Chrysler/Lancia Delta And Ypsilon

[wildcat45]

You know how it is, you've had a few beers ard you go online. I ended up on the Chrysler site a few days ago, and today two brochures, Delta and Ypsilon arrived through the door.

I guess they are Fiat 500 or Panda based, but what are they really like?

I have to confess to going through a liking for Italian cars at the moment. So much so that I went to the loft to find some early 80s Italian brochures. The 1981 Delta was a good looking car.

Back to the present, the odd styling of these cars appeals to me. Bear in mind I used to hate the Fiat 500 but am considering an Abarth after a fantastic test drive.

I would happily have a Lancia. But a Chrysler?

I know they rusted to nothing, but that was 30 years ago. Long enough ago for thse who bought and hated Betas to be getting on a bit. Long enough ago for people of my generation to forgive them, long enough ago for a younger buyer never to have heard of a rusty Lancia.

Its not as if Chrysler was all that great. My Dad had a Chrysler Horizon new in 1979, it rusted, just long enough to be passed through the family for it to be my first car, 8 years old on its second set of wings, holes in doors.

Chrysler to me is the cheap rebadged Simca of the 70s. American market tat of the 80s and stuff like the Neon in later years. It got given away in the end.

Lancia is the Stratos, the Delta, Fast Deltas, crazy dashboards like the Trevi's. Italian fun v American bland.

Could you get Lancia badges to rebadge a Chrysler Delta or Ypsalon?

[craigjm]

Yes you could change the badges (although you might need to change the steering wheel) what would be more difficult would be finding somewhere that would flash the audio / nav system to present a Lancia splash screen rather than Chrysler

[Redlake27]

I'm an Italian car freak, having owned about 25 Alfas and Fiats.

I've got a soft spot for the Delta. It is basically a longer, more comfy, less sporty Giulietta. It is not class leading, but its different. But to me, the Chrysler badging is far less attractive than the Lancia branding. I hope you can rebrad them easily.

The Ypslion is a bit of a mixed bag. Based on the 500/Old Panda, it is a proven car with good engines and kit, but not really the sophisticated chassis that a 'Lancia' deserves

I'm not sure if the UK market will understand these cars. Therefore, I'd wait a couple of years for a real bargain secondhand

[Scuderia2112]

Every time I see them in the flesh they seem to grow on me more and more.

[LuS1fer]

I love the Lancia brand and all it once stood for, mainly Italiam glamour. However, the cars to which the badge is now attached are duff whatever badge they wear. Give me a Beta any day of the week.

[pwrc]

I saw a new delta for the first time yesterday actually.
No, no, no.