Lancia Beta Volumex
Discussion
Thanks BV. That is a fine looking car. I've always liked, since childhood in the late 60s / early 70s, the "HPE" style. First, the Volvo P1800 ES and then the Lancia a bit later. The long but low roofline is just so right to these eyes.
I think I'd struggle with that consumption in a daily but could hack it in a weekend and holidays car. It sounds like a pleasure to drive. Ta.
I think I'd struggle with that consumption in a daily but could hack it in a weekend and holidays car. It sounds like a pleasure to drive. Ta.
LuS1fer said:
The more economical alternative was the Viva/magnum estate which actually suffered, in terms of sales, by having the sloping rear. Always liked them though.
I Like those. The first ever hot hatch in 2.3 or Sports Hatch form? 
I very nearly bought a bright yellow 1.8 Magnum coupe as my first car, have always regretted not getting it.
Lovely!
Re coupes - Originally, a coupe was a car with a shorter wheelbase than the saloon version, but the term has also come to be used for a car with a lowered roofline, or nowadays any vaguely sporty version of a saloon car. The HPE, which is based on the Beta Berlina (saloon) has a longer wheelbase than the Beta Coupe, and is variously described by the pundits as a estate and a coupe.
As for practical coupes, I know nothing of modern cars. I had a 1997 Fiat Coupe Turbo that I thought was practical as well as fast and fun. The rear seats were usable, and the boot was a reasonable size. I used the car to take people and skis and ski stuff to the Alps on a couple of trips. By contrast, the Alfa GTV, based on the same platform, had not much room in the back and a small boot.
Re coupes - Originally, a coupe was a car with a shorter wheelbase than the saloon version, but the term has also come to be used for a car with a lowered roofline, or nowadays any vaguely sporty version of a saloon car. The HPE, which is based on the Beta Berlina (saloon) has a longer wheelbase than the Beta Coupe, and is variously described by the pundits as a estate and a coupe.
As for practical coupes, I know nothing of modern cars. I had a 1997 Fiat Coupe Turbo that I thought was practical as well as fast and fun. The rear seats were usable, and the boot was a reasonable size. I used the car to take people and skis and ski stuff to the Alps on a couple of trips. By contrast, the Alfa GTV, based on the same platform, had not much room in the back and a small boot.
Edited by anonymous-user on Saturday 29th March 10:54
LuS1fer said:
I loved the Beta HPEs and that is a great looking car. Still have the brochure in the attic, somewhere.
The more economical alternative was the Viva/magnum estate which actually suffered, in terms of sales, by having the sloping rear. Always liked them though.
That's a good call for another example of the type. Maybe this style gained popularity with the advent of rear window wipers!The more economical alternative was the Viva/magnum estate which actually suffered, in terms of sales, by having the sloping rear. Always liked them though.
BV, the grey is v fetching but I think the orangey red is nicer that some other reds.
G.
The airflow clears the rear window of the HPE once the car is moving. You only need to use the rear wiper once to clear standing water.
The later HPEs also came in silver, white, dark green and a very cool late 70s dark bronze metallic.
I am not that bothered about value, as I don't buy cars as investments. I think that the red looks good on a Beta Coupe or Spyder, but am not so sure about the colour on an HPE.
The later HPEs also came in silver, white, dark green and a very cool late 70s dark bronze metallic.
I am not that bothered about value, as I don't buy cars as investments. I think that the red looks good on a Beta Coupe or Spyder, but am not so sure about the colour on an HPE.
I can't improve on the description offered by Wikiblah:-
"MacPherson struts attached to parallel transverse links that pivoted on a centrally mounted cross member bolted to the underside of the floorpan. An anti-roll bar was fitted to the floorpan ahead of the rear struts with both ends of the bar trailing back to bolt to the rear struts on each side."
"MacPherson struts attached to parallel transverse links that pivoted on a centrally mounted cross member bolted to the underside of the floorpan. An anti-roll bar was fitted to the floorpan ahead of the rear struts with both ends of the bar trailing back to bolt to the rear struts on each side."
When I had a 1970s Alfa Spider 2000 it made any small British sports car of that era seem completely rubbish, and Lancia Betas made their British and even some German competitors seem leaden footed.
The supercharged HPE reminds me in some ways of a mid 70s BMW 2002 tii that I once drove, as although the two cars are very different in style and character, the HPE is a bit of a gentleman hooligan (the BMW was perhaps more of a gentleman thug). The Lancia is more refined than the BMW, but can also be snarly and rorty , and it is very chuckable.
The supercharged HPE reminds me in some ways of a mid 70s BMW 2002 tii that I once drove, as although the two cars are very different in style and character, the HPE is a bit of a gentleman hooligan (the BMW was perhaps more of a gentleman thug). The Lancia is more refined than the BMW, but can also be snarly and rorty , and it is very chuckable.
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