1972 Lancia Fulvia Sport Zagato 1600
Ercole Spada’s fastback body for the Lancia Fulvia Sport Zagato remains among his most recognized work, arriving several years after the Aston Martin DB4GT Zagato had first established his reputation.
Introduced in 1965, the Sport rode a shortened wheelbase relative to the Fulvia Berlina and incorporated an early rear hatchback, exposed headlamps (later cars received fixed lamps), and a forward-tilting hood hinged at the front.
Early examples featured aluminum body panels before production shifted to steel, and the lightweight construction made it noticeably more agile than the standard-bodied Fulvia Coupe.
The underlying platform brought front-wheel drive, independent front suspension, and four-wheel disc brakes (uncommon at this price point in the mid-1960s).
Power for the 1600 came from a 1.6-liter narrow-angle V4 producing 115 horsepower (SAE), the same basic unit fitted to the homologation-spec 1.6 HF Coupe, with a top speed of about 118 mph. A five-speed manual gearbox was standard on the 1600.
Of roughly 7,000 Sport Zagatos produced from 1965 through 1972, approximately 800 were 1600 models. The Fulvia line earned its competition reputation in international rallying, including an International Championship for Manufacturers title in 1972, while circuit appearances such as Daytona and Sebring further reinforced the model’s sporting credentials.
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