1978 Lancia Beta 1600 Coupe

1978 Lancia Beta 1600 Coupe

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Discussion

AW111

9,455 posts

132 months

Saturday 17th October 2020
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As I'm currently laid up on the couch with sundry plumbing installed in my kidney*, it's nice to see photos of classics out and about. Keep them coming.

The Mister Two has probably eaten another battery, since it's been parked up for months due to lockdown and I forgot to fit the trickle charger frown.

  • The drugs are a nice consolation, although it means my spell checker is working overtime to make my posts legible.
As to watches, I haven't worn one in decades - pipecleaner arms mean they just flop around anywhere between wrist and elbow, and I hate spring straps.

V1nce Fox

5,508 posts

67 months

Sunday 18th October 2020
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that ouside pub shot is perfect. colour really sells it.

anonymous-user

Original Poster:

53 months

Sunday 18th October 2020
quotequote all
Talking of colour, the OE tools match the car!


V1nce Fox

5,508 posts

67 months

Sunday 18th October 2020
quotequote all
Breadvan72 said:
Talking of colour, the OE tools match the car!

who's had the oe spec bottle of kurust out of there?

anonymous-user

Original Poster:

53 months

Sunday 18th October 2020
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I mistook it for a trendy protein smoothie and necked it.

anonymous-user

Original Poster:

53 months

Monday 19th October 2020
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WHAT??? A rechargeable torch???

Mine is missing. Car now scrapped.

https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/arechive/articl...

anonymous-user

Original Poster:

53 months

Monday 19th October 2020
quotequote all
Oi! P5 bloke!

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/164369556622

Let me tell you (1) That Beta Berlinas have coooooooool instruments; and (2) that a 1300 Lancia Lampredi is a sweeeeeeeetie! It goes as well as any Ford 1600 that hasn't been hyper-Barried.

AW111

9,455 posts

132 months

Monday 19th October 2020
quotequote all
Breadvan72 said:
Oi! P5 bloke!

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/164369556622

Let me tell you (1) That Beta Berlinas have coooooooool instruments; and (2) that a 1300 Lancia Lampredi is a sweeeeeeeetie! It goes as well as any Ford 1600 that hasn't been hyper-Barried.
My sister's 124 coupe had the 1300 Lampredi, and it was one of the sweetest engines I've driven.

anonymous-user

Original Poster:

53 months

Monday 19th October 2020
quotequote all
As you may know, the Fiat and the Lancia Lampredis have different heads, but both versions are fab. Alfa and Morgan used Lampredis too, IIRC.

P5BNij

15,772 posts

105 months

Monday 19th October 2020
quotequote all
Breadvan72 said:
Oi! P5 bloke!

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/164369556622

Let me tell you (1) That Beta Berlinas have coooooooool instruments; and (2) that a 1300 Lancia Lampredi is a sweeeeeeeetie! It goes as well as any Ford 1600 that hasn't been hyper-Barried.
That is undoubtedly very nice not to mention rare, but it doesn't quite hit the right spot for me. If I bought it, I'd still be yearning endlessly for something a bit more spesh and fabby. Ta for the nod though. Tell you what, you buy it and I can live even more vicariously than I usually do!

I'm trying to squeeze as much into my budget as possible but the goal posts keep moving due to some 'required home improvement' distractions. The frustration is currently at 'first world problem annoying level #4'!


  • edit : I've just remembered that one of my middle school teacher's had a Beta Berlina, a pale blue one IIRC.

anonymous-user

Original Poster:

53 months

Tuesday 20th October 2020
quotequote all
I am tempted but will say no. I have owned a Beta Spider, an HPE, and two Beta Coupes, so a Berlina would be neat, especially in 1300 guise, but I doubt that I would drive the car much, AND I MUST FIX MY LOTUS!

AW111

9,455 posts

132 months

Tuesday 20th October 2020
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Breadvan72 said:
As you may know, the Fiat and the Lancia Lampredis have different heads, but both versions are fab. Alfa and Morgan used Lampredis too, IIRC.
I've come across that factoid about the heads before, but have so-far failed to find out what the actual differences are.
Do you (or the other Italian car nuts fans on here have any info?

anonymous-user

Original Poster:

53 months

Tuesday 20th October 2020
quotequote all
I used to know, but I have forgotten. I may have the answer in a book, but my books are mainly in boxes since a house move.

anonymous-user

Original Poster:

53 months

Tuesday 20th October 2020
quotequote all
Bit of info, but not very (EDIT: not at all) techy -

https://www.hemmings.com/stories/article/still-the...


HOW MUCH???

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Twin-Cam-Italia-Lampredis...


Edited by anonymous-user on Tuesday 20th October 12:45

P5BNij

15,772 posts

105 months

Tuesday 20th October 2020
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How much indeed, I've currently got three Lancia books in my Amazon basket that are well north of £100 each, I'm waiting for them to drop back a bit. Might take a while!

anonymous-user

Original Poster:

53 months

Tuesday 20th October 2020
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I was reading "La Lancia" last night. It is PRON.

citizensm1th

8,371 posts

136 months

Tuesday 20th October 2020
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Breadvan72 said:
Bit of info, but not very (EDIT: not at all) techy -

https://www.hemmings.com/stories/article/still-the...


HOW MUCH???

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Twin-Cam-Italia-Lampredis...


Edited by Breadvan72 on Tuesday 20th October 12:45
That's a whole C cup right there

AW111

9,455 posts

132 months

Tuesday 20th October 2020
quotequote all
I've read the Hemmings article before - I wonder if the difference was simply due to the Lancia engine being mounted at an angle.

When I'm allowed to drive again, I'll drop in on rally Fiat mate - he's got sundry period factory tuning info (carb jet sizes, cam specs, etc.) if anyone's interested, although that probably belongs in BV''s other jaunty jalopy thread.

anonymous-user

Original Poster:

53 months

Tuesday 20th October 2020
quotequote all
I am not sure but I think that Lancia may have done something different with the valves. I may have dreamed that. I am annoyed because I used to know but cannot now recall.

I am coming to the view that as between the Lancia and the Fiat, the Lancia is the better car, but I still like the Fiat a lot.

The Weber carbs are similar but not the same. In the Beta, you get a poor man's turbo effect very notably when the second choke gets going high up the rev range.

I have just touched in a couple of minor paint blemishes on the Beta, and painted the rear end of the exhaust, as that was showing rust. I have slapped some Hammerite on some crusty bits under the bonnet.

Seat covers arrive next week, says the helpful Katia in Turin.

Justin Case

2,195 posts

133 months

Tuesday 20th October 2020
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Breadvan72 said:
Bit of info, but not very (EDIT: not at all) techy -

HOW MUCH???

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Twin-Cam-Italia-Lampredis...
More to sir's pocket? From leading motoring booksellers Chaters to boot.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Twin-Cam-Italia-Fiat-La...tongue outYQAAOSwdLJfbLnz

Useful tip - Amazon is not the only show in town. Used book aggregator site Addall has books from all over the world, often cheaper than Amazon, and you can sort by title, author, or keyword and then put in order of price. This is where I found this one, not quite the cheapest but should be a safe buy smile