International Lancia Forums

Hello,
Giancarlo Baghetti entered a Lancia in the above event. Does anyone have any photographs of the car? All the records state that the car was a Flavia but Progetto K have issued a model based upon a Fulvia Coupe.. Is this correct or are Progetto K using artistic licence??

Leo

Weel I think Porgetto took an artistc liberty here to my kwnolege starting number 11 was a renault 16 from Switzerland.Thre was NO fulvia in the 1968 marathon.Perhaps in one of the world cup rallys (1970-74)I will check and get back on this.

Roel
Holland

Hello Roel,
I know that Shekar Mehta had a Fulvia Coupe in the 1974 "World Cup" rally London/Mexico and finished 11th. Giancarlo Baghetti definitely entered the 1968 London/Sydney event, the entry list shows him as number 22 with a Flavia. Unfortunately I cannot find any photographs. As you say number 11 was a Renault.

Please check anything that you can, I am keen to establish the facts.

Best regards, Leo

Leo,
Roel,

the following website gives an excellent overview of the '68 Marathon including some more info on GianCarlo Baghetti:

http://marathon68.homestead.com/index.html

Also, perhaps the owner of the following website can help you further:

http://www.lanciaflavia.it/

Cheers,
Jorn

Thanks Jorn,
I know the Marathon 68 site well, but had bever found the Flavia site - its great but no Baghetti info.

I will ask the question to the Flavia site contact.

I am keen to find the story on this so all help appreciated!

Leo

The book 'Bright Eyes of Danger' has following entry in list of competitors:
'G. baghetti, Italy. Lancia flavia Coupe 1300.
(G. Baghetti, G. Bassi)
Erzincan 43 (points lost).
Retired after Kabul. Lost documents".
My guess it was a Fulvia; based on the engine capacity statement. I could find no further references to the car in the book.

Thanks Brian,
This is very confusing, I hope that we can get the right answer. Someone must have a photograph. Certainly by 1968 the Fulvia HF was in its prime but is quite a small car to use for a 10,000 mile event. I suspect that it was a Flavia Coupe due to the fact that Giancarlo Baghetti was not a traditional Lancia rallyist so therefore not accustomed to a Fulvia HF and imho 1800 could easily be transcribed into 1300 whereas Fulvia becoming Flavia is less likely. In 1968 I was besotted with Imps and therefore more interested in the eventual winner.

Leo (apolgies for disagreeing with you!)

Ok . I think I have got it.

It was a 1300 Fulvia ,the licence plate on the model is also correct.Only the starting number is incorrect.

They indeed left the rally because the left their cash and the roadbook at a petrol station .By the time they realised it it was to late.

I have pictures of the car from old magazine's ,Model is not completely accurate .Placing of fog lights and missing of big driving lights.

Cheers
Roel

Hello Brian,
I got this interesting response from the webmaster of the L to S site, can you advise what is on the front cover? Roel has found confirmation that it was a Fulvia (further down the postings). Best regards, Leo
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"According to the official entry list I had, it was the Lancia Flavia 1800. Unfortunately I haven't been able to get a copy of Giancarlo's book Bright Eyes of Danger but I have amazingly enough a book called The Bright Eyes of Danger written by David McKay and John Smailes.

I wonder if Giancarlo simply translated the text or has written another book with exactly the same title, sure is interesting eh?

In the Entrants and Results section at the back of the book it states that Giancarlo Baghetti's car was indeed a Lancia Flavia Coupe 1300. Exactly the same as your book. However on my website it is listed as an 1800 so maybe the three has been translated from an eight?

Don't forget these Marathon cars were modified to suit the crews so there is every chance the car had a different engine fitted (maybe to save fuel or some other tactical reason).

To compare the books we have, mine has a Holden GTS Monaro on the front cover (car 76) Reg. No. ADA 107 and was driven by Barry Ferguson. What is on your cover?"

Excellent work Roel !! Much appreciated by me. The Progetto model is a bit "toy-like" with the roof-rack and contents so it is good to hear that the registration mark is accurate. Sounds like the car was a Fanalone with a 1300 cc engine - any chance of sending pictures?

leocapaldi AT tiscali.co.uk

I will pass on the info to the webmaster of http://marathon68.homestead.com/
He replied to my query but had nothing more to offer than to confirm that the entry list said Flavia. I guess there must have been a change of plan.

I guess that I should have posted this question on the Fulvia section!

Best regards, Leo