To Be OFFERED AT AUCTIONEstimate:
£70,000 - £80,000
- A desirable Fulvia Rallye Coupe 1,6 HF 'Fanalone' with
competition provenance
- Purchased in 1978 by Formula 1 driver Alessandro Nannini
- Prepared for competition use in-period; campaigned in the 1978
Italian Rally Championship
- Continued use in modern rally events and tours, including most
recently the 2017 Via Flaminia Tour
- Retains Fusina racing steering wheel fitted for Nannini
- Accompanied by history file, including period photographs and
documentation of work performed, as well as owner's manual,
brochure, jack, toolkit, and a tailored branded indoor car
cover
Please note that this lot will need to be collected in Chobham,
U.K.
Introduced in Coupe form in 1965, the Fulvia served as Lancia's
entree to rallying; the model quickly distinguished itself in
competition and would eventually earn the automaker the
International Championship for Manufacturers title in 1972. A
series of homologation specials with progressively larger
displacements and ever-greater performance accompanied the
competition cars, with the Rallye 1,6 HF arriving in 1969. Known as
the 'Fanalone' due to its large inner headlamps, the model was
equipped with a 1.584 cubic centimeter V-4 engine, flared fenders,
a rally-tuned suspension, and other performance features.
This Fulvia Coupe Rallye 1,6 HF has an intriguing competition
history, though one that began several years after its manufacture.
The 109th of approximately 1,258 examples produced, this car was
first registered on 13 August 1969 to a Sig. Franco Malandrini of
Siena, Italy. In April 1978, it was purchased by Alessandro
"Sandro" Nannini. Then only 19 years old, Nannini had a Formula 1
career in his future-but first, he would use this car to go
rallying.
After acquiring the car, Nannini worked with hist friend, Lancia
specialist Fabio Neri, to prepare it for competition work. Its
engine was rebuilt with high performance in mind, featuring higher
compression and more aggressive cams. Further, a bolt-in roll cage
was installed (since removed), and quick-release boot and bonnet
latches fitted; as a final touch, Nannini's own small-diameter
Fusina race wheel completed the cockpit. Nannini proceeded to pilot
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
Lancias.
While Nannini moved into open-wheel racing the following year, his
Fulvia remained active; it passed through a handful of Italian
owners, who competed regularly in Italian events such as the 1993
Coppa Liburna Storico, the 2005, 2006 and 2006 runnings of the
Rally del Corallo, and the 2009 Coppa Carotti. Imported into the
United Kingdom by its current owner in 2016, it most recently
participated in the 2017 Via Flaminia Tour.
Accompanied by a history file, documenting its ownership as well as
maintenance work performed from 2015-2020, as well as an original
owner's manual, rare brochure, and jack and toolkit, this special
Coupe Rallye 1,6 HF is still equipped with Nannini's Fusina
steering wheel-quite fitting for a car ideally suited for continued
spirted driving. Eligible for a number of driving events, including
the Tour Auto, Modena Centre Oro, and Bernina Gran Turismo events,
it would surely be at thrill to drive and enjoy.
Please note that this lot is currently on display at CARS in
Chobham at Alpha 319 Chobham Business Centre, Chertsey Road,
Chobham, Surrey, GU24 8JB and can be viewed on appointment on
Thursday October 29th and Friday October 30th between 9am and 5pm.
Please contact our office at
+44 (0) 20 7851 7070 or email
Britta Buchmann at
[email protected] to
secure your appointment. Should you want more information on this
lot, feel free to email
[email protected]To view
this car and others currently consigned to this auction, please
visit the RM website at
rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/lf20.