Fulvia 1600 HF Fanalino Corsa

[Ed Levin]

One thing to keep in mind is that it's not hard to retrofit much of that spec; anyone can pull the bumpers, change the windshield gasket, and swap on S1 doors and lids, &c. So you need to be careful about relying on 'bolt-on' parts as evidence. As I suggested in an earlier post, it's the difficult and less obvious items like the bronze upper wishbone bushings that speak the loudest--and that would include items like a brake servo. So for me, the fact that the car you're looking at has a vacuum booster is a sign it's not a 'corsa'. And if the seller's sure it's a 'fanalino corsa' but he's not sure whether or not it has bronze bushings, I'd be wary of trusting his judgment. Because it's pretty obvious one way or the other; it either has grease fittings at the leading end of the inner bushing tube, or it doesn't have bronze bushings.

[cjb1816]

Hi Ed

Thanks for the message. I certainly take your point about bolt on
parts, particularly as the car has been completely rebuilt. I have no
expert knowledge about Fulvias apart from what I have read over the
last couple of months, so it is difficult for me to judge from photos
whether the car has the bronze bushings that you mention. I do have
numerous photos of the rebuild which the seller has sent, so I have
attached a few to see whether your expert eye can deduce the presence
of the bushings and grease points you speak of. I hope you don't mind
me asking for your input on this. I am happy to proceed with the
purchase of the car on the basis that it is a very nice 1600 HF
rebuild, but it would be good to establish more about it's potential
credentials as an original Corsa (or not) before I travel to see the car in a
weeks time.

Looking forward to your further thoughts.

Best regards

Chris

[cjb1816]

Ed

A further photo with better res.

Thanks again.

Chris

[Ed Levin]

Chris,

It doesn't appear so based on the small photos you post, but may be possible to see if there are grease fittings if you can post a higher resolution version of the third photo [ image.jpeg (40.8 KB) ].

Although I’d still like to see some detailed photos of the cars Cédric describes, I’m prepared to accept the existence of some number of “fanalino corsa”–but likely very few. I have no doubt that my standard joke about the fanalone–of the 1258 built, only 2000 survive–applies even more so to the “fanalino corsa”; there must be many more imitations than genuine examples. As always, the best rule is to buy only what you see–not what a seller claims. So I think you should be looking at the car solely as a standard S2 1600HF with some 'back-dated' S1 features. And make no mistake; even if it’s not a “fanalino corsa”, a standard 1600HF with those back-dated features is a very interesting car.

[cjb1816]

Hi Ed

Here is a better res version of image 3. What do you think? I have decided to treat the car as a good example of a 1600 HF with "extras, but I'm still curious about the car so your help is much appreciated. I'm going to see the car next weekend and unless you advise otherwise it seems a good car and I will probably "go for it".

Regards

Chris

[lucasgeheniau]

Hi Chris,

Look at the subframe, the identification plate is painted black....... If anyone with some knowledge of Fulvia's had a Fanalone, Fanalino or even corsa or GR4 would have restored this car, the ID-plate would not be sprayed black.....
So I would not have trust in the originality of the car.

[cjb1816]

Lucas

Thanks for the advice. I have to confess I had not noticed this. Now that it has been over painted will the information on the ID plate now be lost or are the numbers etc. stamped into the metal like the chassis plate? Sounds like you are sceptical of the the car's originality. I am now in no doubt that it is a well restored 1600 HF but probably no more. As Ed says, even it is only that with some choice Series 1 extras, it should still be a very nice car. What do you think?

Chris

[lucasgeheniau]

I am far from an expert, and my joy is driving a Fulvia daily. (from 1991 till today)

At the moment an S2 Berlina and an S2 Coupe. Both in need of restauration, so my cars are not showroom items.
a Fanalone and a Fanalino, a Montecarlo and a Safari are showroom items most of the time. For those you pay a huge price in extra to a "Normal" Fulvia.
Thus, you may expect the car to be excellent. The paint on the subframe type plate is far from excellent. That is all I want to tell.

For normal road use, all Fulvia Coupe's are very fine machines. The Fanalino Corse will give more on the track. As daily driver, I think a 1300 is more practical.

[Ed Levin]

Chris,

The subframe plate should be stamped, so you may be able to read it through the paint; it'd certainly be readable if the paint is stripped. But the higher-res image clearly shows the grease fittings of an S1 suspension. And that really makes me want to know what the subframe plate says. If it's 540 or 740, it would be very interesting. If it's 130, 330 or 360, then that would be something else entirely. But even the latter probably wouldn't stop me from buying the car.

[cjb1816]

Thanks Ed

Very helpful again. As I said, I'm seeing the car next weekend so I should find out more then. In the meantime, as my knowledge of the cars is not high, is it possible to see the subframe plate from beneath the car or from above? It may be that the owner even has a photo of the plate before reassembly. I'll ask him.

Regards

Chris