Drive and RestoreDriving a classic every day: four years in a 1972 Lancia Fulvia
A guest post by Alessio Moretti.
For most enthusiasts, a classic car is a weekend indulgence: something to polish and bring out on sunny afternoons. For the past four years, my 1972 Lancia Fulvia Coupé 1.3S has been my companion for everything from grocery runs to long motorway trips. Driving a classic every day isn’t just transport. It turns every trip into a small adventure, and it teaches you a lot about what a fifty-year-old car really needs.
A morning ritual
A modern car wakes up with a key fob. The Fulvia asks for a little ceremony. Turn the key, listen to the fuel pump tick, and coax the narrow-angle V4 to life with a quick stab of the throttle. There’s the smell of warm oil and old upholstery, and a steering wheel with half a century of stories in it. Even a short drive to the shops becomes an event, thanks to the precise steering and that jewel of an engine.
At home in the Netherlands
The Fulvia proves that good design doesn’t go out of style.
- Small enough for old cities. The narrow streets of Amsterdam or Utrecht are easy in a car this size, where a modern SUV feels clumsy.
- Environmental zones. Most Dutch environmental zones (milieuzones) for passenger cars are aimed at older diesels, so a petrol classic is usually allowed in. The rules differ per city and they do change, so check the ANWB overview of milieuzones before you drive into a city you don’t know.
- Winter. Dutch road salt is no friend of Italian steel. Wash the car often in winter, underneath as well, keep the wax and cavity protection up to date, and look for bubbles early.
The front-wheel drive helps: on slippery roads the Fulvia has more grip than many rear-wheel-drive classics of its age.
Conversations everywhere
An unexpected pleasure of a daily classic is how often strangers start talking to you. Fuel stops turn into small car shows. Pedestrians smile, cyclists give a thumbs-up, and older drivers share memories of the Fulvia’s rallying days. That sense of community is a big part of what makes classic ownership rewarding.
Maintenance is part of the deal
On a car you use every day, preventive maintenance isn’t optional.
- Oil and filter changes on schedule keep the V4 healthy.
- The twin Solex carburettors need careful setting up, and they stay happier when the car is used regularly.
- Suspension bushes and brake lines need frequent inspection, because daily use and salt wear them faster than weekend outings do.
The Fulvia rewards that attention. Lancia engineered these cars properly, and the ride and steering precision still embarrass many modern cars. For delicate jobs like valve timing, I trust a specialist who knows these engines.
Parts: plan before you need them
Parts are the real challenge of using a 1970s Lancia every day. A car that waits weeks for a part isn’t a daily driver any more. Two things help:
- Know your part numbers. Look up the original numbers for the parts you are likely to need. Our guide to ePER explains how to find them.
- Know what you are buying. For originality and fit, new-old-stock and genuine parts are the first choice. Our explainer on NOS, OEM, OES and aftermarket covers the differences.
Good partners make all the difference. These are mine:
- La Scuderia in Heerhugowaard is my first stop when the car needs expert attention. Their workshop is known for meticulous restorations, and they also sell carefully prepared Italian classics, so it’s as good for a tricky V4 adjustment as for dreaming about the next car.
- Italricambi sells new-old-stock and original parts for Fiat, Alfa Romeo and Lancia by their original part numbers, from suspension bushes to hard-to-find trim. Their catalogue has saved me more than once.
- Martin Willems is a Dutch Lancia specialist with a lot of Fulvia experience, from obscure gaskets to the right starter motor.
Having those contacts sorted turns a job that could sideline the car for weeks into a weekend project.
Living with the quirks
Daily driving a classic means accepting its character.
- No air conditioning on hot days.
- A heater that takes its time on frosty mornings.
- Motorway speeds that ask for patience: around 100 km/h is where the Fulvia is happiest.
Fuel use is around 8 litres per 100 km in my car: fine for its age, far from hybrid territory. In the Netherlands, cars of 40 years and older are exempt from road tax (motorrijtuigenbelasting), which helps make an old car affordable to keep on the road. Insurance and tax rules differ in every country, so check yours.
Why it’s worth it
For all the quirks, I wouldn’t trade the experience. A classic forces you to slow down and pay attention; every kilometre is a conversation between driver and machine. Regular use is also good for the car: fluids circulate, seals stay supple, and small problems show themselves before they become big ones.
Most of all, it keeps automotive history alive. In an age of silent EVs and driver aids, a 1972 Lancia in modern traffic is a rolling reminder of how far cars have come, and in some ways how little.
Final thoughts
Driving a classic every day isn’t for everyone. It takes patience, mechanical sympathy and a willingness to get your hands dirty. The rewards are worth it:
- Connection with the machine, the road and the history behind it.
- Community: people ready to share advice and spare parts.
- Character: a driving experience no modern car can match.
If you want to try it, line up your partners before you start: La Scuderia for expert care and restorations, Italricambi for original Italian parts, and Martin Willems for Fulvia-specific knowledge. Once a classic is your daily companion, a “normal” car simply won’t do.
La Scuderia and Italricambi are partners of Drive and Restore.