1965. Geneva Motor Show. Lancia’s clientele had long been waiting for a more inspired car than the four-door Fulvia—a saloon with classic lines, no particular aesthetic twists, and just adequately performing. So the company displayed a sporty and compact two-door, designed by an enlightened Piero Castagnero (born in 1922), who only kept part of the front of the Fulvia 2C—style-wise—and drew inspiration from the charm of motorboats and their taut, slender lines. Compact size, wide windows, low beltline, and two barely hinted tail fins: features that immediately conquered the crowd gathered around the Italian stall. The Lancia Fulvia Coupé turned out to be the link between masculine and feminine tastes and represented a bold and smart alternative, capable of rejuvenating both the whole Lancia range and its potential clientele, widening the offer to a more heterogeneous public that encompassed different genders and ages.

The result was a true commercial success that would win over people who in a car only looked for an aesthetic object to show off, but also engine lovers. Conquered by the Fulvia’s competitive commitment in rallies (started in 1965 with Tour de Corse), they overwhelmed Lancia with preorders. The price? 1,535,000 liras. 10,000 liras more for the optional faux leather.

Almost six decades and countless victories achieved in competitions later, the Fulvietta never fails to excite.