1981 Lancia

⭕ THE SALE

This 1981 Lancia Beta Zagato Spider is currently in a 2-week auction on our website. This is our guide price, i.e. what we think the car is worth in the current market, however, the reserve will be lower. You can read much more about the car, see of hundreds of detailed photos and videos of it, and ask the seller any questions on our website: we can't add links on this platform, so please search for "Trade Classics" on Google.

⭕ VEHICLE SUMMARY

A true Italian drivers' car with driving prowess and power to impress.

Introduced at the Turin Motor Show in November 1972, the Beta was the first completely new vehicle developed by Lancia following its 1969 acquisition by Fiat. It replaced Lancia’s financially unsustainable bespoke engineering with a progressive platform featuring transversely mounted twin-cam engines, four-wheel independent MacPherson strut suspension, rack-and-pinion steering, and disc brakes all round. Over its production life, the platform birthed six distinct body styles, none more striking than the 1974 Spider.

Designed by Pininfarina and hand-assembled by Zagato, the Spider circumvented era-specific open-top safety concerns through a rigid central roll bar paired with a modular removable targa panel and folding rear canvas hood. Beyond its technical credentials and contributions to Lancia's broader motorsport legacy, the vehicle gains significant rarity through its unique origins.

It was constructed via Complete Knock Down (CKD) kits shipped directly to South Africa rather than being exported as a fully completed Italian unit. Assembled in small batches of just a few hundred units per series, these vehicles incorporated locally sourced components such as glass, tyres, and interior trim to satisfy local content regulations.

Finished in 'Rosso Corsa' over a black interior, this 1981 Lancia Beta Spider Zagato was imported into the UK in 2016, and has been with our vendor since 2018. Having been preserved by the dry South African climate, it retains an exceptionally solid structural shell that is remarkably rare compared to original UK-market cars. Mechanically sorted following a comprehensive engine rebuild in 2021, this sound example requires only minor cosmetic detailing and fresh paintwork to reach its full potential, and it is accompanied by a fresh MOT. Combined with its scarce Zagato coachwork and factory CKD heritage, this car represents an exceptionally preserved, low-production chapter in Lancia’s celebrated history.

⭕ VEHICLE DETAIL

We've written a longer and more detailed description of this vehicle on our website, which will answer all of your burning questions. To see the car on our site then just search for us, Trade Classics, on Google.

⭕ BEFORE YOU CALL US

We love to talk about cars, but more than 90% of buyers' questions are answered in the full listings on our website: there you'll find a huge amount of detailed information about this car's history, condition, and specification - as well as hundreds of detailed photos and videos. Don't worry: if you still have a question, please just give us a call during office hours.

⭕ ABOUT US

Trade Classics is the most trusted auction house in the UK, with 4.9* on TrustPilot and thousands of happy buyers and sellers. Our mission is to provide the most honest and transparent listings available. By helping you avoid scammers, timewasters, and expensive platform fees, we make the process of buying and selling a car as pleasurable as driving it.