1971 Lancia Fulvia 1600 HF

The 1600 HF marked the Italian firm’s reentry into motorsport in 1965 after a ten-year hiatus. Placed 8th overall in its debut event, the Tour de Corse, it went on to win the Italian Rally Championship almost every year from 1965 through to 1973, only failing in 1970.

Of course, Lancia needed to homologate the HF by selling it to the public, and this right-hand drive example is thought to be one of just 400 out of a total of 3,670 examples built.

As a post-1970 example, it also boasts a five-speed gearbox for more relaxed high-speed touring plus revised suspension and an alternator, making it a beautifully balanced combination of sporting prowess and refined grand tourer.

Like most of our office, you’ve probably dreamed of buying a Lancia Fulvia 1600 HF project – and while professional ethics prohibit us bidding on this one, there’s absolutely nothing to stop you making your dreams come true.

However, there is some bad news because ‘JGO 442K’ is very much a project; for example, we propped the windscreen in the aperture for the photos. It isn’t fitted and nor are we even certain that everything you’ll need to complete it is there.

We’d welcome potential bidders in person to inspect it though, and while you scrabble through the boxes of parts, we’ll pop the kettle on. Maybe even see if we can uncover some biscuits.

Maybe. Depends how hungry we’ve been. You could bring some though. Preferably chocolate-coated.

The Fulvia sits four-square with a beautiful stance and well-fitting panels, even if the driver’s door sits a little proud. The flanks are free of ripples, and there are no significant dents or damage either, just a few minor dinks along the nearside front wing’s swageline, and both offside wings.

Rust is hard to assess but it seems largely clear even if there are bubbles along the top of the nearside front wing, door and roof, and along the offside rear wing.

The blue paintwork, complete with a gold pinstripe on either side, also looks decent from a distance, although the scratches and hazing become apparent as you get closer. The RAC Vehicle History Check shows it was previously red.

A ball stud is also fitted to the front centre of the bonnet too, perhaps to mount a mascot or carry a pendant?

If it were ours, we’d be tempted to treat it to a two-stage machine polish and reassess; it might come back to a standard you’d be happy with, although if you intend to show the car then we suspect you’ll need to fork out for a full respray.

As for the chromework, it might be dull and even flaking on the rear bumper, but it isn’t too badly pitted or rusted and it all seems to be there, including the badges.

The iconic quad-headlamp array is present and correct, and it like the front indicators, is in a good condition. The rear lamp lenses and reflectors are all in good shape too, with no chips, cracks, or other damage.

The glazing is all there, although it seems like the rear screen is either delaminating or just plain scratched and faded. The front screen has also just been rested in place for the photography and will need to be fully fitted as part of the rebuild. 

The 14-inch Cromodora alloy wheels are free of serious damage, but they are scuffed around their rims, and the paint/lacquer is peeling.

They would benefit from being refurbished, which you could perhaps have done at the same time you fit new tyres, because the 175HR14 Michelin XAS rubber has perished since they were made in 2008.

Nevertheless, that the wheels are fitted with matching and high-quality tyres is a good sign and usually indicates a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly.

The interior is missing quite a few bits and bobs, and while some or all of them might be in the boxes that accompany the Lancia, we can’t be sure. (Please see the photos for an overview of what is included.)

In any case we can see the new owner will probably want to strip it all out and undertake an inventory before cleaning and refurbishing prior to its reinstallation.

That’s the bad news. The good news is that all the instruments are there, as is the wood-rimmed steering wheel. The gearknob is also marked with the dog-leg pattern that means you’ll smile every time you engage first gear.

The low-backed bucket seats are in decent order, with only the odd split seam to contend with. As for the bench seat behind them, while the base is a bit wobbly it is sound, as is the seat back.

Moving down, the pedal rubbers might be good but the carpets will need to be replaced.

The headlining is free of obvious damage but is probably too badly stained to be reused, although the more resourceful among you may be able to clean it to a satisfactory standard. You may also be able to repair the minor damage to the top of the dashboard.

The door cards aren’t fitted properly, and some of their fittings are missing. Other missing trim includes the base of the A-pillars and the sills, and the headrests.

Some of the missing trim may be in the boxes that form part of the listing. We haven’t undertaken a full inventory, but a quick look suggests that some of it is in good order. This includes the wooden dashboard, which looks to be in a remarkably good condition and could probably be reinstalled without further work.

The boot is pretty well banged up with a multitude of scratches and even some dents. But, again, what rust we see appears to be superficial, which is a huge win in an Italian car of the period.

We haven’t attempted to start the engine, so cannot comment on its health. However, we have managed to hand turn it. The engine bay has good bones though, and it doesn’t take an awful lot of imagination to see how good it will look when it is restored.

The underside appears to have had new sills welded in if the red primer is any guide. The rest of the underside looks to be solid too, so you might get away with just wire-brushing it clean, treating the small amount of rust we spotted, and applying your choice of protectant.

(Of course, you might not; project cars like this can drop you as suddenly as they can lift you.)

The exhaust is not the original and is hanging by a thread. However, what seems to be a full stainless-steel system is included – and, if the correspondence on file is any guide, it’s been waiting to be fitted since 2014.

It goes without saying that the Lancia doesn’t have a current MoT certificate.

The recent RAC Vehicle History Check is clear bar markers for that change of colour we mentioned earlier, and an unverifiable mileage. It also shows just two previous registered keepers.

The history file includes the Instruction Book, a variety of magazine articles, technical bulletins from the Lancia Motor Club, the official Lancia Concise Repair Shop Manual, miscellaneous notes, a variety of old MoT certificates, invoices and bills, and various correspondence.

It’s a charming selection and illustrates just how excited the seller was to get started on his project.

However, we only have a photocopy of the second page of the V5 Registration Certificate, so the winning bidder may need to apply for a new one.

One of the chaps in the office summed this up nicely: “This is a very cool project, and well worth finishing as they’re very pretty coupes.”

And it’ll be a cheap way of putting one in your garage too because we suspect the virtual hammer will fall somewhere between £10,000 and £15,000.

No, that won’t be the end of the expense but, if you do the work yourself, we suspect you might still come out ahead – and that’s without putting a monetary value on the fun you’re going to have doing it!

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at THE MARKET HQ in South Oxfordshire. Viewings are STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT and we are open weekdays (apart from Bank Holidays) between 10am - 12pm or 2pm - 4pm. To make a booking, please use the ‘Enquire About This Vehicle’ button on the listing. Feel free to ask any questions, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.