1970 Lancia Fulvia

It may seem odd for an Italian company to choose the English expression Hi.Fi. One has to remember that when it was chosen Hi.Fi. was the new specification for grammophone records giving a much better sound than traditional records. So Hi.Fi. was an indication of quality and the latest technology while at the same time indicating a high degree of fedility to the make

HF Squadra Corsa was founded in 1963. From that, competition models seem to have been attributed the HF status and logo with the Elephants.

"HF" or "Hi.Fi.", standing for "high fidelity" as you say, signified membership of a slightly exclusive club, as designated by the Lancia Company, for customers who had demonstrated their fidelity to the marque by serially purchasing a certain number of new Lancias (five).

Later again they started sticking HF as a logo on higher performance variants of production cars to designate their sporting pedigree.

Let's start with the elephant. There are contrasting stories and legends regarding the origin of this elephant, including the simple "the elephant never forgets". We do know that in 1953 the then Managing Director of Lancia, Gianni Lancia, chose it as a good luck token for the Company's first racing appearances. The symbol of the galloping elephant apparently originates in Eastern mythology as an auspicious emblem or symbol of victory, providing the trunk is stretched forward. This is how the elephant chosen by Gianni Lancia was drawn, first in light blue and later as now in bright red.

Scureia Lancia competed in Giro di Sicily 1952. They used Aurelia Serie 2 with a lowered roof line. One of the drivers - Enrico Anselmi - had used an elephant as a "sign" on his car for some years. He allowed the Lancia team to use "his" elephant. That was the first time the elephant was used on a Lancia competition car.

Lancia mechanics painted an elephant on the side of the Mille Miglia cars to take the mickey out of Ferrari and their prancing horse.

On the practical side you have small discounts from the price list, as well as on replacement parts and repairs. Once you were also made partaker of exclusive events for the presentation of new models, often abroad, remember Cannes and Nice (FR) for the launch Dedra, Sevilla (SP) for Kappa. Large hotels and large gala in a tuxedo with international cabaret stars, the only discounted price for the night ... Ah, You found each appointment in hotel room, a tribute Luis Vuitton, up to compose a nice set of bags ...

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