1978 Lancia Beta 1600 Coupe
Discussion
CharlesdeGaulle said:
Breadvan72 said:
I know it's the weekend, but Jersey isn't keeping you busy enough. 
Breadvan72 said:
Same seller as in August. Claimed sold back then. Still does not answer emails.
I may ring tomorrow.
I smell fish.
Breadvan72 said:
My 1978 1300 Coupe was a wreck, but a hilarious one. My 1600 is a 1979 car (the thread title incorrectly says 1978, although on reflection the car must have been built in 1978 - it was registered in February 1979), and is not a wreck, but bear in mind that these cars were expected to last 10 to 15 years, not 40 years plus.
A late registration, I believe. My HPE (MAB 387T) was registered in February 1979 and it was a series two car. Edited by Breadvan72 on Monday 23 November 10:55
CallThatMusic said:
BlimeyCharlie said:
I had a 1979 1600 Beta Coupe.
It was a bit of heart versus head job.
Buyed it on New Years Eve and drove it from Humberside to my dwelling 150 miles away...got 140 miles and exhaust fell off.
It was a car that broke something if driven, or something wouldn't work if not driven.
But I'm so glad I owned it for 2 years, but glad I solded it.
I now run a 'modern' AMG thingy (2005) which sheared idler bearing last week. Make of that what you will. So I've paid for a recovery for Lancia and AMG.
But then again again I've done 6k miles in AMG, 100 in Lancia.
Lovely cars but...
My AMG won't go down in value but it feels like a proper bit of engineering, same as the Lancia.
Not sure why I wrote this!
Like you I’ve got modern stuff from Germany and an old Lancia.It was a bit of heart versus head job.
Buyed it on New Years Eve and drove it from Humberside to my dwelling 150 miles away...got 140 miles and exhaust fell off.
It was a car that broke something if driven, or something wouldn't work if not driven.
But I'm so glad I owned it for 2 years, but glad I solded it.
I now run a 'modern' AMG thingy (2005) which sheared idler bearing last week. Make of that what you will. So I've paid for a recovery for Lancia and AMG.
But then again again I've done 6k miles in AMG, 100 in Lancia.
Lovely cars but...
My AMG won't go down in value but it feels like a proper bit of engineering, same as the Lancia.
Not sure why I wrote this!
This year I had to replace a complete exhaust system on my German car and it cost me £5k, that’s twice what I paid for the Lancia.
The Lancia breaks down from time to time but usually only a few hundred quid and it goes again.
The Lancia was an adventure car, a thrill. Still one of my favourite-looking cars. But for me and my limited mechanical skills it became a bit of a headache - won't start in the garage, earth strap? Starter motor?...the car became a 4-wheeled puzzle.
As I said above I did 100 miles in 2 years, and it was a step too far for me regarding tinkering.
Gear linkage 'went' when I drove car onto ramps on my drive, can't remember why I wanted to do that, another 'little' job...car then wouldn't engage reverse to get down ramps, so it was stuck there until I got parts from Beta Boyz. I think the car 'flexing' on the ramp meant it finished a gear linkage ball joint off.
Replacing linkage was another skill gained, but getting my other half to 'help' (yet again) meant the novelty wore off.
As I said satisfying to resolve, but next time I'd start the car the dash lights wouldn't work, or something random.
The guy (really nice chap) who I bought it from said it was a 'somewhat niche' car, in a tongue-in-cheek way.
I thought I knew better, poor 'For Sale' advert etc.
When the time came to sell I had a diverse bunch of interested people come and look at it, all loved it but...
I didn't pay much for it, sold it for not much, but a car I'm glad I owned. It was an 'experience' and that is what life is about!
I have info about the couple that first owned this car! The warranty is in the name of this man's wife, and he appears in correspondence with Lancia UK dating from 1986 in the car's file. The names and residence details indicated in other obituary sources match, and the car came back from the IOM in 2017, so it appears that this hero of WW2 and his wife had the car from 1979, and that he kept it after his wife's death in 2003 until he died in 2016.
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/all-notices/content/1...
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/eric-garland-xq...
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/all-notices/content/1...
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/eric-garland-xq...
Edited by anonymous-user on Wednesday 16th December 04:41
F/L Garland was evidently as tough as old boots. After the War he farmed in Kenya and was in the Colonial police during the Mau Mau episodes. He spent most of his peacetime career as an airline pilot. He married a stewardess, and it is she whose name appears on the car's warranty book.
The car's good condition must reflect the care that Mr and Mrs Garland gave it, and it may perhaps have been stored during Mr Garland's old age. A chap in the Lake District brought the car back from the IOM in 2016 or 2017, and I bought it from him in 2017.
The car's good condition must reflect the care that Mr and Mrs Garland gave it, and it may perhaps have been stored during Mr Garland's old age. A chap in the Lake District brought the car back from the IOM in 2016 or 2017, and I bought it from him in 2017.
My dad's (formerly my grandad's) Beta 2000 Coupe, nut and bold restoration/restomod. AP calipers, 037 inspired Braid one-offs alloys, engine and suspension have been fettled with a bit too 
It used to be a automatic, but now supports a 5-speed manual 'box.
It used to be a automatic, but now supports a 5-speed manual 'box.Edited by vincegail on Wednesday 16th December 20:28
vincegail said:
My dad's (formerly my grandad's) Beta 2000 Coupe, nut and bold restoration/restomod. AP calipers, 037 inspired Braid one-offs alloys, engine and suspension have been fettled with a bit too It used to be a automatic, but now supports a 5-speed manual 'box.
That looks interesting - I have vague plans for something similar to a VX. What spec were the wheels made to (I assume 16", but offset, width?) It used to be a automatic, but now supports a 5-speed manual 'box.Edited by vincegail on Wednesday 16th December 20:28
vincegail said:
My dad's (formerly my grandad's) Beta 2000 Coupe, nut and bold restoration/restomod. AP calipers, 037 inspired Braid one-offs alloys, engine and suspension have been fettled with a bit too It used to be a automatic, but now supports a 5-speed manual 'box.
Love it !! It used to be a automatic, but now supports a 5-speed manual 'box.Edited by vincegail on Wednesday 16th December 20:28
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