Lancia Motor Club

General => General Chat => Topic started by: fensaddler on 26 November, 2010, 09:40:09 AM



Title: HF stands for High Fidelity, but why?
Post by: fensaddler on 26 November, 2010, 09:40:09 AM
Why use the term 'High Fidelity' - anyone know why this rather odd term, in retrospect, was applied to Lancia cars?  Is there a reason or a rationale?


Title: Re: HF stands for High Fidelity, but why?
Post by: sparehead3 on 26 November, 2010, 12:33:30 PM
Dunno "why" but I did go to a sixth form open evening with Claire the other night. On the top of the wall of the Maths room that had all the greek letters ... I pointed out they were all Lancia cars ... she just rolled her eyes at me :)


Title: Re: HF stands for High Fidelity, but why?
Post by: lancialulu on 26 November, 2010, 03:22:56 PM
HF Squadra Corsa was founded in 1963. From that, competition models seem to have been attributed the HF status and logo with the 3 Elephants.

Tim


Title: Re: HF stands for High Fidelity, but why?
Post by: LanciAlan on 26 November, 2010, 09:01:10 PM
Surprised more Lancia scholars haven't yet put their hands up on this one ...

afaik "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 (6 I think). I have no idea what the perks of membership were though I think it may have involved hotel concessions and the like. And a keyring I suppose.

I think the HF designation was later re-purposed (or perhaps just re-aligned) with the official Lancia racing team - Squadra Corse HF. I think it was at this stage also that the red elephants were added or associated but I cannot recall why - possibly Hannibal/endurance related?

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

I am sure others can moderate this ...


Title: Re: HF stands for High Fidelity, but why?
Post by: johnturner on 26 November, 2010, 09:15:51 PM
Yes, this was a brand allegiance/loyalty scheme dreamt up by Lancia in the 1950s/1960s.  Regular customers got a badge which they could screw onto the radiator and a keyring onto which stars were added for each car bought. See below. Nevil Buckle persuaded Lancia to give him a badge on the basis that he had owned more Lancias than you could shake a stick at, without revealing that he had never paid more than about £15 for any of them.  Quite how this evolved into the umbrella for the competition department I am not sure.


Title: Re: HF stands for High Fidelity, but why?
Post by: fay66 on 26 November, 2010, 09:34:31 PM
If I remember Correctly, Walkers used to have a very good explanation of the origin on their web site.

Brian
8227 8)


Title: Re: HF stands for High Fidelity, but why?
Post by: lancialulu on 27 November, 2010, 11:49:23 AM
Found this on the web:

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.

and this

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.

And this

I always thought it was something to do with Lancia taking part in an Alpine rally back in the day and adopting the Elefantino Rosso symbol in homage to Hannibal taking elephants over the alps in ancient history...

Tim


Title: Re: HF stands for High Fidelity, but why?
Post by: fay66 on 28 November, 2010, 12:19:28 AM
If I remember Correctly, Walkers used to have a very good explanation of the origin on their web site.

Brian
8227 8)


Got it wrong, it was on John Whalley's site.


The Sales Success   The Delta Integrale History




 
The HF Symbol of Lancia Competition Cars


The HF symbol, the contraction of High Fidelity, owes its origin to the Lancia Hi. Fi. Club, which draws its members from loyal Lancia clients according to strict rules of elegibility which govern membership. The Club was founded in 1960 and the HF was taken as its logo.



The transposition of the Initials H and F on certain sports cars followed in 1961, when customers started to race Flaminia Pinina Farina in Grand Turismo events.



The "consecration" came with the launch of the legendary Fulvia coupe, and it became the official logo of the Company's sports cars, starting with the 1966 Fulvia HF coupe which remained almost unbeatable on the world rallies, until the mythical Stratos appeared on the scene to dominate rallying from 1974 - 1978.



In the mean time the HF Racing Team had been founded in 1963, initially as a simple association of amateur drivers unofficially backed by Lancia, but becoming the official sporting branch of the Company in 1965.



The HF symbol was adopted again in 1983 for the Delta turbo and thereafter on the Delta 4WD and the Integrale. With the introduction of the Evolution model of the Integrale, the letters were combined with the galloping red elephant. The elephants had been on the original badges for the Fulvia HF and the Stratos, at that time there were four elephants displayed.



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.



Brian
8227


Title: Re: HF stands for High Fidelity, but why?
Post by: Sliding Pillar on 28 November, 2010, 01:50:44 PM
I had a HF Club badge on both the Aprilia and Aurelia B24. Back in the eighties you received a HF diary every year as part of membership. I haven't put the badge on the B50 however as it spoils the line of the grille.


Title: Re: HF stands for High Fidelity, but why?
Post by: peterbaker on 28 November, 2010, 02:48:35 PM
I was told Lancia mechanics painted an elephant on the side of the Mille Miglia cars to take the mickey out of Ferrari and their prancing horse.


Title: Re: HF stands for High Fidelity, but why?
Post by: Niels Jonassen on 28 November, 2010, 04:37:40 PM
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.
Niels Jonassen


Title: Re: HF stands for High Fidelity, but why?
Post by: thecolonel on 28 November, 2010, 08:00:32 PM
I always understood it was  Haute Fanalone but then If it doesn't have 70% on the box I
tend not to look further.


Title: Re: HF stands for High Fidelity, but why?
Post by: ColinMarr on 28 November, 2010, 10:51:07 PM
Ade,

Good for you for owning an original HF grille badge. As John Turner has posted, they were originally awarded to worthy buyers and owners of Lancias in the 1960’s and beyond. I think Harry Manning had one, for much the same reason that Nevil Buckle did. I believe they all had the holder’s names embossed on them. Could it be that yours was Harry Manning’s.

Colin


Title: Re: HF stands for High Fidelity, but why?
Post by: JohnMillham on 29 November, 2010, 02:38:07 PM
I have Geoffrey Robson's Hi. Fi. badge, which came with his Lambda. Picture attached. As you will see, his initials and date of joining are below the "radiator" and there's a red star below that, with enough holes for four more stars. I wonder if all of the stars issued were the same value. Perhaps they issued gold ones for the very special owners. Regards, John


Title: Re: HF stands for High Fidelity, but why?
Post by: ncundy on 29 November, 2010, 02:53:08 PM
I've seen gold and white stars - not sure what the significance is?


Title: Re: HF stands for High Fidelity, but why?
Post by: Sliding Pillar on 29 November, 2010, 04:31:05 PM
Hi Colin, The HF badge on the Aprilia & Aurelia are mine, they have my initials on them!
I think the stars were to signify the number of cars owned along the lines of white star for one car, blue for five, red for ten and gold for fifty. (Although I can't remember the exact permutations).


Title: Re: HF stands for High Fidelity, but why?
Post by: lancialulu on 29 November, 2010, 04:37:27 PM
Further on the HF my Fulvia 1600 HF sales brochure states:

"1600, the displacement of the narrow V engine giving 114 HP DIN.

HF, the monogram for <High Fidelity> Fidelity of performance, given through an engine/gearbox/propulsion unit impressive for their precision and efficiency, famous and feared in the battlegrounds of competition. Fidelity in the use, for mile after agressive mile. Fidelity in control with safe constant obedience to the driver both in competition and every day traffic.

Fulvia 1600HF. Inspect it well before it leaves: once on the move all you'ill see is its rapidly disappearing tail"

Those were heady days of auto marketing!!!

Gosh it makes me proud to own one....

Tim


Title: Re: HF stands for High Fidelity, but why?
Post by: peterbaker on 29 November, 2010, 05:02:07 PM
The owner of the most Lancias under the scheme also qualified as Chairman.


Title: Re: HF stands for High Fidelity, but why?
Post by: lancialulu on 29 November, 2010, 05:49:34 PM
Chairman of what? The HiFi wotsit, LMC? or Lancia itself???

Tim


Title: Re: HF stands for High Fidelity, but why?
Post by: peterbaker on 30 November, 2010, 04:20:04 PM
Chairman of the HiFi Club or whatever Lancia called it.


Title: Re: HF stands for High Fidelity, but why?
Post by: HF_Dave on 30 November, 2010, 09:06:05 PM
Very interesting. I always wondered why the makers of audio equipment used the term HI-FI, were they the first or was Lancia ? I always have a job explaining to people what the elephants and the HI-FI logo on my HF coupe stand for, some are amused as to why you would have childish elephants on your car and then the explaining starts !  ???. I just hoped I have my facts right. David. :)


Title: Re: HF stands for High Fidelity, but why?
Post by: GG on 01 December, 2010, 02:20:15 AM
From Luigi De Virgilio:

"I can give you for the moment a detailed explanation of the origin of the Hi Fi badge. I will ask about first hand informations about the Elephants. For sure Mr. Hannibal is not involved.
 
All informations came from Rivista Lancia:

Lancia Hi Fi association (High Fidelity, probably inspired by quality audio systems sold in those yars) was founded in the spring of 1960 for faithful Lancia customers.Only those that already bought at least 6 cars (later 10) were admitted. Each member was given a badge (shown on page 1) for the radiator grille with small stars representing the number of cars owned. Page 2 shows the regulations. I hope your Italian is quite good from now!

The first meeting was held in Ginevra on March 15th 1961 (page 3 and 4).
At the beginning of 1961 was established a section for gentleman drivers that won a competitions driving a Lancia.
In 1962 was instituted a section Hi Fi Assi (Aces) with Bracco as president.
In 1963 some drivers created the team HF Squadra Corse not related with the company, but reserved to Lancia owners.
Flavia Coupe cars with the traditional badge are shown in Bosato's workshop.

I think that Cesare Fiorio was the man behind this team.

The racing version of the Fulvia Coupe was the first named HF.
In 1969, since fake HF Squadra Corse stickers were everywhere (from Fiat 500s onwards), for a couple of years official cars had a yellow cyan version (like the stripes on the Fulvia that are inspired by Turin city colours)."

I'll try and post some of the scans he sent.

Geoff


Title: Re: HF stands for High Fidelity, but why?
Post by: GG on 01 December, 2010, 02:29:10 AM
more scans:


Title: Re: HF stands for High Fidelity, but why?
Post by: fay66 on 01 December, 2010, 09:32:26 AM
Now that's what you call the definitive version ;D and should put the subject to bed.

Brian
8227 8)


Title: Re: HF stands for High Fidelity, but why?
Post by: GG on 02 December, 2010, 02:34:33 AM
Still wondering if Hannibal was involved.  ;)


Title: Re: HF stands for High Fidelity, but why?
Post by: lancialulu on 02 December, 2010, 12:04:13 PM
For those that dont know here is the Turin Coat of Arms re colours etc (shame about no elelphants...).

The stripe was also known as the final edition stripe applied to the "final edition" intergales.

Tim


Title: Re: HF stands for High Fidelity, but why?
Post by: HF_Dave on 02 December, 2010, 05:14:46 PM
That explains nearly everything, but did they really adopt the HI-FI monicker from the audio manufacturer's or is there somthing that happened in Italian history before the audio manufacturers  ???


Title: Re: HF stands for High Fidelity, but why?
Post by: neil-yaj396 on 03 December, 2010, 07:31:22 AM
A agree about the audio thing. Wasn't HiFi a late 60's thing in music players?


Title: Re: HF stands for High Fidelity, but why?
Post by: HF_Dave on 03 December, 2010, 08:30:58 PM
Yes I think there's more to this.  ???


Title: Re: HF stands for High Fidelity, but why?
Post by: fay66 on 04 December, 2010, 12:11:38 AM
Yes I think there's more to this.  ???

Beginning to sound a bit like a conspiracy theory :D

Brian
8227 8)


Title: Re: HF stands for High Fidelity, but why?
Post by: lancialulu on 04 December, 2010, 08:59:38 AM
Wiki source HA Hartley wrote about High Fidelity in his Audio Design Handbook of 1958 where he states:

"I invented the phrase "high fidelity" in 1927 to denote a type of
sound reproduction that might be taken rather seriously by a
music lover"

In his book he also drew reference to High Fidelity and car engineering. The book is lttered with the term High Fidelity.

I suspect that shortly afterwards any electronic music equipment maker worth their salt jumped on the High Fidelity bandwagon (pardon the jolly term) in their marketing and the shorterned version happened within years to modernise.

Lancia could have heard it way back as a thought that described their cars - just didnt surface till early in 1960.

Tim