A celebrated chapter of rally history comes full circle as the legendary Lancia Fulvia HF No. 14 returns to Monaco, honouring its unforgettable 1972 Monte Carlo Rally victory and the enduring legacy of Italian motorsport.
For more than a century, the Principality of Monaco has occupied a singular place in the world of automobiles. The tiny Mediterranean nation has become one of motorsport’s most enduring capitals with its glamorous concours d’élégance, legendary rally stages and world-famous Formula 1 circuit. To celebrate this remarkable relationship, a spectacular exhibition titled Monaco and the Automobile, from 1893 to the Present Day, was held this summer at the Grimaldi Forum, retracing over 130 years of automotive history.
Among its most captivating attractions was a machine that represents far more than engineering excellence. The Lancia Fulvia 1600 HF No. 14 returns to Monaco as a living piece of rallying history. It is the very same car that conquered the 1972 Monte-Carlo Rally and cemented its place among the sport’s greatest legends.
Displayed exactly as enthusiasts remember it, the Fulvia wears its unmistakable race number 14, with vibrant red bodywork and distinctive matte black hood, originally designed to reduce glare during competitions. Surprisingly, the car still bears the scars of its historic victory, preserving the marks left by one of rallying’s most dramatic performances rather than hiding them beneath restoration.
That unforgettable victory took place on January 28, 1972, when driver Sandro Munari and co-driver Mario Mannucci tackled the treacherous Col de Turini. Rain, snow, fierce winds and sheets of ice transformed the mountain pass into one of the most demanding stages in rally history. While rival teams relied on increasingly powerful rear- wheel-drive machines, Lancia’s lightweight front- wheel-drive Fulvia proved brilliantly suited to the conditions. Its exceptional balance and power-to- weight ratio allowed it to outperform competitors with considerably more horsepower, delivering one of the defining victories of the Monte Carlo Rally.
The victory became the crowning achievement of Sandro Munari, affectionately known as Il Drago, or The Dragon. Munari would go on to win the Monte Carlo four times, first with the Fulvia in 1972, before achieving three additional victories driving the iconic Lancia Stratos, cementing himself as one of Italy’s greatest rally drivers. His success helped establish Lancia as one of the dominant forces in international rallying and earned him the 1977 Cup for Rally Drivers, making him the first Italian ever to claim the honour. The exhibition also serves as a touching tribute following Munari’s recent passing, celebrating a career that forever changed the sport.
The Fulvia’s story, however, began years before its famous Monte Carlo triumph. Introduced as the elegant Fulvia Coupé in 1965, the 2+2 grand tourer was created by celebrated designer Piero Castagnero, whose flowing proportions were inspired by the sleek silhouettes of Riva motorboats. Beneath its refined exterior sat an innovative V4 engine that evolved from 1.2 to 1.6 litres across several versions, blending everyday usability with genuine sporting character. Commercial success arrived almost immediately, but it was on rally stages across Europe where the Fulvia truly found its identity.
Victories at the Rally dell’Elba, the Spanish Rally and Britain’s RAC Rally laid the foundation for its reputation, but the 1972 Monte Carlo Rally elevated the model into automotive legend. The success proved so influential that Lancia later introduced a special Fulvia Coupé 1.3 S “Monte- Carlo” edition, directly inspired by the victorious number 14 and its extraordinary achievement.
Today, the storied Fulvia typically resides within Heritage HUB in Turin, a remarkable museum housed inside the historic Mirafiori complex. Home to nearly 400 classic automobiles from Stellantis’s Italian marques, the collection offers visitors an unparalleled journey through Italian automotive design and engineering, and has been recently enhanced by the addition of the prestigious ASI Bertone collection. For the Monaco exhibition, however, one of its greatest treasures has temporarily returned to the roads and the city that made it immortal.
Spanning 3,500 square metres and featuring around 20 rally cars alongside 30 iconic Formula 1 machines, the Grimaldi Forum exhibition is more than a celebration of remarkable vehicles. It is a tribute to the drivers, designers and innovators whose passion transformed Monaco into the spiritual home of speed, elegance and endurance. At its heart sits the Lancia Fulvia HF No. 14, which is not just a championship-winning automobile, but also a symbol of an era when courage, precision and ingenuity were the true engines of greatness.
