Lancia Fulvia Engine Strip | Workshop Uncut | Car S.O.S. 

If they got rid of that "look at me" moron Tim Shaw they might actually have a decent television programme. He's the reason a lot of people have stopped watching it. Thanks Fuzz.

The design is older than that. Lancia's V-4 started production in the 1920's!

I just made that point before seeing your comment. You are right that it has short and long rockers to straddle the banks.

Vw uses that type of engine in their VR lineup. Also, the W configuration used in some VW/AUDI and on Bugatti's works the same way.

@k halliday I do believe Issigonis wanted an engine like this for the Mini but had to make do with the old Austin lump, meaning he had to put the gearbox in the sump.

That's Italian design for you! :)

It's complexity for its own sake. Everything Lancia did tended to be more complex, more expensive, less reliable, and really no better than a more conventional design, but car nerds loved them precisely because they were so unapologetically gratuitous. A V4-powered Saab 96 was a more effective car in just about every way, and would last about forever until owners started skipping maintenance, but the Lancia was beloved for being a gloriously impractical work of art.

Where is the complexity? I only see elegant simplicity. Its 2 valves per cylinder, over head cams that share lobes for intake and exhaust, adjustable rocker arm/tappets, and a cam chain. Complexity would be 4 valves, 4 cams, shim and bucket over valve, variable valve timing and transverse layout...

My first car was a Fulvia, and I have always owned at least one (often 3 or 4 at a time). I have probably driven close to a million miles in Fulvias, and have only had 2 engine problems in all that mileage. One was the failure of an after market electronic ignition that I had fitted 6 to 8 years earlier, and another was the failure of the petrol pump. One engine I rebuilt when it had done 200,000 miles and everything was still in original spec; just replaced standard piston rings, standard bearings shells (including mains). Some of the bearing shells had all but no sign of wear. Skimmed the head and reseated the valves, and the engine was good for another 100,000 miles. It is rust that is the problem on these cars, not mechanics..

If you find that to be complex than anything with early fuel injection will break you😂