What are Lancia Beta Montecarlos like?
Discussion
Sadly I don't have the space or the funds for another toy, so this is strictly just curiosity, but I noticed there's what appears to be a pretty smart Lancia Beta Montecarlo on eBay for £2,850.
How come you can buy a mid-engined Italian sports car for less than the cost of an eight year old Fiesta?
How come you can buy a mid-engined Italian sports car for less than the cost of an eight year old Fiesta?
What is it specifically, though? I know they have a reputation for rust, but these days they're unlikely to be bought as all-weather transport, so presumably regular waxoyling and garaging will more or less overcome that?
That said, I would say no to a regular Beta Coupe either (although I presume there's not a lot shared between the two)...
That said, I would say no to a regular Beta Coupe either (although I presume there's not a lot shared between the two)...
It was only the series ones that had the over servo'd brakes, it was only really a problem with heavy braking in the wet, just when you really need the brakes not to lock up! Have a good look around for rust, they were shockers, not so much the Monte's, more the early Beta saloons and coupes, and mostly due to the salt. I've seen original Betas outside of the UK recently with no rust at all and no repairs from new.
The Montecarlo's are great fun and go really well, especially around nice windy roads. Get a good one and hang on to it.
They were going to be the Fiat X-1/9 replacement until the Fiat group decided they'd get more money for it with a Lancia badge on. My friend has a late series two he's fitted twin carbs to and it really moves.
The Montecarlo's are great fun and go really well, especially around nice windy roads. Get a good one and hang on to it.
They were going to be the Fiat X-1/9 replacement until the Fiat group decided they'd get more money for it with a Lancia badge on. My friend has a late series two he's fitted twin carbs to and it really moves.
Chris71 said:
Sadly I don't have the space or the funds for another toy, so this is strictly just curiosity, but I noticed there's what appears to be a pretty smart Lancia Beta Montecarlo on eBay for £2,850.
How come you can buy a mid-engined Italian sports car for less than the cost of an eight year old Fiesta?
You can't - it eventually went for £4221.How come you can buy a mid-engined Italian sports car for less than the cost of an eight year old Fiesta?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/221060589676?ssPageName=...
Alex said:
Lancias from that era rust like you wouldn't believe. Any survivor now will have had major bodywork restoration or repairs at some point.
And, yet again, the bloke in the pub fails.Only a very small number of Lancias suffered corrosion worse than any car of the mid/late 70s. The offenders were the S1 Beta sedans.
Evoluzione said:
Chris71 said:
Sadly I don't have the space or the funds for another toy, so this is strictly just curiosity, but I noticed there's what appears to be a pretty smart Lancia Beta Montecarlo on eBay for £2,850.
How come you can buy a mid-engined Italian sports car for less than the cost of an eight year old Fiesta?
You can't - it eventually went for £4221.How come you can buy a mid-engined Italian sports car for less than the cost of an eight year old Fiesta?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/221060589676?ssPageName=...
ClaphamGT3 said:
And, yet again, the bloke in the pub fails.
Only a very small number of Lancias suffered corrosion worse than any car of the mid/late 70s. The offenders were the S1 Beta sedans.
I'm not going to rise to it, but I'll just say I know more about Lancias than "the bloke in the pub". Only a very small number of Lancias suffered corrosion worse than any car of the mid/late 70s. The offenders were the S1 Beta sedans.
I ran one of these in the seventies. Great car, certainly no particular rust on mine. Front brakes were indeed "entertaining" in the wet. Mine was a metallic gold colour. First night I had it some kind soul keyed it for me! Traded a TR7 for it, now that was a disaster motor! Best craftmanship from the Speke factory.
The Montecarlo rotted like the saloons, but unlike the saloons one day they will be worth money.
The coupes, like the mint one I had, did not rot any different to any other car of that era and were a great cars, not like "proper" Lancias of old but a decent effort. Sadly after the saga with the saloon my coupe was worth nothing overnight, I couldn't give it away
What happened to the Beta saloon killed Lancia in the UK, they carried on as normal in Italy though.
The coupes, like the mint one I had, did not rot any different to any other car of that era and were a great cars, not like "proper" Lancias of old but a decent effort. Sadly after the saga with the saloon my coupe was worth nothing overnight, I couldn't give it away
What happened to the Beta saloon killed Lancia in the UK, they carried on as normal in Italy though.
Lovely cars, they share most of their suspension with the X1/9 but just have a bit more room and some proper power compared to their little FIAT cousins. Like any car of its era, without a helping DIY hand it will have woefull rust proofing as standard and galloping tin worm by the time its three years old. Most of the survivors have either been repaired by now or were properly rust proofed by early owners. Best bit, just like the X1/9 is the sublime balanced handling on skinny higher profile tyres, loads of fun without having to go ridiculously quick.
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