1978 Lancia Beta 1600 Coupe

1978 Lancia Beta 1600 Coupe

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Discussion

CharlesdeGaulle

26,242 posts

180 months

Sunday 24th January 2021
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gforceg said:
Oh, 'ello! Just spotted this.

https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C1297191
Strange ad.

I don't much like the colour but that could be an interesting buy. I wonder what it needs to finish?

gforceg

3,524 posts

179 months

Sunday 24th January 2021
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I see what you mean. It's like poeple who start an ad with "I'm thinking of selling my car...". Well, let me know when you're sure.


It would be good to know what still needs to be done to it.

anonymous-user

Original Poster:

54 months

Sunday 24th January 2021
quotequote all
That car has been for sale since 1189.

gforceg

3,524 posts

179 months

Sunday 24th January 2021
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6th of July by any chance?

anonymous-user

Original Poster:

54 months

Sunday 24th January 2021
quotequote all
6 July during the last Ice Age, I think .


AW111

9,674 posts

133 months

Sunday 24th January 2021
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Breadvan72 said:
gforceg said:
Good stuff, I only ask because the last carbed car I had was a bit of a balancing act to get running in very cold weather.
They certainly can be. I used to have difficulties with My Dolomite Sprint (twin SUs) on very cold days, but this Beta with a single twin choke Weber usually starts OK.
Those little downdraft Webers generally perform quite well without being cantankerous as long as no-one's disconnected the choke.


anonymous-user

Original Poster:

54 months

Sunday 24th January 2021
quotequote all
Thin tyre FWD snow fun has been had. Car now jetwashed all round and underneath, and back indoors.

anonymous-user

Original Poster:

54 months

Sunday 24th January 2021
quotequote all
A friend sent me this. His father's car, pictured some time circa 1981.




IT seems from DVLA that this Beta VLM 80X made it to 1991 before being scrapped, or going into storage or off register. Most likely scrapped.

There is a very vague connection between it and my car, because the owner of the red one was a man called Flight Lieutenant Tommy Thompson, who served five years as an RAF engine fitter working on Spitfires before he was commissioned as a pilot. He then flew Vampires, Canberras, Provosts, Victors, Hunters, and Hawks, and retired as the oldest Flight Lieutenant in the RAF, because he refused to be promoted, so that he could carry on flying. His son taught me to fly. Tommy bought cars for their engines. He had for example a Riley Kestrel ( a real one, not a badge engineered ADO16), a Fiat 124, and the Beta. My Beta was first owned by a Spitfire pilot called Eric Garland MC, MBE. Eric died in 2016 and Tommy in 2019.

Edited by anonymous-user on Monday 25th January 06:56

V1nce Fox

5,508 posts

68 months

Sunday 24th January 2021
quotequote all
OK, grey then.


anonymous-user

Original Poster:

54 months

Sunday 24th January 2021
quotequote all
In the snow, all Jags are grey. That is my only modern heap.

V1nce Fox

5,508 posts

68 months

Sunday 24th January 2021
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I kind of like that both cars have a similarity of intent, just separated by time and engineering.

They’re both the cars of a cad and a bounder, just a few years apart.

anonymous-user

Original Poster:

54 months

anonymous-user

Original Poster:

54 months

V1nce Fox

5,508 posts

68 months

Saturday 30th January 2021
quotequote all
Remember these as a teenager, thinking they looked effortlessly cool and stylish.

It’s aged very, very well

anonymous-user

Original Poster:

54 months

Saturday 30th January 2021
quotequote all
They are very practical as well as great fun They are like a Tardis - bigger on the inside, and can be a serious family motor. The two litre Lampredi with a supercharger pulls like a three litre.

CharlesdeGaulle

26,242 posts

180 months

Saturday 30th January 2021
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I like it too, but I'm not sure I 15 grand like it.

V1nce Fox

5,508 posts

68 months

Saturday 30th January 2021
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For 15k i’d crack at the last minute and buy a manual 911 instead, but that’s because i’m a bit crass.

What sort of power did these make?

anonymous-user

Original Poster:

54 months

Saturday 30th January 2021
quotequote all
I cannot recall the numbers without checking. Not a huge BHP rating, but good torque, and not very heavy, so they go well.

15K is too much, especially for LHD.

anonymous-user

Original Poster:

54 months

Sunday 31st January 2021
quotequote all
Ciao, Italianate clunker lovers, what think you of some Japanese Italiana? Hey, pasta is just noodles, right?

Have a shuftie here -

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

Edited by anonymous-user on Monday 1st February 05:07

V1nce Fox

5,508 posts

68 months

Sunday 31st January 2021
quotequote all
That link just takes me to my topics.