1978 Lancia Beta 1600 Coupe
Discussion
Praise be that the first owner ticked that option.
Saw a clip on youtube last week where a chap restoring his Europa refreshed the bootlid badge, he cleaned up the existing black painted section with a wire brush pen (cheap as chips, easy to find) then using a syringe filled the area up again with black paint. I've used the same method on the '3.5 litre' badges on my P5Bs and it works a treat, with a steady hand.
Saw a clip on youtube last week where a chap restoring his Europa refreshed the bootlid badge, he cleaned up the existing black painted section with a wire brush pen (cheap as chips, easy to find) then using a syringe filled the area up again with black paint. I've used the same method on the '3.5 litre' badges on my P5Bs and it works a treat, with a steady hand.
Different style of badge on this one, looks like it's printed on brushed stainless steel, similar to S2 Rover P6s..... an earlier or later car...?
I like the alloys on these two, they're slightly Alfa-ish....
This one shows the crispness of the design very well, I've only just noticed the different fuel filler positions....
I like the alloys on these two, they're slightly Alfa-ish....
This one shows the crispness of the design very well, I've only just noticed the different fuel filler positions....
Breadvan72 said:
Hold on, just got to check that CDG approves of the Italianate footwear choice before the day can proceed.
Ees lightly brogued at za toe, Galantuomo.
Far too late to be of use - not that it would be anyway - but approved (although with a mild raised eyebrow at the lack of sockage). Nice little rug too. Ees lightly brogued at za toe, Galantuomo.
'Fat Flaky Fiat Fanciers Felch, Froth, Faff & Fanny About For Frolics'...?
'Twin Cam Twin Lamp Totty Takers'...?
No, perhaps not.
A large and hefty Lancia book arrived in the post whilst I was out 'working' today, I ordered it on Amazon a couple of days ago thinking it was just a small photo album type affair but no, it's a gynormous tome from 1981 crammed with very nice reprints of old 'Autocar' articles, plenty of Beta content which I'll be getting stuck onto anon. It was only a tenner. Good 'ere ain't it
'Twin Cam Twin Lamp Totty Takers'...?
No, perhaps not.
A large and hefty Lancia book arrived in the post whilst I was out 'working' today, I ordered it on Amazon a couple of days ago thinking it was just a small photo album type affair but no, it's a gynormous tome from 1981 crammed with very nice reprints of old 'Autocar' articles, plenty of Beta content which I'll be getting stuck onto anon. It was only a tenner. Good 'ere ain't it
Edited by P5BNij on Thursday 8th October 15:41
Discussion above (IIRC) as to when Lancia stopped being Lancia. Some Lancisti call a Beta a Fiat, and it is more Fiatish than, say, a Flavia is.
Which is the last Lancia? Some might say that the Gamma is.
Lancia quirkiness died hard, and even rarities such as the Mark 2 HPE (very rare!) was not quite fully Fiatised.
Lancia is now dead, dead, dead, alas.
Which is the last Lancia? Some might say that the Gamma is.
Lancia quirkiness died hard, and even rarities such as the Mark 2 HPE (very rare!) was not quite fully Fiatised.
Lancia is now dead, dead, dead, alas.
Some of the period reviews are mixed in this regard - some say it was the Fulvias, some the Flavias and some the Betas (haven't read any of the Gamma ones yet). I think one of the Montecarlo reviews said it was the last true Lancia, even with its Fiat X1/20 gestation with input from Abarth.
Lancia was definitely one of those companies which gave its best whenever it could, even when the finances were looking shaky. Long before Fiat took over they gave an entire works team of F1 cars away to Ferrari in the '50s, the spirit of generosity and positivity was typically Italian.
Lancia was definitely one of those companies which gave its best whenever it could, even when the finances were looking shaky. Long before Fiat took over they gave an entire works team of F1 cars away to Ferrari in the '50s, the spirit of generosity and positivity was typically Italian.
So..., which is better?
(a) a Lancia Beta 1600 Coupe, or
(b) a Fiat 124 Sport Coupe 1800?
The answer is, of course, (c) a Lancia Appia Series Three Berlina, but that is disqualified because MOARDOORS.
I honestly cannot decide which of the Beta and the 124 I like most. The Beta is more of a GT, whilst the Fiat is more of a sports car. The Beta is rare, the Fiat is super-rare. The Beta needs a retrim, the Fiat needs welding. The Beta is posh, the Fiat is a bit Barry*. They are both great to look at. I think that, for now at least, I shall keep them both, unless anyone wants to offer me a bundle of cash for one or the other.
* Bari
(a) a Lancia Beta 1600 Coupe, or
(b) a Fiat 124 Sport Coupe 1800?
The answer is, of course, (c) a Lancia Appia Series Three Berlina, but that is disqualified because MOARDOORS.
I honestly cannot decide which of the Beta and the 124 I like most. The Beta is more of a GT, whilst the Fiat is more of a sports car. The Beta is rare, the Fiat is super-rare. The Beta needs a retrim, the Fiat needs welding. The Beta is posh, the Fiat is a bit Barry*. They are both great to look at. I think that, for now at least, I shall keep them both, unless anyone wants to offer me a bundle of cash for one or the other.
* Bari
What a dilemma to have.... I know I said earlier on that you need to have a clear out, but with these two I'd take your time, leave it a while and just enjoy them a little longer. You've only just got the (fabby) Beta back on the road.
The Beta's interior.... how much of it needs recovering, is it just the seats or do the door panels need doing to...? Have a word with the gurus at Omicron, they do complete restorations on all sorts of Lancias so will know what's best and have a good idea of the cost. Alternatively there are other firms like Optimise Automotive who can do complete retrims in vinyl / leatherette / cloth / leather etc. Their main thrust is with Minis, VWs, Fords etc but they can do pretty much anything on any car.
The Beta's interior.... how much of it needs recovering, is it just the seats or do the door panels need doing to...? Have a word with the gurus at Omicron, they do complete restorations on all sorts of Lancias so will know what's best and have a good idea of the cost. Alternatively there are other firms like Optimise Automotive who can do complete retrims in vinyl / leatherette / cloth / leather etc. Their main thrust is with Minis, VWs, Fords etc but they can do pretty much anything on any car.
The door cards, headlining and carpets etc are fine, and the dash plastic is OK. The dials have a milky cover that has resisted attempts at improvement. The driver's seat cover has torn badly in two places, and the tops of the rear headrests have split under attack from the Sun.
I have some spare fabric available via a rear seat cushion bought from eBay Italia.
I have some spare fabric available via a rear seat cushion bought from eBay Italia.
Re: the foggy plastic over the clocks. I had similar in my MG Midget and the same problem with the vinyl windows in the hood. I used some stuff called Greygate plastic polish which worked very well. The hood windows in particular came up like new.
There are two types, basically for soft and hard plastics.
Made a big difference to the placky headlight covers on Mrs 404's Focus too.
Apparently it restores the volatiles lost to UV attack, although it won't remove scratches - that's a different issue.
The makers website said something about it being invented for fighter aircraft canopies or something like that IIRC. Whatever - I got some and it worked okay for me.
HTH.
There are two types, basically for soft and hard plastics.
Made a big difference to the placky headlight covers on Mrs 404's Focus too.
Apparently it restores the volatiles lost to UV attack, although it won't remove scratches - that's a different issue.
The makers website said something about it being invented for fighter aircraft canopies or something like that IIRC. Whatever - I got some and it worked okay for me.
HTH.
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