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The Flavia was an innovative, superbly engineered, luxurious and refined car. It was the model that guaranteed the survival of the company (for a while) and set standards in performance for a decade. It was launched in October 1960 at the Turin Motor Show and received immediate acclaim. The Flavia was the first front wheel drive car produced in Italy; it established new standards in handling and ride only a year after the introduction of the revolutionary Issigonis mini. |
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Within months the Flavia was being described as an 'Italian Rolls Royce'. However, in conservative UK the car did not receive such praise - although it's rumoured that Rolls did take one apart and found the engineering to be remarkable for its price. However, with the added import tax the Flavia weighed in at a hefty £2000 in 1963, the price of a house. |
The new flat four engine and transmission on a
sub-frame was light, strong and well balanced for high revs. It provided the
platform for a range of models from the saloons (Berlinas) to the elegant
coupés, spiders and light weight GT's. The bodies were supplied by Pininfarina,
Vignale and Zagato respectively.
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