Lancia Flavia I (Tipo 815) photos

The original first-generation Lancia Flavia was developed by chief engineer Antonio Fessia and unveiled at the 1960 Turin Motor Show, marking a landmark moment as Italy's first mass-produced front-wheel-drive passenger car equipped with Dunlop disc brakes on all four wheels. Built on the proprietary Tipo 815 chassis, the vehicle was produced in several body configurations, including a practical four-door factory saloon (Berlina), a handsome 2+2 coupe penned by Pininfarina, a stylish open-top convertible by Vignale, and an aerodynamic Zagato Sport coupe. The drivetrain was centered around an innovative aluminum flat-four (boxer) petrol engine, initially displacing 1.5 litres and subsequently enlarged to 1.8 and 2.0 litres in later iterations. Transmission was a four-speed all-synchromesh manual gearbox. In 1965, the model became one of the earliest production cars to offer Kugelfischer mechanical fuel injection. A comprehensive styling redesign arrived in 1969 for both the saloon and Pininfarina coupe (Series II). The Flavia enjoyed strong recognition across European and international export markets as an engineering masterpiece.