Lancia Beta Forum

Hi all,
I was meaning to do a thread about this when I bought it, but hey ho things happen and I never got round to it...
Back in March I was working up in Edinburgh and saw there was an HPE VX for sale there. I finished worked relatively early, so phoned the seller and arranged a viewing. Well, it was love at first site, I don't like red as a colour and try not to buy red cars, but it was so pretty .... I restrained myself and didn't buy it there and then, but told the seller (ColinB of this parish) I needed to think about it and if I did want it I would have to sort out logistics of getting it back home. The following week i checked my schedule at work and as luck would have it I was due back in Scotland again with work about 3-4 weeks later, so I emailed Colin. He said he could store the car until I got back up there if I paid a deposit ... done.
One Saturday morning late April I caught the train up to Edinburgh and was met at the station by Colin. We drove back to his house, signed paperwork, I handed over the cash and I bought my second Beta.

A quick snap taken in Edinburgh before I head off properly ..

(http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k145/skattrd/Lancia%20HPE/Scotland%20April%202013/CIMG0366_zps386aa29c.jpg) (http://s87.photobucket.com/user/skattrd/media/Lancia%20HPE/Scotland%20April%202013/CIMG0366_zps386aa29c.jpg.html)

Ok, so it's 3pm Saturday, I'm in Edinburgh and I have work in Edinburgh Monday afternoon, driving home would be a waste ..... I have a cunning plan.

(http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k145/skattrd/Lancia%20HPE/Scotland%20April%202013/CIMG0371_zps57a04ec3.jpg) (http://s87.photobucket.com/user/skattrd/media/Lancia%20HPE/Scotland%20April%202013/CIMG0371_zps57a04ec3.jpg.html) (http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k145/skattrd/Lancia%20HPE/Scotland%20April%202013/CIMG0370_zps3adc7b20.jpg) (http://s87.photobucket.com/user/skattrd/media/Lancia%20HPE/Scotland%20April%202013/CIMG0370_zps3adc7b20.jpg.html)

There's snow on the hills:

(http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k145/skattrd/Lancia%20HPE/Scotland%20April%202013/CIMG0376_zpsd9a138be.jpg) (http://s87.photobucket.com/user/skattrd/media/Lancia%20HPE/Scotland%20April%202013/CIMG0376_zpsd9a138be.jpg.html)

I'll stop boring you now, but by the time I got to work on Monday I'd been to Ullapool, around the Applecross peninsular and down to Bute. The car had performed well, and by the time I got home on Wednesday I'd done nearly a thousand miles in the car. The only issue was a somewhat pessimistic fuel gauge.

Here's a few snaps I took:

(http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k145/skattrd/Lancia%20HPE/Scotland%20April%202013/CIMG0405_zpsac241cc4.jpg) (http://s87.photobucket.com/user/skattrd/media/Lancia%20HPE/Scotland%20April%202013/CIMG0405_zpsac241cc4.jpg.html)

(http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k145/skattrd/Lancia%20HPE/Scotland%20April%202013/CIMG0404_zps3c24c72d.jpg) (http://s87.photobucket.com/user/skattrd/media/Lancia%20HPE/Scotland%20April%202013/CIMG0404_zps3c24c72d.jpg.html)

(http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k145/skattrd/Lancia%20HPE/Scotland%20April%202013/CIMG0397_zps1dfe8a3b.jpg) (http://s87.photobucket.com/user/skattrd/media/Lancia%20HPE/Scotland%20April%202013/CIMG0397_zps1dfe8a3b.jpg.html)

(http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k145/skattrd/Lancia%20HPE/Scotland%20April%202013/CIMG0396_zps6fb6675c.jpg) (http://s87.photobucket.com/user/skattrd/media/Lancia%20HPE/Scotland%20April%202013/CIMG0396_zps6fb6675c.jpg.html)

More pics: http://s87.photobucket.com/user/skattrd/slideshow/Lancia%20HPE/Scotland%20April%202013 (http://s87.photobucket.com/user/skattrd/slideshow/Lancia%20HPE/Scotland%20April%202013)

These coincidences,

not been on the site for along time having sold my Betas and the first post I see is my old car finally getting some use!

Fair cheered me up!

Cheers,

colin.

Cheers Colin, it sounds like you'll be glad to hear that it's also been to Wales and Devon this summer.
It's currently at the garage for an early MOT, fingers crossed.

The car now has MOT until October 2014 :D
All it needed was a side indicator bulb and the headlights adjusting.

Great pics, nice to see such a nice example being used  :)

I wake this old thread up to report that skattrd sold A144 KEL to me earlier this year.  It is about to have a new clutch and also a new number plate - A20 VLX.  It's a lovely car.

Here are a couple of pictures of your car taken at a show in 2011 with my 8.32 and a Fulvia in the background.

Cheers!  A Gamma, too, I see.  I have the mega want for a Gamma Coupe, but all tell me to run a mile from them.  I wanted a Lotus Eclat but serious Lotus dudes told me to run and hide if ever one came up for sale.

That chin spoiler on the VX is still scruffy - on my list to tart it up.

I run a pair of gamma coupe,   I would dispute any of the
old wives tales bandied around about the Gamma.

Geoff "thecolonel",  rebel, renegade, hooligan and well known gamma driver

That is good to hear.  Sadly I may have missed the Gamma Coupe bus as prices have moved north.   I missed the Fulvia bus too.  The Integrale bus does not interest me.

Car rechristened:-

Drat!  There appears to be a fault somewhere in the wiring for the after market electric fuel pump.  Tracing the fault may be a right pain. Oh well, at least the KrazyKoop is up and running.

(Non) update.  My mobile mechanic has been ill and off work, and I am not messing around with petrol related electricals, so the car is still sat on its arse outside my house.  My mech now says that he is a bit better and is coming over tomorrow to do some small jobs on YAJ the mad 1300 Coupe, so maybe, just maybe, there can also be some progress on the fuel system fault.

Bummer - fuel pump is shot, and the ally tank has been fitted so close to the suspension that it may have been damaged by a bolt.

Back on the road after fuel problem sorted.