Lancia: 30 Years of Glory

Cars, Features I By Justin Cornelison I December 22, 2022

Story | Jack Scarpino

Photography | Hunter Courtin

They were never the fastest cars on the road or the most popular posters on the wall, but for nearly three decades, Lancia ruled the world of rally. Founded in 1906 in Turin, Italy, Lancia built a reputation as a company that looked at car building differently. From its earliest days, Lancia pushed automotive technology forward, debuting technology decades before its competitors. Innovations like unibody construction, the five-speed gearbox, the first production V6 engine, and independent suspension all saw their introductions in Lancias before the 1950s. This commitment to experimentation, combined with the Italian tradition of motorsport, led Lancia to build some of the most successful and unique competition vehicles of all time.

After finding some racing success in the 1950s, Lancia pivoted away from competition to focus on the production of road cars. But in 1965, Lancia acquired the privateer team “HF Squadra Corse,” which had been rallying the front-wheel drive Fulvia to some success, and the automaker’s competitive streak picked up once again. Between 1965 and 1973, the Fulvia won the Italian Rally Championship every year but one, and in 1972 Lancia scored enough points two races before the end of the season to seal their overall win in the International Championship for Manufacturers (which became the World Rally Championship the following year). Between 1973 and 1992, Lancia absolutely dominated in the highest echelons of rally racing. Thirty years on and Lancia still holds the record for most manufacturer championships with a spectacular 10 wins.