1978 Lancia Beta 1300 Coupe
Discussion
Cars of different series were sold out of sequence, with early 1600 Spyders alongside later 2000 versions on the same forecourts, or so I'm told. Dealers struggled with the UK's mid to late 1970s economic crisis (new Lancias were not cheap) and with Lancia's burgeoning reputation for rust. Someone in head office decided not to sue the papers that falsely alleged that engines fell out of new cars. Maybe that was an error. Anyway, the pub myth was born and lives on. No one seems to know if the Mafia and Russian steel story (also told about Alfa) is true or false. By the early 1980s the Beta was sold with a five year anti perforation warranty, but by then it was too late.
I passed the flagship Fiat dealership in Mayfair yesterday. Big Fiat, Alfa and Abarth badges on the wall. On sale? Fiat 500s. That was all.
The current Fiat bosses seem intent on killing both Fiat and Alfa. As for their Lancia brand, in Italy it sells boring limos for Italian politicians to ride around in and a boring family hatch that calls itself a Delta.
The current Fiat bosses seem intent on killing both Fiat and Alfa. As for their Lancia brand, in Italy it sells boring limos for Italian politicians to ride around in and a boring family hatch that calls itself a Delta.
There's a pigeon lives locally to me that eats a bit heavily and fancies itself as a bit of a car critic. It went out for a heavy lunch and then did one of its reviews of the Betakoop. I mean, all over it. Off down to the local jet wash for me.
Well, you know how before careful jet washing the car looked incredibly s
t?
Here it is after careful jet washing. Hey! Looks incredibly st, eh?
Well, you know how before careful jet washing the car looked incredibly s
t?Here it is after careful jet washing. Hey! Looks incredibly s
t, eh? I have a factory new metal sunroof in a box in my shed (it came with the HPE), so there are options.
The sunroof was a cost option on the 1300, which was indeed the povvo edition. Interesting to see what they skimped on. No clock, for example.
Most Coupes had two buckety seats in the back with a reading lamp in between them. The thickly bolstered bench seat was a 1300 thing. See also the groovy rear seat of the early HPE, with the wrap around sides. The later HPE lacks that, but compensates by having the best rear seat headrests ever.
Check out this midnight blue and mustard and brown combo on an early Coupe. Ooooohya.
The sunroof was a cost option on the 1300, which was indeed the povvo edition. Interesting to see what they skimped on. No clock, for example.
Most Coupes had two buckety seats in the back with a reading lamp in between them. The thickly bolstered bench seat was a 1300 thing. See also the groovy rear seat of the early HPE, with the wrap around sides. The later HPE lacks that, but compensates by having the best rear seat headrests ever.
Check out this midnight blue and mustard and brown combo on an early Coupe. Ooooohya.
From ye internetz:
Lancia Beta Coupé 1300 information summary
What body style?
fixed-head coupé with 2+2 seats
How long?
3993 mm
How heavy?
1000 kg (book says 980 kg)
What size engine?
1.3 litre, 1297 cm3
How many cylinders?
4, Straight
How much power?
83 PS / 82 bhp / 61 kW @ 5800 rpm
How much torque?
108 Nm / 80 ft.lb / 11 kgm @ 3300 rpm
How quick?
0-60 mph: 13.00 s
How fast?
164 km/h, 102 mph (book says, gasp, 103 mph)
Lancia MPG claim urban 25.2, 56 mph cruise 42.2, 75 mph cruise 32.5. The latter seems about right.
Fuelling via Weber 32 DATR 3/250 (22 mm chokes)
Lancia was conservative with performance figures, so a new and fresh one of these would probably be a little it faster than 13 secs 0 to 6 and might perhaps top out at OMG 105 ish.
The car is not fast by the standards of PH, but it feels zippy, if you know what I mean. Ace at 50 to 60 mph on the twisties. Going up a long hill on a motorway is fun as you need lots of revs to keep at the indicated 80 mph of the surrounding traffic. A chap in a DB4 (I think it was) passed me on the upgrade going through the Stokenchurch gap on the M40 last night, so lots of noise was happening.
Very different to the HPE, which is smooth, a bit grown up and civilised, albeit a tad noisy, and can be Warp Factor kaboom when you let the blower have a blow. Its gearing is noticeably different.
I am a bit worried about the amount of thumping and bumping coming from the front offside of the Coupe. Checking this out later.
Lancia Beta Coupé 1300 information summary
What body style?
fixed-head coupé with 2+2 seats
How long?
3993 mm
How heavy?
1000 kg (book says 980 kg)
What size engine?
1.3 litre, 1297 cm3
How many cylinders?
4, Straight
How much power?
83 PS / 82 bhp / 61 kW @ 5800 rpm
How much torque?
108 Nm / 80 ft.lb / 11 kgm @ 3300 rpm
How quick?
0-60 mph: 13.00 s
How fast?
164 km/h, 102 mph (book says, gasp, 103 mph)
Lancia MPG claim urban 25.2, 56 mph cruise 42.2, 75 mph cruise 32.5. The latter seems about right.
Fuelling via Weber 32 DATR 3/250 (22 mm chokes)
Lancia was conservative with performance figures, so a new and fresh one of these would probably be a little it faster than 13 secs 0 to 6 and might perhaps top out at OMG 105 ish.
The car is not fast by the standards of PH, but it feels zippy, if you know what I mean. Ace at 50 to 60 mph on the twisties. Going up a long hill on a motorway is fun as you need lots of revs to keep at the indicated 80 mph of the surrounding traffic. A chap in a DB4 (I think it was) passed me on the upgrade going through the Stokenchurch gap on the M40 last night, so lots of noise was happening.
Very different to the HPE, which is smooth, a bit grown up and civilised, albeit a tad noisy, and can be Warp Factor kaboom when you let the blower have a blow. Its gearing is noticeably different.
I am a bit worried about the amount of thumping and bumping coming from the front offside of the Coupe. Checking this out later.
Be off with you and you camming and carbing. The sweet little thing is lovely just as Lancia intended it to be.
Today, the Betakoop parked next to a vanishingly rare and utterly minty 1300 Beta Berlina in the most delectable shades of reddish brown and caramel. I will try to cull a photo of the two together from elsewhere. I also saw a late model Coupe on the road, but it was several cars ahead of me and turned off before I could catch up with it.
Today, the Betakoop parked next to a vanishingly rare and utterly minty 1300 Beta Berlina in the most delectable shades of reddish brown and caramel. I will try to cull a photo of the two together from elsewhere. I also saw a late model Coupe on the road, but it was several cars ahead of me and turned off before I could catch up with it.
I had been going to comment on the badging of the 1300, as it is indeed badged simply as a Lancia 1300, and the owner's handbook says the same. It has of course the same body and underpinnings as any other Beta Coupe, and a Lampredi engine. What the marketing thinking was in not calling it a Beta is not clear. The Brian Long book says that the car was sold as a 1300 Coupe in Italy but in the UK was called Beta Coupe 1300.
Here is Motor Magazine from March 1979 to add to the naming confusion.
Here is Motor Magazine from March 1979 to add to the naming confusion.
stewy68 said:
Apologies BV and slightly o/t (as haven't been on here in a while), but how is the Rangie? Loving the Beta bit too though.
The Rangie needed welding so has been swapped fro a series Landy. The Rangey may live again as the apprentice at the local 4x4 place may be using it as restoration training. It is currently on its arse in the yard there. Rattlecan City! Also polish! Also new Pirelli Cinturato P4s - the car's handling and grip is transformed.
Result - mintola innit. OK, apart from the metric st-tonne of filler and all the rust flakes and the busted steering and the oil spaffing out of the sump gasket and the door trims falling off and, yeaf , well....
It is my weddding anniversary and I am taking the Missus by surprise to Le Manoir Aux Quat' Saisons for dinner. I am going to rock up in this and insouciantly toss the keys at the valet parking dude. He will probably die of grief.
Result - mintola innit. OK, apart from the metric s
t-tonne of filler and all the rust flakes and the busted steering and the oil spaffing out of the sump gasket and the door trims falling off and, yeaf , well.... It is my weddding anniversary and I am taking the Missus by surprise to Le Manoir Aux Quat' Saisons for dinner. I am going to rock up in this and insouciantly toss the keys at the valet parking dude. He will probably die of grief.
Evo said:
Breadvan72 said:
Hilariously, the staff at Le Manoir really liked the car so it ended up parked right in front. All the shiny new German cars were made to go round the back.
Now that's class, the Wife and I are going to Claridges in September, wonder if they'd like it Edited by anonymous-user on Tuesday 20th May 10:03
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