also became the 2000 Coupe in 1971 and later also gained a Bosch Jetronic fuel injection system to become the 2000 Coupe HF. Thus latter also had a five speed gearbox and alloy wheels as standard.
Production ceased in 1974 after 14,319 examples of the 2000 had been built. Very small numbers of a limousine variant of the Flavia were also built, as was a prototype estate.In 1967 Zagato made a Flavia Coupe prototype.

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Technical Details

Engines-1500cc (82x71mm) horizontally-opposed 4 cylinder with 78bhp @ 5200rpm - other variant with 90bhp @ 5800rpm 1488cc (80x74mm) horizontally-opposed 4 cylinder with 80bhp @ 5600rpm 1490cc (77x80mm) horizontally-opposed 4 cylinder with 80bhp @ 5600rpm 1800cc (88x74mm) horizontally-opposed 4 cylinder with 92bhp @ 5200rpm - other variant with 102bhp @ 5200rpm (injection) - other variant with 100bhp @ 5800rpm - other variant with 105bhp @ 5600rpm 1816cc (85x80mm) horizontally-opposed 4 cylinder with 92bhp @ 5200rpm 1991cc (89x80mm) horizontally-opposed 4 cylinder with 114bhp @ 5400rpm - other variant with 115bhp @ 5800rpm - other variant with 126bhp @ 5600rpm (injection) - other variant with 125bhp @ 5800rpm (injection)
Suspension-front : double wishbone with transverse leaf spring and telescopic dampers plus anti-roll bar rear : independent with semi-trailing links, coil springs and telescopic dampers (early cars) rear : dead axle with leaf springs and telescopic dampers plus anti-roll bar wheelbase : 2650mm (berlina); 2480mm (coupe) front track : 1300mm (early cars up to 1971); 1332mm (late cars after 1971) rear track : 1280mm (early cars); 1288mm (late cars)
Brakes-discs on all four wheels vacuum assisted, split hydraulic circuit handbrake operating on the rear
Gearbox-4 speed manual 5 speed manual
Steering-Worm and sector ZF power assistance standard or optional on various later cars
Kerb weight-1190kg (early 1500 berlina); 1160kg (early 1500 coupe) 1235kg (2000 berlina); 1245kg (2000IE berlina); 1200kg (late 2000 coupe)
Performance
Flavia 1.8 (1964)-160 km/h 17.3 sec 37.85 sec 59 m
Flavia 1.8 Coupé(1964)-173 km/h 14.7 sec 35.45 sec 66 m

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Lancia Fulvia

Introduced at the Geneva Motorshow in 1963, the Fulvia was designed to replace the Appia. Developed from the bigger Flavia, the Fulvia used the same suspension, engine and differential layout and braking system on a shorter wheelbase, although still with the same track as the Flavia. An all new 13? V4 engine was developed, displacing 1091cc and producing 59bhp. The engine, which used a cast iron cylinder block, was tilted at 45? to aid packaging. The drivetrain was mounted on a subframe to which was also attached the front suspension and steering.
Late the following year the first improvement arrived in the shape of twin carburettors and 71bhp in the Fulvia 2C.
Geneva in March 1965 saw a much more significant addition - the coupé. Designed in-house at Lancia on a wheelbase some 150mm shorter than the berlina, with a drag coefficient of 0.39, it used a 1216cc engine with 80bhp. January the following year saw the coupé HF arrive now with 88bhp and a lighter shell thanks to aluminium doors, bonnet and bootlid.
1967 saw further improvements and additions to the range. The berlina GT arrived with the 1216cc engine and the coupé got a new engine, with a different vee angle, displacing 1298cc and generating 87bhp. The latter model was known as the Rallye 1.3, whilst the same engine went into the 1.3HF where it produced 101bhp, replacing the 1.2HF. Later that year the 1216cc engine was replaced throughout the range by a 1231cc variant of the new 1298cc engine.
Developments continued in 1968 when the berlina GTE with the 1298cc engine was introduced and produced alongside the already existing 2C and GT. The Rallye 1.3S got 93bhp, later reduced to 90bhp, whilst the most potent Fulvia ever built, the coupé Rallye 1.6HF was released with a 1584cc 11? V4 engine producing 115bhp. An option was also available with 132bhp.
Going back to 1965, Zagato introduced their version, the Sport. This used a coupé floorpan and mechanicals with an all new all aluminium body, the 1216cc engine with 80bhp and a mix of coupé (dashboard) and new (seats) interior. The mechanicals changed in line with the coupé, 1967 saw the 1298cc (87bhp) engine arrive in the Sport 1.3, the 93bhp engine then arrived in the Sport 1.3S (and was later derated to 90bhp as in the coupé) and then the 1584cc (115bhp) engine arrived in the Sport 1600. After only a few hundred Sport 1.3's had been built the bodyshell switched to steel, only the doors and bonnet remaining in aluminium, and these later (in 1971) switched to steel as well. Production finished in 1972 after about 7,100 cars had been built.
The second series Fulvia was released in 1969 and replaced all the berlina models. It was mechanically the same as the GTE model, but with a wheelbase 20mm longer, modified external styling and a much improved interior. It was followd in 1970 by the series II coupé which gained a five speed gearbox and a few detail design changes. The 1300 and 1600 engines continued.
1973 saw the arrival of the coupé 3, which was only available with the 1298cc engine and which continued until production ceased in 1976.

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Technical Details

Driveline-longitudinal V4 engine at front with front wheel drive
Engines-818.000 : 1091cc (72x67mm) 12.9° V4 with 59bhp @ 5,800rpm also : 818.100 with 71bhp @ 6,000rpm 818.130 : 1216cc (76x67mm) 12.9° V4 with 80bhp @ 6,000rpm also : 818.140 with 88bhp @ 6,000rpm 818.202 : 1231cc (75x69.7mm) 12.8° V4 with 80bhp @ 6,000rpm 818.282 : 1199cc (74x69.7mm) 12.8° V4 with 79bhp @ 6,000rpm 818.302 : 1298cc (77x69.7mm) 12.8° V4 with 87bhp @ 6,000rpm also : 818.303 with 90bhp @ 6,000rpm and 818.340 with 101bhp @ 6,400rpm 818.540 : 1584cc (82x75mm) 11.3° V4 with 115bhp @ 6,200rpm (132bhp @ 6,600rpm available)
Suspension-front : double wishbone with transverse leaf spring and telescopic dampers plus anti-roll bar rear : dead axle with leaf springs and telescopic dampers wheelbase : 2480mm (berlina srs I); 2500mm (berlina srs II); 2330mm (coupé & Sport) front track : 1300mm (berlina srs I); 1390mm (coupé Rallye 1.6HF) rear track : 1280mm (berlina srs I);1335mm (coupé Rallye 1.6HF)
Brakes-discs on all four wheels (two piston or four piston units at the front) split hydraulic circuit (except early cars) servo assistance on some models handbrake operating on the rear (early cars with separate callipers on disc, later cars with integral drum)
Gearbox-4 speed manual 5 speed manual
Steering-Worm and sector
Kerb weight-1030kg (early berlina); 1060kg (late berlina) 960kg (coupé) 915kg (early Sport); 960kg (late Sport)

Performance
Fulvia (1963) 141 km/h 27.8 sec 43.59 sec 60.0 m
Fulvia 2C (1965) 148 km/h 16.9 sec 38.0 sec 51.5 m
Fulvia Coupé (1966) 160 km/h 14.0 sec 35.65 sec 58 m

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Lancia Beta

The Lancia Beta was the first car developed by Lancia after it's purchase by FIAT in 1969. Work started in January 1970 and it was presented for the first time at the Turin motorshow in November 1972 as a berlina (saloon) with 1438cc (90bhp), 1592cc (100bhp) and 1756cc (110bhp) engines which were developments of FIAT's new twin cam engine for the 132. The two box four door body was designed at the Fiat styling centre by Mario Boano since the Lancia studio was already working on the next variant.
In 1973 the Beta Coupe was introduced. This used the same mechanicals as the berlina, but had a shortened wheelbase and new body designed in-house at Lancia. The two engines offered, the 1592cc and 1756cc were also uprated slightly to give 108bhp and 120bhp respectively. The gearbox was fitted with different ratios and equal length driveshafts were employed. Soon after the coupe launch a part-targa part-convertable version was introduced, known as the Spider (Lancia Zagato in the US), which was designed by Pininfarina and built by Zagato. The production process involved taking a coupe bodyshell and modifying it before all the mechanicals were fitted, these being the same as the standard coupe. The performance was thus slightly down due to the extra weight of the Spider.
1974 saw the extension of the Beta range by the addition of 1297cc and LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) powered versions of the berlina.