1978 Lancia Beta 1600 Coupe
Discussion
BTW the MAN 2140 plate at the front is falling off, but DVLA are taking ages to deal with my application to put the car back on its old T reg plates and pay tax on it (the car is 40 years old and will soon be tax and MOT exempt - manufactured 1978, registered early 1979)) . I could be pulled by Plod for driving around on Isle of Man plates (the car has been back on the mainland for a while now), but the car is insured and has an MoT, and thus far I have received no bother.
Island cars for island lives, eh? I am shortly to depart the UK to live on an island far away. I am already thinking of taking an old Italian bike there with me (well, shipping it there in a container) and am beginning to think crazy thoughts of shipping the Beta too. Its suspension is designed for rough 1970s Italian roads, and it is not too low slung, so the rough roads of the BVI may not trash it, but the lack of aircon and possible shortage of local expertise in fixing carburettors and the like might be challenges.
Island cars for island lives, eh? I am shortly to depart the UK to live on an island far away. I am already thinking of taking an old Italian bike there with me (well, shipping it there in a container) and am beginning to think crazy thoughts of shipping the Beta too. Its suspension is designed for rough 1970s Italian roads, and it is not too low slung, so the rough roads of the BVI may not trash it, but the lack of aircon and possible shortage of local expertise in fixing carburettors and the like might be challenges.
Edited by anonymous-user on Friday 13th April 10:09
arguti said:
Mech had bought one before - wrong size, alas. Looks like Betaboyz back online and may have stock. Breadvan72 said:
... the rough roads of the BVI may not trash it, but the lack of aircon and possible shortage of local expertise in fixing carburettors and the like might be challenges.
Stalked you from the burglar thread... BVI you say 
the roads aren't bad at all, good fun in a tarmac rally stage kind of way but lots of drives and out of the way places to houses are insanely steep and sketchy with 2wd in the wet. You'll probably find more mechanics that can fix carbs than can fix anything modern. You don't need a/c, you've got windows. I wouldn't take a motorbike; the national sport is drink driving, more accurately absolutely blind drunk driving, it's a sport that everyone, and I mean everyone plays, typically at about 10mph. Otherwise absolutely fantastic place; enjoy!fblm said:
Stalked you from the burglar thread... BVI you say the roads aren't bad at all, good fun in a tarmac rally stage kind of way but lots of drives and out of the way places to houses are insanely steep and sketchy with 2wd in the wet. You'll probably find more mechanics that can fix carbs than can fix anything modern. You don't need a/c, you've got windows. I wouldn't take a motorbike; the national sport is drink driving, more accurately absolutely blind drunk driving, it's a sport that everyone, and I mean everyone plays, typically at about 10mph. Otherwise absolutely fantastic place; enjoy!
Two years on ... the roads aren't bad at all, good fun in a tarmac rally stage kind of way but lots of drives and out of the way places to houses are insanely steep and sketchy with 2wd in the wet. You'll probably find more mechanics that can fix carbs than can fix anything modern. You don't need a/c, you've got windows. I wouldn't take a motorbike; the national sport is drink driving, more accurately absolutely blind drunk driving, it's a sport that everyone, and I mean everyone plays, typically at about 10mph. Otherwise absolutely fantastic place; enjoy!Yes, I enjoyed the crazy roads. I bought a 2007 Nissan Skyline 350 GT. The post-Irma rough roads killed three of its tyres. A neighbour smashed the car up. I sold it to a colleague. I had a bike (Ninja clone with illegal 250 or 300 engine - local limit is 125). It was stolen. I did not bring a car over from the UK. I'm back home now after an adventure.
That lovely one reminds me of my hilariously knackered 1300 Coupe YAJ. It was a bag of spanners, but great fun.
The Volumex that I had was a late HPE - really lovely and not at all rusty.
I have now had, in order, the following Betas
2000 Spider - late, not rusty, had been patched a bit
1300 Coupe - early, very rusty
2000 Volumex HPE - late, not rusty
2000 ie HPE - rusty donor car
1600 Coupe - early, rust repaired
I have not had a Berlina, a 1400, or an 1800.
The Volumex that I had was a late HPE - really lovely and not at all rusty.
I have now had, in order, the following Betas
2000 Spider - late, not rusty, had been patched a bit
1300 Coupe - early, very rusty
2000 Volumex HPE - late, not rusty
2000 ie HPE - rusty donor car
1600 Coupe - early, rust repaired
I have not had a Berlina, a 1400, or an 1800.
I cannot see why it would be. Betas have good handling and grip. Any car will aquaplane if there is enough water on the road.
Betas are among the best handling FWD cars I know of, along with Peugeot 205s and Fiat Coupes. I have not tried a VW Corrado or FWD Lotus Elan for comparison.
Betas are among the best handling FWD cars I know of, along with Peugeot 205s and Fiat Coupes. I have not tried a VW Corrado or FWD Lotus Elan for comparison.
The wood is only in the first series of Coupes before Lancia changed the interior.
Imagine the conversation in the design office.
"Hey boss, this car is supposed to be upmarket, yeah? Aspirational. The car needs some wood in it."
Boss consults budget sheet, and points at pencil box on desk. "You see that ? That's how much wood you can have in the car. Get on with it".
"Wooden gear knob?"
"Alright, If you really must, but that's it, now f
k off."
Meanwhile at Pininfarina, old man Pininfarina himself spends an actual twenty minutes looking at the drawing for the Ferrari ashtray cover that some kid has spent five days on, makes one small mark on the drawing, and then has lunch.
Imagine the conversation in the design office.
"Hey boss, this car is supposed to be upmarket, yeah? Aspirational. The car needs some wood in it."
Boss consults budget sheet, and points at pencil box on desk. "You see that ? That's how much wood you can have in the car. Get on with it".
"Wooden gear knob?"
"Alright, If you really must, but that's it, now f
k off."Meanwhile at Pininfarina, old man Pininfarina himself spends an actual twenty minutes looking at the drawing for the Ferrari ashtray cover that some kid has spent five days on, makes one small mark on the drawing, and then has lunch.
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