berlina

Flavia Berlinas ~ Saloons ~ Sedans

This model range guide of the Berlinas, Coupes, Vignale convertibles and Zagato Sport Flavias follows in sequence. To skip to the model your interested in go to the bottom of this page and go to the next page. However, you will find a lot of information that applies to the other models in the Berlina section.

The Berlinas - A Guide

The first road report of the Flavia Berlina was in The Autocar for 4 November 1960, before the car was available on the UK market. There was some guess work as to the price at around £1000 to £1060 based on currency exchange rates.

All the significant features we find in the Flavia/2000 range were there in the first Berlina model: flat four all alloy engine, front wheel drive, dead beam back axle with half elliptic leaf springs, unequal length front wishbone suspension with the unusual transverse leaf spring, disc brakes all round with servo assistance with separate front and back circuits. Extremely high specifications for the time; compare them with that of a contemporary BMC Farina Oxford/Cambridge with their ohv pushrod engines, drum brakes, cast iron engine blocks.

The Motor Road test of 1961 gave max speed at 92.6mph, 24 mpg. Best one way speed at 96.8mph. (About the same as a 2.4 MkII Jaguar but with a litre less.) 0-60 time of 18.6secs. Touring mpg went up to 30mpg.The Autocar guessed badly on price: It was £2187 12 shillings

"Nothing in this specification (the suspension) had led us to anticipate that the Flavia would be the best-sprung car we had ever driven and yet eventually this proved to be the considered opinion of our road test staff."

The Motor, August 1961

The first Berlina; its utilitarian looks belying high spec and performance. However, the frontal treatment is redolent of the Maserati Quattroporte.

Cross section of front suspension and constant velocity drive shaft, transverse leaf spring, and the heavy duty bearings which allow for low rolling resistance.

Cross section of front suspension with leaf spring and front wheel drive shafts in constant velocity joints

Technical Specification:

1500cc (82x71mm); twin cams operating short push rods; Weber or Solex; 4 gears all synchro; steering worm&roller with 3.5 turns lock to lock; length 15 ft and width 5ft 3ins; weight 24 cwt/1210kg. max 78bhp @ 5200rpm; mph at 1000revs 18.1mph in top.

"The smoothness and tractability of the engine are memorable. Several times the car was taken to 5500rpm in the gears and it remained unobtrusive. Lancia could claim a maximum speed of 92 mph...acceleration was not outstandingly lively...but it is very refined in all that it does, and in its appointments. "

The Autocar November 1960

The Flavia Berlina 1800/Milleotto

Specification for the Injection Model:

Max speed 103 mph; 0-60 15.0 secs; fuel consumption 28mpg;102 bhp @5200rpm.

"The engine sounds as unstrained at its recommended peak as it does at half that speed. That such a large car (taller than the Rover and Triumph 2000s) should have a maximum of 105 mph on 102 bhp shows that the shape is not as uncompromisingly square as it looks."

The Motor December 1967

Flavia Milleotto Berlina 1967

The 2000 Sedan

Technical Specifications:

1991cc; 89x80mm; compression 9.2:1 ; Solex carb; 115bhp @ 5500rpm; 4 gears; max torque 122ilbs @3500rpm;steering ZF power; weight laden 27.7cwt; max speed 105mph; 0-60 11.7 secs.

Advert Autocar, 26 august 1971

The Berlina has put on weight, is plusher with trim levels and is longer at 15' 3". The boot is even bigger taking 13 cu ft of luggage. It needed more power to haul it up to its class handling performance. Enter the Iniezione...

2000 HF Sedan with Injection and 5 speed gear box; the last of the breed

Use the links on the left to find your way around the Flavia/2000 Model Range section.