1978 Lancia Beta 1600 Coupe
Discussion
Here are two more pics.
For some weird reason that nobody has ever explained, Alfa Romeo always used to put the words "Alfa Romeo" on the rocker covers of their 1970s twin cams, but, as you can see, the clumsy idiots at the Alfa factory forgot to do that on this Alfa.
For some weird reason that nobody has ever explained, Alfa Romeo always used to put the words "Alfa Romeo" on the rocker covers of their 1970s twin cams, but, as you can see, the clumsy idiots at the Alfa factory forgot to do that on this Alfa.
Edited by anonymous-user on Tuesday 30th June 20:28
carinaman said:
Dialage. Old enough for silver on black plates that would match the backing panel for the dials, though possibly not go with the red.
Those plates would not have been legal when the car was registered in the autumn of 1973, unless it had been built before (from memory, not checking) April 1973, and few if any buying a sporty car in 1973 would have wanted black plates on it. The fact that the DVLA are historically ill informed does not alter this. People who (legally but stupidly) put black plates on 1978 Escorts should be killed. No exceptions. There is a a 1969 Series one (AC) 124 Coupe on eBay for 9500. It has not seen an MOT tester since 2005, but has had a respray and maybe a retrim. It has black plates. Its first owner in 1969 (who may have been a very cool young woman, as the Series One is a very pretty and elegant car, unlike the rather 70s porn tache machismo of the Series Three) would probably not have wanted black plates. In 1969, your granddad had black plates on his sensible Vauxhall.
Here is one being driven by Ron Swanson's dad with no front plate. Note that he is The World's Coolest Man. Those are 1970s tyres, so that lean angle may be happening at 17 mph.
sunbeam alpine said:
rjg48 said:
sunbeam alpine said:
Breadvan72 said:
I cannot afford a 105 Coupe...
Of course you can! I must admit that they are mostly very optimistically priced.
Another winning buy BV.
That is just stunning Breadvan72. 
My Dad's last car was a 1970 Fiat 125 with a 1,600cc Lampredi twin-cam that he bought in 1972.
But after he suffered a cerebral hemorrhage in 1975 it eventually became my 2nd car in 1977 so he did at least get to still go in it after losing the use of 2 limbs.
When I was looking to change in 1979 I looked at a 1975 BC 1800 124 Coupe, but it was some sort of peppermint green and a pretty unloved example of a great car.
Then I tried a Sweeney style MK1 Granada 3.0 litre XL manual, but ended up getting a P6B Rover 3500S (possibly because my cousin had a P6B 3500).
Power matters when you are 20ish!
But I did briefly have a Fiat 132 1800ES after that which was much more fun to drive than it looked with 111bhp allegedly.
I think the 1800cc 124 Coupe reportedly had 118 bhp, but in the 70s a 5 speed gearbox was definitely a novelty and Veglia Borletti dials are just so Italian!
Enjoy your lovely slice of 70s Italiana.
My Dad's last car was a 1970 Fiat 125 with a 1,600cc Lampredi twin-cam that he bought in 1972.
But after he suffered a cerebral hemorrhage in 1975 it eventually became my 2nd car in 1977 so he did at least get to still go in it after losing the use of 2 limbs.
When I was looking to change in 1979 I looked at a 1975 BC 1800 124 Coupe, but it was some sort of peppermint green and a pretty unloved example of a great car.
Then I tried a Sweeney style MK1 Granada 3.0 litre XL manual, but ended up getting a P6B Rover 3500S (possibly because my cousin had a P6B 3500).
Power matters when you are 20ish!But I did briefly have a Fiat 132 1800ES after that which was much more fun to drive than it looked with 111bhp allegedly.
I think the 1800cc 124 Coupe reportedly had 118 bhp, but in the 70s a 5 speed gearbox was definitely a novelty and Veglia Borletti dials are just so Italian!
Enjoy your lovely slice of 70s Italiana.
I took my sister shopping for her first car, having made a list of possibles from the 2nd hand car ads.
She ended up the proud owner of a 1400cc FIAT 124 coupe - I'm not sure, but I think it was a 1971 model.
It was love at first sight. We looked at a few other cars on her shortlist, but came back to the FIAT.
It was a lovely little thing. Not fast, but a gem of a motor.
The only flaw I recall was being reluctant to start on freezing mornings - there was a knack to it.
She ended up the proud owner of a 1400cc FIAT 124 coupe - I'm not sure, but I think it was a 1971 model.
It was love at first sight. We looked at a few other cars on her shortlist, but came back to the FIAT.
It was a lovely little thing. Not fast, but a gem of a motor.
The only flaw I recall was being reluctant to start on freezing mornings - there was a knack to it.
Lancia and Fiat offered five speed gearboxes, front and rear disc brakes, twin cam engines with alloy heads, and alloy wheels as standard on sporty cars in the early 70s. Compare the iron engined, four speed, rear drums braked sporty Escort of that time. But nowadays the Escort is worth mega money, whilst Fiats and Lancias are still relative bargains. That's markets for yer!
Edited by anonymous-user on Wednesday 1st July 08:44
Breadvan72 said:
eBay is AWESOME!!!!!!!!!
I have just found, for sale in Slovenia, two early Beta headrests, covered with the fabric used in my car. I have just bought them for 27 quid plus postage, and will use the fabric to patch the holes in the seats.
These eventually turned up. The seller was a very unreliable dude who did not send the headrests until put under a lot of pressure to do so. Every email he sent me contained a new lie. The headsets do not much resemble the advert photos and the fabric on them is shot, Never mind! I will keep looking. I have just found, for sale in Slovenia, two early Beta headrests, covered with the fabric used in my car. I have just bought them for 27 quid plus postage, and will use the fabric to patch the holes in the seats.
Breadvan72 said:
Breadvan72 said:
eBay is AWESOME!!!!!!!!!
I have just found, for sale in Slovenia, two early Beta headrests, covered with the fabric used in my car. I have just bought them for 27 quid plus postage, and will use the fabric to patch the holes in the seats.
These eventually turned up. The seller was a very unreliable dude who did not send the headrests until put under a lot of pressure to do so. Every email he sent me contained a new lie. The headsets do not much resemble the advert photos and the fabric on them is shot, Never mind! I will keep looking. I have just found, for sale in Slovenia, two early Beta headrests, covered with the fabric used in my car. I have just bought them for 27 quid plus postage, and will use the fabric to patch the holes in the seats.
Breadvan72 said:
Lancia and Fiat offered five speed gearboxes, front and rear disc brakes, twin cam engines with alloy heads, and alloy wheels as standard on sporty cars in the early 70s. Compare the iron engined, four speed, rear drums braked sporty Escort of that time. But nowadays the Escort is worth mega money, whilst Fiats and Lancias are still relative bargains. That's markets for yer!
I compete in this: Edited by Breadvan72 on Wednesday 1st July 08:44
It's got all the typical Italian goodies you mention, and was built in 1968.
Those dodgy Escort thingies* are too young to compete with us - you need a Cortina or Hunter.
Pub and garage forecourt bores insist that Italian cars rust more than other cars. They endlessly repeat the undocumented story about the Mafia and Russian steel. The reality is that all 1970s steel cars rust. Even German and Japanese cars of that era can be Hella rotten. Swedes too: The other week I said no to a great looking 1970 Volvo 145 Estate because although it had shiny (fillered) bodywork and paint, a sturdy two litre engine that had been to Mars and back without effort, and a fab interior, it was mega rusty underneath and would have badly failed an MOT if not exempt (what a daft idea the exemption was).
Individual cars that were waxoyled or ziebarted and then garaged didn't rust. By chance, my Lancia Beta and, it appears, this Fiat 124 have never been very rusty. My Lancia has had some welding, but not loads. The Fiat has bubbles on the boot lid, and not much evidence of patching and filler, although there may be some. I worry about the bulkhead of my Landy, but I can't see to check it. Its chassis seems OK.
Individual cars that were waxoyled or ziebarted and then garaged didn't rust. By chance, my Lancia Beta and, it appears, this Fiat 124 have never been very rusty. My Lancia has had some welding, but not loads. The Fiat has bubbles on the boot lid, and not much evidence of patching and filler, although there may be some. I worry about the bulkhead of my Landy, but I can't see to check it. Its chassis seems OK.
Edited by anonymous-user on Wednesday 1st July 13:49
Dunk130TC said:
The Spider left you cold? Are you reptilian, unless you’re thinking of the appallingly bumpered later US cars? (In which case I agree)
Here’s my 1.8 with twin 40’s, early bumpers and a definite need for a higher compression using a 130TC head and pistons.
Yours looks great and I wish you joy of it. I just don't warm to them in the metal for some reason. Maybe because I had a 1977 Alfa Spider (Kamm tail) for ten years.Here’s my 1.8 with twin 40’s, early bumpers and a definite need for a higher compression using a 130TC head and pistons.
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