Lancia origin

Lancia is almost 100 years old. For some more on the history of Lancia, go to Cars from Italy, or to the Italian Lancia Club site.

Judging by the bell-bottoms of the amateur-photographer in the bend who is about to have a deadly encounter with the cornering Fulvia, I would say this picture is taken in the seventies.

Racing history

Lancia had participated in racing since in its inception as a factory. You could even say that racing was why its founder and namegiver Vincenzo Lancia, who was a test and race driver for Alfa Romeo, started his own car factory (we're talking 1906). Lancia himself, for example, set a new average-speed record of 105 km/h; in [X]!

Then, post-second World War, Lancia had a short foray in Formula 1 racing with various Aurelia (works) models before withdrawing from racing because of money troubles.

Rallye legends

Lancia was the force to reckon with in rallye sport, pretty much during the entire duration of the Fulvia's lifespan. (For a list of wins.)

Because being good does not necessarily mean you look good, the Lancia racing teams used a cute pink elephant as their logo, sometimes in the letters "HF," with not one but four cute little pink elephants in it.

Notwithstanding, they were winning.

(To be continued...)