Lancia Beta

Lancia Beta Spider at Wheels Of Italy
Lancia Beta
Production:	1972–1984
Manufacturer:	Lancia

Lancia Beta Berlina

Lancia Beta Coupé

Lancia Beta Spider (roof off)

Lancia Beta Spider (roof on)

Lancia HPE

Lancia Beta Monte-Carlo

Lancia Trevi VX

The Lancia Beta was a car produced by Lancia. It was the first Lancia produced by the company after it had been taken over by Fiat in 1969.

The company chose the name Beta for a new vehicle to be launched in 1972. The choice of name symbolised a new beginning as it reflected the fact that the company’s founder, Vincenzo Lancia (1881–1937), utilized letters of the Greek alphabet for his early vehicles - such as Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, and so on. "Beta" had been used before, for Lancia’s 1908 car and again for a 1953 bus! Lancia had previously utilized the first letter of the Greek alphabet, Alpha. But this was not chosen for the new 1972 Lancia, due to the obvious confusion it might cause with a certain Milanese competitor called Alfa Romeo.

Model range

The Beta was available in a number of different body styles:

1. The most common body style was the four-door berlina or sedan, which used wheelbase of 2537 mm and had the wedge-shaped appearance of a hatchback (certain models even had a rear wiper) but in fact had a conventional boot. Late in the saloon's life it underwent a drastic reworking with assistance from Pininfarina and became known as the Beta Trevi. Number built: 194,914 Berlinas plus 36,784 Trevis.
2. The second style to appear was a short wheelbase (2350 mm) 2+2 seater two door coupé. The bodywork was developed inhouse by a Lancia team lead by Aldo Castagno, with Pietro Castagnero acting as styling consultant. Castagnero had also styled the Beta's predecessor, the Lancia Fulvia saloon and coupé. Number built: 111,801.
3. The next version to be launched was a two door convertible called the Spider (or Zagato in America). The Spider used Coupe's shorter wheelbase and featured a Targa top roof panel, a roll-over bar and folding rear hood. The Spider was designed by Pininfarina but actually built by Zagato. Number built: 9390.
4. Then came a three-door sporting estate or shooting-brake called the HPE. HPE stood for High Performance Estate, and then later High Performance Executive. This model had Berlina's longer wheelbase floorpan combined with Coupe's front end and doors. The HPE was also styled inhouse at Lancia by Castagno's team, with Castagnero as styling consultant. Number built: 71,258.
5. The final variant was the Pininfarina designed – and built – two door Lancia Montecarlo. This was a rear-wheel drive mid-engined two-seater sports car that shared very few components with other Betas. Note that the vehicle was named "Montecarlo" written as one word, as opposed to Monte Carlo, the capital of Monaco. Number built: 7595.

Features

All versions of the car came with DOHC engines, five speed gearboxes, rack and pinion steering, independent suspension using MacPherson struts all round and disc braking on all four wheels. The front wheel drive models were available in a number of engine capacities ranging from 1.3 L to 2.0 L.

As with a number of previous front wheel drive Lancia models, the engine and gearbox were mounted on a subframe that bolted to the underside of the body. However, in the Beta the engine and gearbox were fitted transversely in line. This Fiat inspired configuration not only enabled neat engine bay packaging, but also, by tilting the engine 20 degrees rearwards, the Lancia engineers achieved improved weight transfer over the driven wheels and towards the centre of the car, as well as lowering the centre of gravity. The rear-wheel drive Lancia Montecarlo employed a similar layout except the subframe was mounted at the rear.

On the front-wheel drive Betas, Lancia designed a particularly original independent rear suspension with MacPherson struts attached to parallel transverse links that pivoted on a centrally mounted cross member bolted to the underside of the floorpan. An anti-roll bar was fitted to the floorpan ahead of the rear struts with both ends of the bar trailing back to bolt to the rear struts on each side. This unique design went on to be used in later Lancia models. Unfortunately the design was never patented by Lancia, and consequently inspired similar rear suspension system layouts in other manufacturers' vehicles during the 1980s and 1990s.

The different models all underwent various revisions and improvements over the years. Power steering specially produced by the German company ZF became available on certain Left Hand Drive models and was also used on the Gamma. Electronic ignition became available in 1978. Automatic transmission became available the same year; the Beta was the first Lancia manufactured with an automatic transmission factory option. In 1981 power steering also became available on certain Right Hand Drive models. Also in that year a fuel-injected version of the 2.0 litre engine became available on certain models.

Late in the model's life Lancia released the Trevi VX, with a Roots-type supercharger fitted between the carburettor and low-compression two-litre engine; the Coupé VX and HPE VX followed soon after. These three variants were known as Volumex models and had the highest performance of all the road-going production Betas, with Template:Auto bhp and substantially increased torque over the normal two-litre (200 Nm). The Coupé VX and HPE VX can be distinguished from the normal cars by the offset bulge on the hood which is required to clear the new air intake, and the rubber rear spoiler. They also have stiffer spring rates. Lancia produced 1272 Coupé VX, 2370 HPE VX and 3900 Trevi VX. Most were left-hand drive (only 186 right-hand drive HPEs and around 150 RHD Coupés). Only one right-hand drive Trevi VX was made.

A small number of Trevis were built to run on LPG rather than gasoline.

Lancia with Fiat elements

For some the Beta was not a Lancia but rather a Fiat (source page 310 "La Lancia", see below references). However, it should be noted that Lancia were allowed a surprising amount of autonomy from Fiat in the development of the Beta. The levels of technology in the Beta described in the previous section also highlight the sheer amount of bespoke engineering that went into the then new Lancia.

The main reason for the Fiat label was that despite its unique Lancia chassis, suspension, interior and bodywork, the Beta used a Fiat-based engine. It is important to note that the Fiat DOHC engine, originally designed by Aurelio Lampredi, who built engines for Ferrari until Fiat employed him, was one of the most advanced 4-cylinder engines in Europe at that time (source "Lancia Beta - A Collector's Guide", see below references). It continued in production well into the 1990s and, in highly developed form, was used in performance road cars such as the Lancia Delta Integrale and Fiat Coupé.

The Lancia engineers made changes to the engines fitted to the Beta range. These included a bespoke cylinder head which incorporated hemispherical combustion chambers, altered valve timing, new inlet and exhaust manifolds as well as different carburation. These modifications resulted in higher horse power and torque figures for the engines as used in the Beta. In addition the mounting points on the engine block were different to allow for the transverse installation as opposed to the longitudinal installation utilised by the rear wheel drive Fiats. For these reasons the engines are not interchangeable between Betas and contemporary Fiats such as the Fiat 132 (various sources "La Lancia", "Lancia Beta - A Collector's Guide" and "Lancia Beta Gold Portfolio", see below references).

Legacy

The Beta was very well received by the motoring press and public when launched (source "Lancia Beta Gold Portfolio 1972-1984" collection of press articles, see below references). The various models were praised for their lively performance as well as their good handling and roadholding. They were widely regarded as a "driver's car" with plenty of character. The Beta was competitively priced in export markets due to a weak Italian currency at that time, and managed to become the highest ever selling Lancia model up to that point.

Unfortunately a combination of poor quality steel (allegedly Russian steel supplied to Fiat in return for building the Lada factory according to diverse sources, including The Independent newspaper 2nd August 2005), poor rust prevention techniques (typical of many automobile manufacturers in the 1970s), and inadequate water drainage channels led to the Beta gaining a reputation for being rust-prone, particularly the 1st Series vehicles (built from 1972–75). The corrosion problems could be structural; for instance where the subframe carrying the engine and gearbox was bolted to the underside of the car. The box section to which the rear of the subframe was mounted could corrode badly causing the subframe to become loose. Although tales of subframes dropping out of vehicles were simply not true, a vehicle with a loose subframe would fail a technical inspection. In actuality, the problem affected almost exclusively 1st Series saloon models and not the Coupé, HPE, Spyder or MonteCarlo versions.

In the UK (Lancia's largest export market at the time) the company listened to the complaints from its dealers and customers and commenced a campaign to buy back vehicles affected by the subframe problem. Some of these vehicles were 6 years old or older and belonged to 2nd or 3rd owners. Customers were invited to present their cars to a Lancia dealer for an inspection. If their vehicle was affected by the subframe problem, the customer was offered a part exchange deal to buy another Lancia or Fiat car. The cars that failed the inspection were scrapped.

Sadly for Lancia, on 9 April 1980 the Daily Mirror and certain TV programmes such as That's Life! got wind of what Lancia was already doing to help its customers and embarked on a campaign to exaggerate the issue and humiliate the manufacturer. There were false claims that the problem persisted in later cars by showing photographs of scrapped 1st Series saloons, referring to them as being newer than five and six years old. Other contemporary manufacturers (British, French, Japanese and German) whose cars also suffered from corrosion were not treated as harshly. This was possibly because Lancia was seen as a luxury car brand at that time and consequently expectations were high. (Source: Classic & Sports Car magazine, July 2007 issue).

Ironically Lancia had already introduced one year previously a 6-year anti-corrosion warranty - an automotive first in the UK. Whilst later Betas (2nd Series cars) had reinforced subframe mounting points and post-1979 cars were better protected from the elements, these issues damaged the whole marque's sales success on most export markets. However, thanks to its strong driver appeal, the Beta still enjoys a following today. Surviving examples make an interesting classic car choice for the enthusiast.

Production ran from 1972 until 1984.

Specials

Lancia built one very special variant of the Beta. The twin-engined Trevi Bimotore was used for tests related to Lancia's new four-wheel drive rally cars; it was powered by one Volumex engine under the hood driving the front wheels, and another in the back driving the rear wheels, with air scoops in the rear doors. The two gearboxes were linked, and an electronically controlled throttle replaced the mechanical system so the two engines worked together.

In popular culture

• In Bad Timing, the character played by Art Garfunkel drives a red Lancia Beta Spider in the streets of Vienna.
• In Modern Problems the character played by Chevy Chase drives a light blue Beta Coupé behind a truck carrying and spilling nuclear waste!
• The International Car Movie Database (see below link) provides the titles of many more films/TV programmes featuring the Beta.

External links

• Lancia Motor Club (UK)
• BetaBoyz Lancia Beta Club (forum)
• The International Car Movie Database

References

• Classic & Sports Car magazine, July 2007 issue
• Lancia Beta - A Collector's Guide, author Brian Long, ISBN 0-947981-62-4
• La Lancia, 3rd edition, author Wim Oude Weernink, ISBN 90-806496-2-7
• Lancia Beta Gold Portfolio 1972-1984 (a collection of motoring press articles from that era compiled by R.M.Clarke), ISBN 1 85520 195 X

Production ran from 1972 until 1984.

Lancia Beta in movies

In Bad Timing, the character played by Art Garfunkel drives a red Lancia Beta Spider in the streets of Vienna.

1979 Lancia Beta L Strada

• 1979 Lancia Beta L Strada 1.jpg
• 1979 Lancia Beta L Strada 2.jpg
• 1979 Lancia Beta L Strada 3.jpg
• 1979 Lancia Beta L Strada 4.jpg

1981 Lancia Beta Zagato Spider

• 1981 Lancia Beta Zagato Spider 1.jpg
• 1981 Lancia Beta Zagato Spider 2.jpg
• 1981 Lancia Beta Zagato Spider 3.jpg
• 1981 Lancia Beta Zagato Spider 4.jpg
• 1981 Lancia Beta Zagato Spider 6.jpg
• 1981 Lancia Beta Zagato Spider 7.jpg

1940–1980 Lancia Post War
« Previous	Lancia Automobiles S.p.A., a subsidiary of the Fiat S.p.A. since 1969, car timeline, 1940–1980 -- Lancia Post War																															Next »
Type	1940s										1950s										1960s										1970s
	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
Family car	... Ardea														Appia										Fulvia
	... Aprilia																																	Beta / Trevi (828)
Executive car																						Flavia										2000					Gamma (830)
Coupé																								Fulvia Coupé/Sport
																																	Beta Coupé/Spider/ Montecarlo (828)
											Aurelia								Flaminia																		Gamma Coupé/GT (830)
Sports car																							Stratos
Racing car														D23/D24		D50

1980s-Present Lancia Modern Timeline
« Previous	Lancia car timeline, 1980s-present -- Lancia modern timeline
Type	1980s										1990s										2000s
	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
City car						Autobianchi Y10 or						Lancia Y 10
Supermini																	Ypsilon
Small family car	Delta																												Delta
Large family car	Beta			Prisma						Dedra											Lybra
Executive car	Gamma					Thema									Kappa							Thesis
Mini MPV																									Musa
Large MPV															Zeta								Phedra
Racing car		Lancia 037				Delta S4