Lancia Fulvia Sport Spider

The Lancia Fulvia Sport Spider was a one-off prototype developed by Milanese coachbuilder Zagato and introduced at the 1968 Turin Motor Show. The model was conceived as a two-seat open version of the Fulvia Sport Coupé , showcasing an evolution of the aerodynamic fastback design previously executed by Ercole Spada for Zagato. The Fulvia Sport Spider was based on the standard Fulvia Sport platform but with a reduced wheelbase shortened by approximately 150 mm (5.9 in) to achieve balanced proportions suitable for an open-body configuration. Mechanically, the Spider retained the front-engine, front-wheel-drive layout of the Fulvia Sport. It was equipped with Lancia’s narrow-angle 1,298 cc V4 engine, featuring twin carburetors and an output of approximately 87 horsepower (64 kW) at 6,000 rpm. Power was delivered through a five-speed manual gearbox. Suspension employed independent front wishbones and a rear beam axle with transverse leaf spring, consistent with other Fulvia models. Braking was provided by four-wheel hydraulic disc brakes, and steering used a rack-and-pinion system. The prototype’s structure combined steel and aluminum components, maintaining a total weight close to 900 kg. The soft top was designed to fold completely beneath a flush-fitting tonneau cover, leaving the rear deck unobstructed when retracted. The exterior was finished in red, complemented by matching red leather upholstery covering the seats, dashboard, and steering wheel. Plexiglas headlamp covers, a black front grille, and Peugeot 202-sourced tail lamps were fitted—elements that previewed the aesthetic treatment later seen on the 1970 Series 2 Fulvia Sport. Dimensions were consistent with the shortened chassis configuration: an overall length of approximately 3,850 mm, width of 1,580 mm, and height of 1,240 mm. The car’s design prioritized aerodynamic cleanliness and lightweight construction rather than production feasibility. The Fulvia Sport Spider remained a single prototype, not intended for series manufacture. It served as a stylistic and technical exploration of an open Fulvia derivative, representing the last phase of close collaboration between Lancia and Zagato before the company’s industrial integration into the Fiat Group.