Description
To accompany the saloon, the coupe and the spider already in production, an original three-door coupe, with a large boot and suited to families, was launched in 1975: the Lancia Beta HPE, High Performance Estate, i. e. a high-performance family car.
In 1974, Pininfarina created, from the coupé, a Targa version, called Spider, later produced by Zagato. To realise the HPE, the Turin coachbuilder used the longer floor pan of the saloon and the entire front end of the coupé up to the doors. From there, he altered the look of the rear side window, which rises slightly, and the rear pillar that extends the roof and draws a trapezium following the incline of the large tailgate. It is this element that characterises the Beta: a little coupé, a little estate. The tailgate, attached to the roof, sports a slim frame that broadens to finish at the level of the sill, forming a semblance of a spoiler. The large glass panel is internally distinguished by a Venetian blind-inspired structure that filters and protects the boot contents from light. The Venetian blind motif is echoed outside up to three-quarters of the rear pillar.
The result is a very original coupé, with estate-like loading capacity, elegant and sporty, as the Lancia tradition dictates, with this modular character that would later be offered again only on multi-space cars.
With the fourth series of 1981, the family coupé changes name and becomes the Beta H. P. Executive, to emphasise its renewed sporting character. The full inscription appears on the new satin strip occupying the lower part of the tailgate. The 1. 6 engine does not change, while the two-litre benefits from electronic injection: it now develops 122 bhp while further reducing consumption. Exteriorly, all mouldings become matte black and the grille, as in all Lancia production, adopts the trapezoidal chrome frame with the central stripe that evokes the radiator emblem of the glorious past models, notably the Aprilia and the Aurelia. As with the coupé version, the fabrics covering the seats are changed and the central band features a checked pattern.
The Lancia Beta we are offering you is a 1982 model equipped with the 2-litre engine. The vehicle is in very good exterior and interior condition. The current owner has kept up the maintenance regularly.
The MOT is up to date. An Italian shooting brake that will give you pleasure to drive while keeping a family feel.
