Lancia Fulvia Giardiniera Touring

The Lancia Fulvia Giardiniera Touring is a prototype station wagon variant of the Lancia Fulvia Berlina, developed by Carrozzeria Touring and first exhibited at the 1964 Turin Motor Show. Created as a one-off vehicle, the Giardiniera was intended as an exploration of combining Lancia’s refined engineering with increased practicality. The vehicle was based on the first-generation Fulvia Berlina, launched in 1963. It retained the standard Fulvia’s platform, including front-wheel drive and the narrow-angle V4 engine, a compact and distinctive unit developed by Lancia. The transmission and suspension layout remained consistent with the production sedan. The Giardiniera differed from the standard Berlina primarily in its extended roofline and redesigned rear section, which introduced a squared-off tailgate to increase cargo space. This transformation gave the vehicle a station wagon body style, also referred to in period Italian usage as a “giardiniera.” The design incorporated large glass surfaces, contributing to improved visibility and an open cabin atmosphere. Bodywork proportions were rebalanced to accommodate the extended functionality without compromising visual coherence, in line with Touring’s design philosophy. The interior and mechanical configuration closely followed the standard Fulvia sedan, with adaptations only where necessary to support the wagon body structure. Seating capacity and layout remained unchanged, while the rear compartment offered increased load space due to the elongated roof and rear volume. The Fulvia Giardiniera Touring was not intended for series production and remained a singular example. It was part of a broader tradition of bespoke coachbuilt variants based on production models, especially during the early 1960s, when collaborations between manufacturers and Italian design houses often resulted in concept vehicles or limited prototypes aimed at assessing public and industry reaction. No further development or additional units of the Giardiniera were undertaken after its presentation.