Highlights
- Corrosion-free South African import
- 40,881 kilometres on the odometer
- Beautifully preserved throughout
- Rare five-spoke alloy wheels
- Now UK road-registered
The Appeal
It’s a little-known fact that the Lancia Beta Montecarlo began life as a Fiat. Codenamed ‘X1/8’, the car was a Pininfarina styling study designed to become a new Fiat sports car. At the same time, rival stylists Bertone were working on Project ‘X1/9’, a smaller and more delicate design that ultimately became the one chosen by Fiat.
But all was not lost. The X1/8 was still considered beautiful, and with Lancia needing a new sports model to not only expand its range but also give it something to base its next rally car on as a successor to the legendary Stratos.
Thus, the Beta Montecarlo was born. Introduced in 1975, the model was offered as both a Coupé and a targa-topped Spyder, the former being by far the more common. In 1978, a Series 2 model appeared and it was this model on which the famous Lancia 037 rally car was based, hence making it more desirable than the earlier cars. The later models were also more potent with 118bhp, the see-through rear buttresses being the main point of identity between each series.
The later cars also dropped the Beta name, so this 1981 car is simply a Lancia Montecarlo. It’s a great example, imported into the UK from South Africa, where the dry climate has been exceptionally kind to it. With just 40,881 kilometres on the odometer which is believed to be accurate, this highly original and unspoilt example represents an unmissable opportunity.
The History and Paperwork
- Recent import from South Africa
- One of only 1,123 made
- All import duties clear
- Qualified for MOT and road tax exemption
- The 40,881 indicated kilometres are believed accurate
- Now UK road-registered
The Condition
- Coupé model with fixed roof
- Original alloy wheels and lights
- Very sound underneath
- Original grey check velour seats
- Excellent carpets and door trims
- Straight and tidy dash
- Good overall condition
The Montecarlo has to be one of the best-looking Lancias ever made – and that’s going against a pretty impressive back catalogue.It was the first car to be both designed and built fully in-house by Pininfarina and was a beautifully executed thing, with delicate detailing and a timeless trapezoid profile.
This one is astonishingly solid. It has had some paintwork in its life, but the structure is unrestored and the floors, engine bay and inner wings all appear in solid order. It looks equally robust underneath, too. As for the paint itself, it’s tidy with just some minor blemishes, while the factory alloys are in excellent order, having been refurbished and fitted with new tyres.
The interior is believed to be 100% original, with smart grey velour trim and excellent carpets and door trims. The seats are still lovely and firm and the fabric hasn’t gone baggy with age. It’s very well-presented, with an authentic period radio-cassette player and the rest of the interior is very tidy too. The smart Lancia-logoed gear knob and a three-spoke Momo steering wheel featuring the Lancia insignia remain in place and in good condition. The boot area is excellent with no visible corrosion and it has its original jack and tool kit.
The Mechanics
- 1,995cc 4-cyl twin cam
- Five-speed manual
- Freshly serviced
- Runs and drives well
There’s something wonderfully eager about the 2.0-litre Twin Cam, which fires up instantly and chatters away enthusiastically waiting for you to blip the throttle.
In standard tune, the ‘Lampredi’ engine makes an enchanting noise and this one idles well, holding a steady temperature and responding well under acceleration. We were able to drive it a short distance and can confirm that it appears to run well with no noises, smoke or overheating issues.
We are assured that all of the gears engage correctly and that the steering and brakes feel suitably fit for service.
BEFORE YOU BUY
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✓ This vehicle is “Sold As Seen”, on an “As Is, Where Is’ basis and without warranty. A full inspection of the vehicle prior to purchase and bidding is highly recommended. Photos and descriptions are for guidance purposes only.
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