LANCIA Flavia Sedan
Generations Timeline, Specs and Pictures
Lancia introduced the Flavia Sedan in 1961, and the car had enough time on the market to prove its abilities.
And then, the Italian carmaker upgraded it, and it made it even better.
Lancia was the brainchild of a front-wheel-drive enthusiast, and he thought that the ideal mass distribution for the car should be 62% on the front axle. His name was Antonio Fessia. By creating the car’s platform, he ensured a generous interior room, a long wheelbase, and fair handling at high speeds.
Fessia installed the engine in front of the axle, which led to a longer than usual overhang. Worth mentioning that it was the first Italian FWD car. Its design looked like the cabin was pushed forward by an invisible force. Its grille was more expansive than the one on the 1961 model, and its dual headlights were underneath the hood line. In the rear, the car featured slimmer, horizontal taillights.
A long dashboard with a cover for its entire length welcomed its driver and the front passenger inside. The instrument panel featured two large round dials for the tachometer and the speedometer and a few gauges for oil, fuel, and coolant temperature.
Fessia considered that a heavier nose would reduce the torque steer, and he was right, at least for the engines fitted in the Flavia Sedan. The top version of the car featured a fuel-injected engine that produced 115 hp. It was a lot for those times for a two-liter displacement for-pot. Unusually, the car featured a 5-speed gearbox, when most of the other vehicles on the market offered only four.
Lancia started to increase its image on the market and targeted the premium segment when it introduced the Flavia Sedan in 1960.
While the coupe version of the Flavia received much attention from enthusiasts, the Flavia Sedan (or Berlina) was more often seen in rich people’s garages. It was built on a new platform generation with a front-wheel-drive and front engine arrangement. Its styling was not the most successful in the brand’s history, but its quality was at its peak.
Lancia made a clear statement with the Flavia. With its modern-looking bodywork, with flush fenders and door panels and imposing front fascia, it imposed respect on the road. The big, high-mounted, four round headlights and the chromed, shield-shaped grille represented a big step forward in the brand’s design. A set of turn-signals was installed on the front fenders, which was not very common. In contrast with the imposing front, the taillights were small.
The interior featured an unusual styling with a scoped dashboard in front of the passenger and an instrument cluster as a separate unit. Next to the driver, on the door’s side, there was a half-round button panel. The gearshift was installed on the steering column. The carmakers installed three abdominal safety belts for the rear bench and an ashtray on the front seats’ back.
To increase road holding, Lancia installed only boxer engines, which allowed a lower center of gravity. The car was offered with a choice of three engines, with displacement between 1.5-liter and 2.0-liter.