Flat-Four Classics

LANCIA FLAVIA (1961-1970)

here were other cars with flat-four engines before the Flavia (such as the Volkswagen and the Jowett Javelin) but it was the Flavia that made the industry sit up and take notice. Its 1.5-litre all-alloy water-cooled flat-four was only part of a highly advanced specification which included double wishbone front suspension, four-wheel disc brakes and front-wheel drive. The flat-four engine allowed the power unit to sit in front of the longitudinal transaxke and the entire drivetrain was low-slung enough to provide both a low centre of gravity