LANCIA FLAVIA MILLE OTTO BERLINA VERY RARE HISTORIC CLASSIC LANCIA SALOON 1968

1968 LANCIA FLAVIA 'MILLE OTTO' 1800 BERLINA SPORTS SALOON

(LEFT HAND DRIVE) U. K REGISTERED. HISTORIC VEHICLE ROAD TAX (FREE)

NEW MOT. NEW V5C.

Beauty. they say. is in the eye of the beholder. When extreme rarity is added in context of a classic car. the result can be sublime. if not sensational. This 1968 Lancia Flavia Berlina ‘Mille Otto' is such a car. It started off life in the comfort and confines of an Italian Consulate. It was later brought over to the U. K by an accomplished rally driver. Mr Paul Howarth and was sold to the Reverend James Harper – himself a keen Lancia enthusiast. who owned two of the three known Flavia Berlinas known in the U. K at the time. In 2007. the Reverend decided to part company with his cherished Lancia (the other was a parts-only car) and sold this Flavia to a Mr Howard Williams. Having kept the car for some two years. Mr Williams passed the car onto a Mr Mark Davy who. according to the V5C. acquired in on 15th April 2009. That accounts for four of the five keepers who have been in custodianship of this very rare car since it was first registered in the U. K on 1st December 1981.

BACKGROUND TO THE MODEL

The Lancia Flavia was developed by Professor Antonio Fessia in the late 1950s. and introduced for sale in the UK in 1961. Initially available only as a four-door saloon. its advance specification featured a 1500cc aluminium ‘Boxer' flat-four engine. Dunlop disc brakes all round and front suspension by unequal-length wishbones.   The early model proved lively for its day. considering the cubic capacity. Later development of the engine included an enlargement to 1800cc (Mille Otto) offering greater power and flexibility to an already well–proven handling car. Towards the end of the 1960s (after the production of the 'Mille Otto' 1800) saloon versions of the Flavia range received new bodywork. first presented in March 1969 at the Geneva Motor Show. The ‘Fiat' Lancias then received another increase in capacity to 2000cc with either carburettor or injection. and four-or five-speed gearbox. The 2. 0 L models were only made with revised Pininfarina Coupe and revised Lancia Sedan bodies. But this was the advent of the Fiat accountants – and the usual costly Lancia attention to detail was sadly lost at the behest of the Italian ‘bean-counters'. Thus the Lancia Flavia ‘Mille Otto' stands as the last of the ‘true' Lancias.

ABOUT THIS CAR:

We acquired this car on 6th June this year and immediately set about re-commissioning it and preparing it for MOT. A thorough inspection showed that all the car required was the replacement of ball joints and track rod ends. steering tie rod. front brake hose and hose nuts. both front dampers. the fitting of one tyre. an adjustment of the handbrake. some minor welding to the rear spring mountings and the fitting of a correct pattern number plate light. All the parts were sourced via Lancia specialists Omicron in Norfolk – thus bringing the car up to correct MOT standard. which it duly past.

So. here we have a very rare survivor – the last of the ‘true' Lancia-built Flavias - before the company was snapped up by Fiat and its army of cost-cutting accountants. This rare ‘Belina' has been fitted way back in period with an LPG system (not yet tested). but is currently running beautifully on normal pump fuel. As with many Lancia saloons (Berlina). the gear-change is on the column. allowing more passenger room at the front. thus retaining its front bench seat.

Mechanically. the car has proved very fit on road-test. The handling. usually associated with Lancias. is still crisp and the engine responsive. All instruments work as they should and the car now has a full MOT and is registered as a ‘Historic Vehicle' so no road fund licence is payable.

The price of this car at this stage is: £3. 50

A part-exchange will be considered

FURTHER WORK

Now being sound in wind and limb. the next stage on this Lancia Flavia Berlina will be the cosmetics. Overall the car is sound and the stunning stainless steel brightwork is well preserved. Ideally. the body needs a full strip-down and repaint in its gorgeous Lancia dark blue. but this will be the decision of the lucky new owner as it could easily be run 'as is' for the meantime. Arguably. due to its rarity. a cosmetic renovation is more than worthwhile. Some attention will be needed to the bottom of the doors and the rear wheel arches. which we would advise will need cutting out and re-metalling. rather than filling. to produce a result worthy of the quality of this extremely rare car.

ABOUT CCK HISTORIC

We are an established ‘one-stop' specialist restoration shop and historic race preparation team with full in-house facilities containing. bodyshop. fabrication section. engine shop. rolling road and interior trimming facilities. Not only do our cars win races but they frequently collect 'Best Prepared' car awards. We would be delighted to discuss your requirements in improving this very special Lancia.

Viewing at our premises in High Hurstwood can be arranged at most times. Monday – Saturday.

CONTACT DETAILS:

CCK HISTORIC. ROSEHILL FARM. BURNT OAK ROAD. HIGH HURSTWOOD. EAST SUSSEX. TN22 4AE

Also published at eBay.co.uk

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