Q: Do you who is given credit for the engine concept and the design of the Fulvia engine? It bears only the slightest resemblance to any other Lancia (Appia??) engine. Fessia gets the credit for the Flavia and portions of the Flaminia, but the Fulvia is so unique that it hints at an individual rather than the committee approach.

A: The designer of the Fulvia engine was the well-known Lancia engineer Zacconi-Mina who had previously designed the engine used by Lancia for formula 1 racing. It is reported that, despite Fessia's opposition to anything too adventurous or expensive, Zacconi-Mina managed to persuade him to approve the double overhead camshaft V-4 design for the Fulvia after early, unsatisfactory attempts with a very small flat four (boxer) engine derived from the Flavia. Zacconi-Mina was obviously aware of the potential of such an engine for further development particularly for racing purposes. My own opinion is that the Fulvia engine is one of the very best ever made by Lancia and the prestigious designer who created it certainly did an excellent job.
- Andrea -