Description
Now that Clarkson is fading into the past people are realising just how good the Lancia Beta was. This is a good example of the 1600 Coupe variant with the funky early interior. This car was registered in 1979 but went to the Isle of Man in 1983. After returning to the mainland this year, it needed just a bit of welding and two new tyres to get it to MoT spec and the car now has an MoT until December 2018. A new cambelt was fitted and the carb was serviced to cure a fuel and air leak. The car is currently on its Isle of Man plate, but DVLA is processing the return to its UK plate.
The car is fun to drive, with the rorty and smooth Lampredi twin cam engine and a twin choke Weber carb. Five gears, disc brakes all around, and great handling. The interior is well equipped with nine clocks, passenger reading light, and twin speed wipers. NB no radio is fitted. The mustard coloured cloth seats look groovy. The cloth has worn through in a couple of places, but the carpets and headlining are good. The bronze paint is mostly good, with a couple of patches over the recent welding that need touching in. Minor snags: an intermittent fault on fuel gauge (sometimes fails to read) and oil temp gauge, but oil pressure gauge and instruments otherwise working.
Stylish, rare, and a practical daily drive. The car has its original service records and handbook, and comes with a few spares and tools.
Location: south Oxfordshire close to junction 6 M40. Also available to view in London.
