Lancia Motor Club

Hello All

https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C1200723

I am tempted by this car and may go to view it.  The advert is not very informative.  The car appears to have had some panels replaced and/or sprayed and the car looks very much like a work in progress.  The MOT history is not great but also not terrible.  The front seats are not original, but the originals may be available with the car (I assume that they may be tatty).

If anyone has seen this car or knows anything of its history, I'd be interested to hear from you.

By way of background, I have owned and driven assorted 1970s cars since 1989, and currently have an Appia Berlina and a Beta Coupe that live indoors when not being driven, but I have no experience with Fulvias.   I have a very good mechanic who looks after my cars.  I also have a decent welder and painter nearby.  I like usable cars, not show cars.

Any thoughts and tips gratefully received.  If anyone has seen the car and can say "it's a lemon, don't bother", you will save the planet a bit, as this will mean that my 5 litre Jaguar does not drive from central London to Goodwood and back this weekend.

There is also a red and white LHD car on sale in London (advert on eBay), but I do not like the look of that one and would prefer RHD if possible.

KPD is a well known car on this forum and if you search back over the past five years you will find lots of references to it - mostly positive ones. See this for example: https://www.lancia.myzen.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=9082.msg65243#msg65243 . I will give you lots of fun - I say buy it!

Many thanks, Colin.   My poor old Lotus Eclat project car will not be pleased with your reply!

I nearly bought it a couple of owners back.  Its always been a car much much better than it looks that (can't say for the last few years) always was driven a lot and given everything it needed mechanically but where budget and enthusiasm never quite stretched to the cosmetic work.  I couldn't convince Mrs L that my budget and enthusiasm would stretch to the cosmetic work, but had a smarter one that had been on the market a while not sold that week we'd have had it (at a substantial premium but to her standard cosmetically) had it driven anything like as nicely as this one.

The doors made me smile.  I can remember tracking some down when I was thinking of buying it.  I wonder if they're the same ones that have followed it through a couple of ownerships!!! 

In terms of the type, they're a really nice ride in the back, big boot, plenty of get up and go.  Make a family classic or something you can take a couple of adults out the day in without them moaning at you.  Makes all the right noises.  Brilliant classic rally car.

No LEZ fee in central London, or this time next year out to the north and south circulars.  Tax free. 

Alas have just had a similar chat with Mrs L so its not going to fly here just now, but keep me in mind when ready to move it on!

In terms of expectation - structure when I saw it was 100pct solid but not restored with factory pressings.  I knew the guy selling it very well and he knew what he was doing and had done it to keep, but couldn't resist a Flamina project.

This is from 2011:

https://www.lancia.myzen.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=3661.msg26250;topicseen#msg26250

When we went to look in June 2012:

https://www.lancia.myzen.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=5143.0

On purchase by Robin:

https://www.lancia.myzen.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=5911.0

and when it changed hands again:

https://www.lancia.myzen.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=8549.0

A retired motor engineer friend did the metalwork.I did fit new old stock front wings though. Richard

This one is also for sale.......
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/lancia-fulvia-S1-gt-berlina/333764965630?hash=item4db5f134fe:g:h7sAAOSwnUhflHAM

Richard Friday fitted new sills and replaced the subframe mountings boxes.
Up until Covid 19 I  had seen this regularly at the 96 club monthly meeting at Chesham Square,  Simon who helps run the meeting is part of the meet, and does the cooking as well for the bacon or sausage butties! Owned it
Its been a bit of a rough diamond for sometime but is sound.
It would IMHO be worth looking at to make sure everything is still sound.
The bonnet and the front wings need attention, although I seem to remember with the bonnet it needs paint, but not sure about the wings.
I cant see the doors that come with it, can be any other than the ones Robin Lacey bought with a view to replacing the tatty existing doors.
With attention to these points and a respray I think it would be restored to a good condition.
But taking someone who knows Fulvias, if not one yourself is a must.

Thanks for all info - very helpful.

Gerard, in case you didn't get my pm to you, it was to invite you to give me your phone number and I can put you in touch with Simon, the last 'proper' owner of KPD. Colin

Thanks Colin, I have just seen your message and replied to it.

I am thinking that I shall probably not go for this car.  I have some concerns about taking on a bodywork and paint project when I need to focus on another project, and I am also wondering whether, given that I have a good example of an Appia and a Beta, I would ever walk past either of those to drive the Fulvia.  Perhaps also I should hold on and wait for a good Flavia Coupe to turn up, which was my previous plan.  If I spiff up my Fiat 124 Sport, that might be available as a sell or a PX if a suitable Flavia appears.

Maybe someone else on the Forum should take on this interesting Fulvia!

Having had experience of both I would say the Appia is a much nicer car to drive than the Fulvia.    Appia steering is light and precise whereas even the best Fulvia is heavy, vague and very low geared by comparison.

Thanks!  The Appia has delightful steering and nimble handling.  It makes me smile.

Excellent recommendation then.   I would love another Appia but I am getting a bit too old to take on another car I think. 

Marie Kondo approach?  One in one out?  Not that I ever listen to Marie Kondo.

David I'll give you that a Fulvia is heavy until the wheels are turning, and low geared, but I'd hardlysay that my series 1 1.3 Rallye Coupe or my current 2c have had vague steering, my 2c certainly is low geared, but if it was any higher geared then it would be heavier.
I've never driven an Appia so I'm not qualified to comment on Appia, but having owned my present 2c for 23 years, I dont recognise your comment, also a lot depends if you are wide wheels and tyres, as well as tyre pressures.

Brian
8227 8)

Well said Brian! For my pennyworth my Fulvia steering is a joy at speeds I would not like to be travelling at in an Appia.... and at Appia speeds too.

Neither if you can say this until you have driven a sliding pillar Lancia.   I have extensive experience of both, and at high speeds, and will have the sliding pillar every time.     Front wheel drive steering was always too low geared until power steering was invented (apart from the real Mini but that was so tiny and light it could get away with it).

David, I have owned Aprilia (OVS 901) and currently own a very nice B12 which is fast. I have also driven an Appia (which is slow).... Everyone to their own but Fulvia every time not that I don't enjoy driving the others.

In my Beta I do not mind the unassisted FWD steering until I have to parallel-park the car.  Keep fit time!