Why HF and the Elephant

By Bengt Gustavsson Chairman, Svenska Lanciaklubben.

I belive we perhaps have a little mixup here between "Lancia Hi.Fi." club, the letter HF and the little elephant. Let's start with the elephant. 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.

The "Lancia Hi.Fi." club (that's the rigth way to write it) was announced on the 1960 Motor show in Geneva by Lancia's Dr. Alfredo Della Seta. A Mr. G A Rivetti was elected President for the first meeting. He had bought 712 (!) cars for himself and his family.

Two Articles from the Rules.

Article 2

All motorist who have purchased at least SIX new Lancia cars during any period are eligable for membership.

Article 5

The radiator badge will be engraved with the initials of the owner and the year when he purchased his first Lancia. Stars corresponding to the number of Lancia cars owned will be attached to the badge (white star for one car, blue for five and red for ten).

A section of the Lancia Hi.Fi. was founded 1962.

You must have been a successfull driver of Lancia competition cars to be invited. Some members were Fangio, Bracco, Villoresi, Chiron, Truffi and Pintacuda. It was called "Lancia Hi.Fi.Assi".

Lancia Squadra Corsa started 1965 with Cesare Fiorio as a "freelance" manager. This team used the little "running" red elephant on their cars in combination with the letter "HF" (not Hi.Fi.).

__

Home