Highlights

Increasingly rare car
Comprehensively refurbished
Very original interior
U.K. supplied
Extensive history back to 80s
Over £11000 spent by the vendor
Recent £2000 spent with Montecarlo services

The Appeal

Lancia’s mid-engined Beta Montecarlo came to the market in 1975. Designed to be both sporty and comfortable, this was the first production car for which design house Pininfarina had developed both the body structure and the exterior styling. Its distinctive wedge shape was ahead of its time and remains contemporary. 1975-78 cars were badged as Beta Montecarlos, then after a two-year pause in production the ‘second-series’ cars (1980-82) lost the ‘Beta’ prefix; this example was first registered in 1978.

Just 789 right-hand drive Series 1 Beta Montecarlos were produced, and not all of those came to the UK. Good examples are now increasingly hard to find, making this a rare and sought-after car.

The History and Paperwork

MoT until September 2023
Thick folder of invoices
Current V5

The vendor has owned the car for around three years, but it has been part of a collection and has only recently been registered in his name – hence the recent date on the V5. The vendor bought the car because he believes it may have been one of the first cars he owned, back in the 1980s. He runs a classic-car restoration and refurbishment business and has fully restored the car. This work took five weeks and had it been done for a customer would have been invoiced for just shy of £10000.

The vendor has also had the car inspected by renowned Montecarlo specialist Darren Cooksey, of MSMR (Montecarlo Servicing, Modification and Repair) who offered the following:

“It was my pleasure to have this Montecarlo in with me earlier this summer. I run MSMR and have been involved with and owned Montecarlos for over 20 years. The owner wanted me to go through the car and identify any issues that needed attending to, in order to make it a very good usable example.
“This I did concentrating on engine, cooling, braking and electrics. I can confirm there was no rust of any significance underneath indeed it was very good. It was a good usable example that drove very well.
“A good example to be loved and enjoyed now - these cars are best driven and not kept in a garage. And if desired improved on over time.
Darren Cooksey
Montecarlo Servicing Modification & Repair
(MSMR)”

The vendor has recently bought another Montecarlo and, having got this one into first-class condition, has decided to concentrate his efforts on the other car.

The car has an MoT valid until September 2023, and as well as the V5 document there is thick file of invoices that date from the car’s early life, as well as previous MoT certificates.

The Interior

Seats in excellent condition
Door cards, dashboard, carpets, centre console all very good
Stereo with removable front
Clean and well-looked after front compartment

The seats and upholstery are all in extremely good condition, given the car’s age and mileage. The seats provide a comfortable and supportive driving position, while the visibility is excellent for a mid-engined car.

There are a couple of marks on the dashboard panel that look as though badges are missing and the original steering wheel has some surface rust, but generally the interior is in very good condition. There’s a smart aluminium gear lever and the stereo is a recent addition, but otherwise everything looks to be very original.

While the door cards look remarkably good, the door seals need some attention, most notably on the passenger side. The carpets look good, although there is a small hole worn beneath the clutch pedal.

Under the bonnet is a luggage compartment with a reasonably clean liner, but the stay that holds the bonnet open has become detached and will need attention.

The Exterior

Classic Pininfarina profile
Recent full refurbishment
Smart silver paintwork
Excellent wheels and tyres

The Beta Montecarlo was a revelation when it made its debut at the 1975 Geneva Motor Show, and Pininfarina’s elegant wedge-shape has stood the test of time; it’s still a great-looking car.

As can be seen from the restoration photos, this example has had a thorough body refurbishment, and the silver paintwork still looks fabulous.

The ‘targa’ style roof looks to be in very good condition, with no tears or stains, but we did not verify the operation of this.

All four wheels are in extremely good condition, with no evidence of kerb damage or corrosion, while all four tyres have plenty of tread.

The badges and door handles have some patina, but all in all this is car that will turn heads and its appearance belies its age.

The Mechanics

1995cc engine
Five-speed gearbox
Clean and tidy engine bay

The car had not been used for a few weeks prior to our visit, and the battery was flat. However, it started readily with the aid of a jump starter pack. The engine runs with a healthy note, and the vendor assures us that it drives and handles beautifully. Montecarlo specialists MSMR recently resolved a few issues, notably with the cooling system, and consequently the new owner can be reassured that this car is ‘on the button’ and ready to be driven and enjoyed.

The engine bay looks clean and tidy, reflecting the care and attention that has been spent on the car, while underneath there appear to be no issues – as can be seen on the restoration photos.

Summary

With so few good examples surviving, the Beta Montecarlo is now a rare sight on the roads in Britain or elsewhere. With its timeless looks, and having had so much care and attention lavished on it, XLP 670 S must be one of the finest of its type around.

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