Lancia Beta Coupe
Discussion
For some unknown reason I have told myself that I could get away running an old and potentially ruinous Italian motor as a daily driver.
This may or may not materialise, but I have seen this and like it. A lot.
http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C632009#
What do we think? What's the best choice if one was to go down this route?
Or possibly a more modern Alfa with the Busso V6. Mmm
This may or may not materialise, but I have seen this and like it. A lot.
http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C632009#
What do we think? What's the best choice if one was to go down this route?
Or possibly a more modern Alfa with the Busso V6. Mmm
I have had three Betas, and rate the type very highly. Mine were a 2000 Spider, a 2000 HPE Volumex (sadly I broke that one!), and a 1300 Coupe.
You can ignore all the Daily Mirror and Clarkson pub bore stuff about rust. Of course they rust, but 70s and 80s cars made of steel all tended to rust, and as with any car of that era you should look for one with the best original or restored bodywork and paint. The Lampredi engine is a lovely thing, and the five speed boxes never gave me any trouble. The cars are well equipped, comfortable (at least in the front), handle well, and are great fun to drive.
I would have another, and would use it as a daily. I have a mild yen for a 1600.
The one in the ad has been all tricked up for racing, so it might be a bit lumpy or noisy for regular road use. If you wait a bit, a more standard car will pop up (but maybe you would prefer a hotted up car). Look on Betaboyz, a useful forum.
Get one!
You can ignore all the Daily Mirror and Clarkson pub bore stuff about rust. Of course they rust, but 70s and 80s cars made of steel all tended to rust, and as with any car of that era you should look for one with the best original or restored bodywork and paint. The Lampredi engine is a lovely thing, and the five speed boxes never gave me any trouble. The cars are well equipped, comfortable (at least in the front), handle well, and are great fun to drive.
I would have another, and would use it as a daily. I have a mild yen for a 1600.
The one in the ad has been all tricked up for racing, so it might be a bit lumpy or noisy for regular road use. If you wait a bit, a more standard car will pop up (but maybe you would prefer a hotted up car). Look on Betaboyz, a useful forum.
Get one!
I would say go for a 2000 Volumex or IE as numero uno choice, but the boggo 2000 with a carb is fine.
Interiors a bit dull, post facelift, but instruments are numerous and jolly. Pre facelift interiors rather funky.
PPS: Busso V6 super fab. I have one in a 156 wagon. Rather fun in a 1990s/200s GTV. You could also get one of the previous 70s/80s GTVs with a V6, and the clever rear gearbox arrangement. There was a rather posh one for sale recently. They are great cars.
Interiors a bit dull, post facelift, but instruments are numerous and jolly. Pre facelift interiors rather funky.
PPS: Busso V6 super fab. I have one in a 156 wagon. Rather fun in a 1990s/200s GTV. You could also get one of the previous 70s/80s GTVs with a V6, and the clever rear gearbox arrangement. There was a rather posh one for sale recently. They are great cars.
Edited by anonymous-user on Tuesday 14th July 01:09
I am also drawn to this car having owned a few Betas in the past, you couldn’t build this for this money, however it’s not a daily driver. There are more pictures on ebay http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1983-Lancia-BETA-COUPE-R...
FlaminiaGT said:
I am also drawn to this car having owned a few Betas in the past, you couldn’t build this for this money, however it’s not a daily driver. There are more pictures on ebay http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1983-Lancia-BETA-COUPE-R...
Thanks for the link. Yeah I think you're right, even a short drive each would be wearing with that interior I bet.Have run a coupe and HPE in the distant past- fond memories of both. Whilst rust will be commensurate with cars of the age they can have some pretty horrendous outbreaks in hidden areas. Look very carefully in the boot and rear wheel arches in particular. Otherwise as BV said, go for it.
iSore said:
They're lovely wee things, but that one has been ruined but someone who doesn't know any better.
Registered in 1983 = built in 1981 and sat in a compound during the Beta rust scandal.
This is what it should look like:
Wow that looks smart. Love the shape, especially in that colour.Registered in 1983 = built in 1981 and sat in a compound during the Beta rust scandal.
This is what it should look like:
MattHall91 said:
For some unknown reason I have told myself that I could get away running an old and potentially ruinous Italian motor as a daily driver.
This may or may not materialise, but I have seen this and like it. A lot.
http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C632009#
What do we think? What's the best choice if one was to go down this route?
Or possibly a more modern Alfa with the Busso V6. Mmm
This car was sold at a classic car auction in Perth Scotland a couple of months agoThis may or may not materialise, but I have seen this and like it. A lot.
http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C632009#
What do we think? What's the best choice if one was to go down this route?
Or possibly a more modern Alfa with the Busso V6. Mmm
iSore said:
They're lovely wee things, but that one has been ruined but someone who doesn't know any better.
Registered in 1983 = built in 1981 and sat in a compound during the Beta rust scandal.
This is what it should look like:
That's so cool - had a S2 Beta coupe about 15 years ago and loved it, pretty easy to work on and a hoot to drive. Not as graceful as the S2 Gamma coupe that replaced it but then that made a better garden ornament than it did automobile....Registered in 1983 = built in 1981 and sat in a compound during the Beta rust scandal.
This is what it should look like:
Sold it to a friend and now languishing in his parent's barn in Kent in a parlous state apparently. Shame.
js68 said:
That's so cool - had a S2 Beta coupe about 15 years ago and loved it, pretty easy to work on and a hoot to drive. Not as graceful as the S2 Gamma coupe that replaced it but then that made a better garden ornament than it did automobile....
Sold it to a friend and now languishing in his parent's barn in Kent in a parlous state apparently. Shame.
Just in case someone is feeling brave...Sold it to a friend and now languishing in his parent's barn in Kent in a parlous state apparently. Shame.
http://www.ebay.it/itm/Lancia-Beta-Hpe-2-0-Ricambi...
truck71 said:
Have run a coupe and HPE in the distant past- fond memories of both. Whilst rust will be commensurate with cars of the age they can have some pretty horrendous outbreaks in hidden areas. Look very carefully in the boot and rear wheel arches in particular. Otherwise as BV said, go for it.
Well I have nightmare memories of carrying out warranty work on these. The problem with corrosion was not in the rear but in the double skinned box member at the front floor panel joining the bulkhead. The front subframe mounts onto this, and the first one I did actually almost lost the engine and transmission it was so rotten!!This problem was not just corrosion but serious, premature stress failure of the metal panels. After the 4th repair and screaming and shouting at Lancia to get the proper labour time on these jobs I told them to go and do one, as I could see the implications of this going wrong as time wore on.
It was such a shame because they were beautifully put together and great to drive. Virtually unburstable engines. If you're going to drive one you have to check the front panel at the subframe area. I think Lancia managed to cure this in later models so might be an idea to buy as late a car as possible.
J
iSore said:
Thing is, when I was a spotty youth with a Mini in the mid eighties, a Beta Coupe or an Alfetta GTV 2000 was pretty exotic. I preferred the Alfa and with 130 bhp powering about a ton of ferrous oxide, it was a lot quicker than the 2.0 Capris.
and they were designed as coupes from the outset rather than derived from mundane saloons with ridiculous plastic bits tacked on....Late cars are the best. Lancia improved the quality and offered the later cars with six years warranties. Early Berlinas were the worst for sub frame issues, so it is said. My very late HPE had very little rust - just minor blebbage here and there. My late Spider was similar, but had had more welding done over its life than the HPE had. My early Coupe was rotten, but it had lived outside in Yorkshire for ages before I had it.
Breadvan72 said:
Late cars are the best. Lancia improved the quality and offered the later cars with six years warranties. Early Berlinas were the worst for sub frame issues, so it is said. My very late HPE had very little rust - just minor blebbage here and there. My late Spider was similar, but had had more welding done over its life than the HPE had. My early Coupe was rotten, but it had lived outside in Yorkshire for ages before I had it.
6 year warranty must have been unheard of then! Useful info, thanks 
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