Lancia Flavia

The Lancia Flavia (Tipo 815/819/820) is an executive car produced by Lancia in Italy from 1961 to 1971. Production continued as the Lancia 2000 from 1971 to 1975.

This article is about the 1961 to 1970 Flavia. For the 2012 Flavia, see Chrysler 200.
Lancia Flavia
Lancia Flavia Series 1 coupé
Overview
ManufacturerLancia
Production1961–1971 (Flavia)
1971-1975 (2000)
105,848 produced
Designer
Body and chassis
ClassExecutive car
Body style4-door sedan
2-door coupé
2-door cabriolet
LayoutFF layout
RelatedLancia 2000
Powertrain
Engine
Dimensions
Wheelbase104 in (2,600 mm) [4]
Length180 in (4,600 mm) [4]
Width63.5 in (1,610 mm) [4]
Height58 in (1,500 mm) [4]
Chronology
SuccessorLancia 2000

The Flavia was launched with a 1,500 cc engine at the 1960 Turin Motor Show by Lancia and introduced in major European markets during the next twelve months. Coupé and convertible versions developed by Pininfarina and Vignale quickly followed, together with one or two low volume "specials" including a Zagato coupé. Performance improved over the next ten years as the engine sizes increased, progressively, to 2,000 cc. The car remained in production until 1970 when it was updated and renamed the Lancia 2000. The Flavia was named after Via Flavia, Roman road leading from Trieste (Tergeste) to Dalmatia.

In 2011, Fiat announced that the Chrysler 200 convertible would be sold in Europe (LHD markets only) by Lancia under the Flavia name from early 2012.

Chronology
Early Flavia saloon

The Lancia Flavia was developed by Antonio Fessia in the late 1950s, and introduced for sale in the UK in 1961. Initially available only as a four-door saloon, it featured a 1.5 L aluminium boxer engine, Dunlop disc brakes on all four wheels, front-wheel drive, and front suspension by unequal-length wishbones.[5] This model was soon joined by a two-door coupé, designed by Pininfarina on a shortened platform. Vignale built 1,601 two-door convertibles, while Zagato designed an outlandish-looking lightweight two-door "sport" version.[6] Only 626 of the Zagato-bodied models were built, plus three prototypes. Ninety-eight were 1500s and the remaining 512 received the larger 1800 engine.

The sport version has twin carburetors for extra power (just over 100 CV [74 kW]); however, this version of the engine was notoriously difficult to keep in tune. Even the single-carburettor engine suffered from the problem of timing chain stretch. Sprockets with Vernier adjusters were fitted to allow for chain wear, and the cam timing was supposed to be checked every 6,000 miles (9,700 km). Early cars also suffered from corrosion of the cylinder heads caused by using copper gaskets on aluminium heads; nevertheless, the car was quite lively for its day, considering the cubic capacity. When leaving the factory, Flavias originally fitted either Pirelli Cinturato 165HR14 tyres (CA67) or Pirelli Cinturato 155HR15 tyres (CA67).

Flavia Series II sedan (819)
Zagato-bodied Flavia sport

Later development of the engine included an enlargement to 1.8 L, a mechanical injection version using the Kugelfischer system, and a five-speed manual gearbox.[6] In May 1967 a rebodied version of the Berlina with a new interior went on sale, with model number 819, it is usually referred to as the Series II. The engines were originally the same as earlier (74 mm stroke in 1500, 1800, 1800 fuel injected), but in 1969 these were changed to a new generation with an 80 mm stroke, narrow-bore versions of the new 2-litre 820-series engine.[7] With the introduction of the 819, the Vignale and Zagato versions were discontinued, while the coupé model was on hiatus. The coupé version then returned with new bodywork, first presented in March 1969 at the Geneva Motor Show.[8] The engine increased to 2.0 L in capacity, available with carburetion or injection, and four- or five-speed gearbox. The 2.0 L models were only made with revised Pininfarina coupé and revised Lancia sedan bodies. Then in 1971, after Fiat took control of the company, the "Flavia" badge was discontinued as were the smaller engines, leaving only the 2000 Berlina and coupé.

Engines
Model Years Engine Displacement Power Fuel system
Berlina1960-1962Lancia H4 ohv1,500 cc78 PS (57 kW; 77 hp)Single carburetor
Coupé, cab, sport1962Lancia H4 ohv1,500 cc90 PS (66 kW; 89 hp)Double carburetor
15001963-1968Lancia H4 ohv1,488 cc80 PS (59 kW; 79 hp)Single carburetor
18001963-1968Lancia H4 ohv1,800 cc92 PS (68 kW; 91 hp)Single carburetor
1800 sport1963-1967Lancia H4 ohv1,800 cc105 PS (77 kW; 104 hp)Double carburetor
1800 Iniezione1965-1968Lancia H4 ohv1,800 cc102 PS (75 kW; 101 hp)Fuel injection
15001969-70Lancia H4 ohv1,490 cc80 PS (59 kW; 79 hp)Single carburetor
18001969-70Lancia H4 ohv1,816 cc92 PS (68 kW; 91 hp)Single carburetor
20001969-1974Lancia H4 ohv1,991 cc114 PS (84 kW; 112 hp)Single carburetor
2000 Iniezione1969-1974Lancia H4 ohv1,991 cc126 PS (93 kW; 124 hp)Fuel injection

Performance

The British Motor magazine tested a 1,500 cc car in 1961 and found it had a top speed of 92.6 mph (149.0 km/h) and acceleration from 0-60 mph (97 km/h) in 18.6 seconds. A "touring" fuel consumption of 30.0 miles per imperial gallon (9.4 L/100 km; 25.0 mpg‑US) was recorded. On the British market it cost £1,499 including taxes of 688.[4]

By 1967 the engine size had grown to 1,800 cc. Testing a four-door Flavia, Autocar magazine recorded a top speed of 103 mph (166 km/h), a 0-60 mph (97 km/h) time of 15.0 seconds and an overall fuel consumption of 30.0 miles per imperial gallon (9.4 L/100 km; 25.0 mpg‑US).[9] This put it behind the rival BMW 1800 TI for performance, though slightly ahead on fuel consumption. The testers commended the smoothness of the engine but found it lacked low speed punch. Overall they thought the performance "pleasingly deceptive" because the car was "faster than it feels". The UK car market was still insulated by tariffs, but with the BMW 1800 TI retailing at £1,498 and the Flavia's recommended retail price now £1,909, sales volumes were clearly not a Lancia priority. From the dominant UK domestic market player, the mechanically less sophisticated Ford Corsair 2000E was retailing at £1,008.

Models
  • Lancia Flavia convertible
  • Convertible rear view
  • Rear view of Flavia 1800 coupé
  • Flavia sport (Zagato, rear)
  • Lancia 2000.i.e.
  • Lancia 2000 HF coupé

Lancia 2000
Main article: Lancia 2000
Lancia 2000 Berlina

The Flavia was revised and renamed the Lancia 2000 in 1971. The 2000 featured Girling disc brakes (replacing the Flavia 2000's Dunlops), stainless steel bumpers, and, for the fuel-injected models, Bosch D-jetronic Analog-electrovalve fuel injection. These were built until 1973 or 1974 although new models remained in stock until 1975. As with the Flavia 2000, the 2000 was only made with Pininfarina coupe and Lancia sedan bodies.[10]

References
  1. "Lancia Story". lanciastory.pl.
  2. "Registro Vignale". vignale.org.
  3. Koopmann, Chris. "Ercole Spada". zagato-cars.com. Retrieved 2012-05-24.
  4. "The Lancia Flavia". The Motor. 23 August 1961.
  5. "In Depth: The Lancia Flat Fours Part I: Birth of the Flavia". VeloceToday.com. 26 October 2005. Retrieved 28 December 2013. The Flavia was the brainchild of Professor Fessia, the genius who - besides having had an important input in the FIAT 500 'Topolino,' the FIAT 600 and the Lancia Flaminia - was responsible for the design of the Caproni Cemsa that was first shown in 1947 at the Turin Autosalon.
  6. "In Depth: The Lancia Flat Fours Part II: Variants and Series". VeloceToday.com. 2 November 2005. Retrieved 28 December 2013.
  7. Oude Weernink, Wim H.J. (1984), Lancia Fulvia and Flavia: a Collector's Guide, Croydon, England: Motor Racing Publications, p. 45, ISBN 1-899870-52-0
  8. "New Lancia Flavia Coupe". Autocar. Vol. 130 (nbr 3813). 13 March 1969. p. 5.
  9. "Lancia Flavia Injection". Autocar. Vol. 127 (nbr 3740). 19 October 1967. pp. 131–134.
  10. "Sidebar: Lancia Flavia Second and Third Series Flavia Berlinas". VeloceToday.com. Retrieved 29 December 2013.
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