1978 Lancia Beta 1600 Coupe
Discussion
arguti said:
Mech had bought one before - wrong size, alas. Looks like Betaboyz back online and may have stock. Breadvan72 said:
... the rough roads of the BVI may not trash it, but the lack of aircon and possible shortage of local expertise in fixing carburettors and the like might be challenges.
Stalked you from the burglar thread... BVI you say 
the roads aren't bad at all, good fun in a tarmac rally stage kind of way but lots of drives and out of the way places to houses are insanely steep and sketchy with 2wd in the wet. You'll probably find more mechanics that can fix carbs than can fix anything modern. You don't need a/c, you've got windows. I wouldn't take a motorbike; the national sport is drink driving, more accurately absolutely blind drunk driving, it's a sport that everyone, and I mean everyone plays, typically at about 10mph. Otherwise absolutely fantastic place; enjoy!fblm said:
Stalked you from the burglar thread... BVI you say the roads aren't bad at all, good fun in a tarmac rally stage kind of way but lots of drives and out of the way places to houses are insanely steep and sketchy with 2wd in the wet. You'll probably find more mechanics that can fix carbs than can fix anything modern. You don't need a/c, you've got windows. I wouldn't take a motorbike; the national sport is drink driving, more accurately absolutely blind drunk driving, it's a sport that everyone, and I mean everyone plays, typically at about 10mph. Otherwise absolutely fantastic place; enjoy!
Two years on ... the roads aren't bad at all, good fun in a tarmac rally stage kind of way but lots of drives and out of the way places to houses are insanely steep and sketchy with 2wd in the wet. You'll probably find more mechanics that can fix carbs than can fix anything modern. You don't need a/c, you've got windows. I wouldn't take a motorbike; the national sport is drink driving, more accurately absolutely blind drunk driving, it's a sport that everyone, and I mean everyone plays, typically at about 10mph. Otherwise absolutely fantastic place; enjoy!Yes, I enjoyed the crazy roads. I bought a 2007 Nissan Skyline 350 GT. The post-Irma rough roads killed three of its tyres. A neighbour smashed the car up. I sold it to a colleague. I had a bike (Ninja clone with illegal 250 or 300 engine - local limit is 125). It was stolen. I did not bring a car over from the UK. I'm back home now after an adventure.
Breadvan72 said:
Update!
Two years in a barn, but now battery on charge. New clutch and gear linkage next week. 3 D printer has fixed the window winder gear.
Biggest problem: seat fabric. It is thin, and has holes in driver's side bolster and rear seat tops. leather re trim would cost spenner.
I think a decent quality cloth retrim might suit the car better.Two years in a barn, but now battery on charge. New clutch and gear linkage next week. 3 D printer has fixed the window winder gear.
Biggest problem: seat fabric. It is thin, and has holes in driver's side bolster and rear seat tops. leather re trim would cost spenner.
If it's good enough for the Toyota Century, why not a Lancia?
Lovely little motorcar. This was mine back in the day. I would like to have kept it but I couldn't afford to keep it insured at the time. It went well and when I treated it to a set sticky tyres the handling was phenomenal.
(On dry roads - it was a handful in the wet).
I had a 2000 Volumex at the same time but it was a heartbreaker. I've never seen rust like it. My memory is that around the time your car was made the factory started galvanising the shells to address the hideous corrosion issues. I hope your car is a beneficiary.
Good call on changing the timing belt. At the time I had mine Lancia recommended 30k miles but they frequently broke before that.
Glen Henderson's in Aberdeen used to be good for parts but I don't know if they are still in business.
Edit: To this day it remains the only FWD car I ever really loved.
(On dry roads - it was a handful in the wet).
I had a 2000 Volumex at the same time but it was a heartbreaker. I've never seen rust like it. My memory is that around the time your car was made the factory started galvanising the shells to address the hideous corrosion issues. I hope your car is a beneficiary.
Good call on changing the timing belt. At the time I had mine Lancia recommended 30k miles but they frequently broke before that.
Glen Henderson's in Aberdeen used to be good for parts but I don't know if they are still in business.
Edit: To this day it remains the only FWD car I ever really loved.
Edited by CATstrangler on Sunday 17th May 22:28
That lovely one reminds me of my hilariously knackered 1300 Coupe YAJ. It was a bag of spanners, but great fun.
The Volumex that I had was a late HPE - really lovely and not at all rusty.
I have now had, in order, the following Betas
2000 Spider - late, not rusty, had been patched a bit
1300 Coupe - early, very rusty
2000 Volumex HPE - late, not rusty
2000 ie HPE - rusty donor car
1600 Coupe - early, rust repaired
I have not had a Berlina, a 1400, or an 1800.
The Volumex that I had was a late HPE - really lovely and not at all rusty.
I have now had, in order, the following Betas
2000 Spider - late, not rusty, had been patched a bit
1300 Coupe - early, very rusty
2000 Volumex HPE - late, not rusty
2000 ie HPE - rusty donor car
1600 Coupe - early, rust repaired
I have not had a Berlina, a 1400, or an 1800.
If it is a keeper I'd suggest you look up car restoration websites in Italy (use stoffe, tessuto, sedili, interni and so on as search terms). You'll find there are quite a few small firms sellling NOS fabric/trim for old – and even just old-ish – Italian cars.
Not cheap, obviously, but that trim is really a big part of the personality of your car, I'd say.
Not cheap, obviously, but that trim is really a big part of the personality of your car, I'd say.
CATstrangler said:
(On dry roads - it was a handful in the wet).
Mike Parkes was driving an HPE when he aquaplaned into an oncoming lorry.Maybe it would have happened with any other car (it was a notorious spot, it seems) but I always wondered if the fact that he was driving a Beta was a factor.
I cannot see why it would be. Betas have good handling and grip. Any car will aquaplane if there is enough water on the road.
Betas are among the best handling FWD cars I know of, along with Peugeot 205s and Fiat Coupes. I have not tried a VW Corrado or FWD Lotus Elan for comparison.
Betas are among the best handling FWD cars I know of, along with Peugeot 205s and Fiat Coupes. I have not tried a VW Corrado or FWD Lotus Elan for comparison.
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