Lancia Beta Forum

I am now the owner of around 30% of the UK’s road worthy 1300 Beta Coupes (and 100% of the Lancia Blue ones???).

I bought the post facelift Coupe from a Lancia enthusiast in Sheffield this week (he has a nice blue Series III Appia saloon).

Unfortunately, after a faultless thirty mile cruise up the motorway, the car developed the dreaded Beta hesitancy under load syndrome, to the point where I had to stop on the outskirts of Bradford.  A’ switch off and switch on again’ restored a semblance of drivability and got me home (and avoided the dreaded “Can’t find anything wrong with this mate!” from the AA man!), but that annoying ‘fluffyness’ remained and is even worse today.

I changed a rather ratty rotor arm and cleaned up as many connections as I could find this morning. This has improved the idle, but things are pretty poor once you set off and put the engine under load.

The car came with quite a lot of history, including notes from it’s original owner (Bernard Power 1979 – 2008). Turns out various mechanics have been mucking about with the carburettor and ignition for the last twenty years, with at best, it appears, only temporary success.

My money is on the vacuum advance and/or the ignition unit itself, as the ‘off and on’ business seems to eliminate the carb to me? Though the last mechanics bill is for freeing up the secondary choke flap.

The ignition unit is the Marelli type that sits under the coil, which I haven’t seen before. Any other suggestions are welcome of course.

Unfortunately this has all taken a bit of the shine off my latest acquisition!

Hi Neil

Here is hoping you did not pay too much for it, in which case, can I suggest you look on it as one of those things with an old car?

If this is the only fault, then sounds like a good result, again so long as you did not pay top dollar.

Anyway, on with my two penny worth.

If this has been stood for a while maybe the fuel is stale, could be fuel pump or float level. I think I would overhaul carb and replace fuel filter for starters and if you can find a cheap ignition unit and coil, then try that if the carb/filter does not improve things.

Pete

There is a receipt for the carb being rebuilt a couple of years ago and it was filled with fresh fuel, but it's only done 400 miles in the last four years so I will check the filter etc.

Ignition unit still the prime suspect though. I paid £2400, way less than my budget to restore YAJ, so still ahead of the game I think.

Neil

I would suspect dirt in the carb, some years ago I had a 1600 Berlina that had only done 18k but had stood for a long time, it would run fine but then stutter and pop and fart for no apparent reason fiddled about with it without success until I actually removed the carb removed various jets and blew through the jets and many of the channels in the carb body with an airline. Despite no obvious crud in the carb the car ran perfectly from then on.

Thanks Rosso, I'll do that. There's a bill from the summer that includes 'carb jets cleaned' but as you say, they won't have actually taken it off and blown through all the bypass channels etc.

I would disconnect the filter, blow back through any lines and fit the best filter you can lay your hands on. When sitting around old fuel can silt up passageways and lines and every so often some of it will go to the carb. I'd drain the tank too at first opprtunity.

Well, I drained off 22 litres of very straw coloured petrol and put 25 litres of fresh fuel in. The car ran like a dream for 20 miles then suddenly reverted to it's rough running, only operating pretty much on idle or full throttle, meaning a kind of Formula 1 car drive home, hanging back from the car in front then nailing it to progress!

Chris Bastow (ex Betacar) had agreed to change the cambelt for me so enjoyed a similar drive to his workshop. He basically found a bit of everything wrong:

Blocked carb jets
A split diaphragm in the carb (can't remember which, but not the accelerator pump)
Super lean mixture at idle (1% CO)
Split vacuum advance diaphragm (to point where bits of it were being sucked into the manifold!)
Split engine breather pipe
Timing out by 4 degrees

Just not sure how it ever ran at all. I think that because of my sudden use after an effective six year lay up loads of rubber bits suddenly started to fail in turn, exacerbated by the stale fuel. Anyway, it seems a nice drive now, excepting the odd hiccough caused by the disconnected vacuum advance. Don't suppose anyone has one (Marelli)??

Hi Neil,

havnt got a spare. When i had the distributor overhauled by H&H ignition solutions they fitted a new one.

regards
Graham

Can endorse the work of H & H - they did the sticky dizzy on the Lime after 28years of non -use.

Good luck- sounds like you are so close to having a nice runner.

Mark

The saga continues! Off to pick up my daughter last night after 50 trouble free miles. Running rough from the off then onto just 3 cylinders for about a mile then a total stall. Would restart on 1 or 2 cylinders only. Called AA who were there in 25 minutes. The car started on 3 cylinders so they followed me home running very rough, but improving until pretty much fine by the end of my road!

Changing plugs and fuel filters next (inc tiny one in carb) as I'm sure it's still crap finding it's way through to the carb jets, though the drained fuel contained no visible debris.

Hi Neil

Does sound like fuel, as would have expected electrical to get worse as it heats up, unless it is a bad connection somewhere

Peter

Have you changed you fuel filter?, a 50 mile journey fuss free then sudden hiccups sounds like you may have dislodged some crud from the old fuel in the tank and blocked your fuel filter.

Yesterday I removed and replaced the offending (or even offensive!) articles below. It's clear that previous owners have been chasing running issues for ages, yet these simple items have not been checked. Look at the clip on that filter, it can't have been changed for years. Just back from my test drive; still a bit lumpy through the warm up but fine once operating temperature is attained. I did a few sub 20 mph pull aways in 3rd with no hiccups.

The vacuum advance unit gave absolutely no resistance when some suction was applied.

The advance unit, grotty outside and in.

I've not tried one on a beta but in your situation I would be tempted to fit a filter king as the pressure regulation really sweetens the running.

Yes, Fulvia owners seem to swear by them, though as you say, I've not seen one on a Beta. I take it that they sit between the manual pump and the carb? Or do they only work with an electronic pump fitted?

Hi Neil

Glad to hear that things are better- its so often the basics. I had paid to have my carb overhauled, so everyone ignored it when addressing the MOT- when it broke down on its maiden run and the guys stripped the carb at the roadside, it became clear that it hadn't been cleaned- yellowy-brown stuff in float chamber.

Been fine ever since- he says grabbing for any nearby timber!

All the best.

Mark

My garage was built in 2007 as part of the extension to our house. For the first time since then it is housing a Lancia, rather than a selection of household junk (and to be fair my bikes and snowboards).

First long trip in the 'new' 1300 completed today. Up to Carlisle and back for the LMC Great Northern Weekend with my daughter. 290 trouble free miles in three days, more than the car has normally completed in a couple of years prior to me buying it. The odometer clicked over 48K just before I got home. Massively re-assuring after the early troubles I had with this car!

Good to hear that Neil, I am starting to assemble my engine today so maybe 2015 will see mine on the road!

Well done Neil- I have only managed to go as far as fetching a paper since taxing at start of last week.

Mark

Goodbye to the pre-facelift Coupe after seven years sterling service. Sold to a genuine enthusiast for £1450 via ebay. More than I expected, but probably a lot less than it will be worth in the future if it gets a good restoration. 173 watchers and 2500 hits so it generated lots of interest.

Hi Neil

So now you will need to change your username......

Peter

Hadn't thought of that! Damn :-[

Yesterday saw another big day out for the 'new' 1300. 212 mile round trip to an LMC Committee meeting and back via my Mothers. It's most miles in a day for many years I think. Possibly back to the 1980's.

Possibly paranoia, but I felt that the gearbox got a bit noisy after the long motorway runs, so I'm going to change the gearbox oil at the weekend. Have read all the Redline recommendations, but knowing a bit about the oil industry I'm going to use Castrol 75w/90, slightly cheaper, readily available, correct rating and some good write ups.

My next long run is at the end of June (Stanford Hall). So may take a while to report back on the results, if any.

Hello all, I am now the owner of YAJ 936T.  The chap who bought it from Neil only had it a month and then sold it to make way for a Volvo project.  I was very glad to acquire the car.  I have previously had a 1981 Spyder 2000 and I currently have a 1984 HPE Volumex.  I was particularly keen to get a 1300 Beta, and a pre facelift interior, and am loving the car so far.  It now lives in South Oxfordshire.

The car is cosmetically scruffy, and needs major work on doors and scuttle, and a full respray, but the engine, box and brakes and all electrics are good.  The engine needs new gaskets for rocker covers and sump.  The main problem with the car is that the bearing at the base of the steering column has collapsed, so this is the priority fix.

I have polished the car up and replaced its tired old Firestones with new Pirelli Cinturato P4s in 175/14T all round  (155s are only available in budget brands, it appears).   This has instantly improved the handling, ride and grip of the car.    It's a hoot!

(http://thumbsnap.com/s/cg06wZpr.jpg)

(http://thumbsnap.com/s/UJrnWVqM.jpg)

(http://thumbsnap.com/s/EveGOtB7.jpg)

The car after a wash but before a polish:-

(http://thumbsnap.com/s/iKPKfui8.jpg)

The seats are great!    So bad they're good!

(http://thumbsnap.com/s/lmwIWZTg.jpg)

Proper 70s dash - better than the later one, I think.

(http://thumbsnap.com/s/8cKbcRPf.jpg)

Hi

Glad it has finally gone to someone who appreciates it and is likely to keep it for a while!

As to seats, I think Lancia in that period managed to corner the market in 'interesting' taste interior colour combinations, I had a bright red HPE with the mustard coloured seats and door cards, I will leave others to list their particular favourites. It all became rather bland with the facelift cars, some say thankfully.....

At least the Spyder had one colour fits all vinyl.

Peter

AKA park it with the top down then it rains vinyl - v sensible!

I found the black interior and dash of my red Spyder rather gloomy and almost Germanic when the top was up.  The 1300 Coupe and the HPE have light and airy interiors by comparison.

The red and blue seats in the little Coupe were apparently fitted by some nutcase Lancia dealer.  The window winder on the driver's door is about to die the death.   The rust on that door is a thing to be seen, and demonstrates what a rubbish water trap design the doors are!

Anyone please know where to source a steering rack bearing?   No joy thus far from the usual haunts. 

BTW, I have a blue HPE IE donor car that is saveable, I reckon, if anyone fancies a project.    Good engine.  Box believed OK, body well ratty, not sure about sub frames.  Seats need retrim.

Welcome GerardJPC !.

seems you are enjoying the car already. Thats at least Neil, you and me with 1300 coupes. My MOT due in 2 weeks..aiming high and going for a pass with no advisories. :P
Graham 

Cheers!  Is yours the amaretto brown 1300?

Here is Yaj next to a minty 1976 1300 Berlina


(http://thumbsnap.com/s/uXCTK967.jpg[/[img]Groovy interior here[url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/triggerscarstuff/14198865636/in/set-72157644747481065]https://www.flickr.com/photos/triggerscarstuff/14198865636/in/set-72157644747481065[/url][img]http://thumbsnap.com/s/4omCdWpE.jpg)


(http://thumbsnap.com/s/of0ShASH.jpg)

Sure I've seen one of those steering column bearings on eBay.it recently ........ It might even fit some fiats as well.

Cheers, I will look there.  eBay.it produced a clutch for my Volumex.

Found one!

Be careful eBay is the full time home of the committed beta addict, you always need a nice hoard of those once in a lifetime parts made of pure unobtainium, well you never know when you'll need them do you?

I have had classic cars since the late 1980s - Triumphs, Lotuses, Jensens, Alfas, Matras, Landies, you name it, so the endless hunt for spares is a long established pathology!

(My proud boast is that I never have owned and never will own an MG.  Only proper cars allowed!)

I can't claim that as we used to have a zt and tf as everyday cars but I'd never consider a Morris Oxford coupe otherwise known as MGB

To be fair (much as it pains me to do so) Midgets are rather good, but MGBs are simply awful in every way, and the cult associated with them makes the Vee Dub Scene look rational.

I think Cheeky's 1300 is metallic blue. That brown one was for sale online for ages. Not sure where it ended up. A LMC member thinks he saw a gold pre-facelift 1300 in Manchester two weeks ago. If he did I think that would account for all the roadworthy cars in the UK.

Hmmm, Coupe door on ebay Italia but asking over 500 Euros.  I know that there is a new door skin with YAJ, but the current door has no bottom to speak of and the inside is rusty too.

I have an HPE IE donor car but may sell it on as a project, in which case I can't very well loot the door from that.  I may loot its bonnet, which is much better than the one on YAJ.

Hi

If the doors from a S2 Spyder are the same as the Coupe (anyone?) I have a pair of pre f/l doors. From what I can tell little rust on them, but will need a bit of fettling as not perfect, but essentially complete with glass.

I will send link to photos.

Peter

Doors the same from window down, window frames different.  Thanks for the PMs.  I will check but assume could mate extant frames with new door panels.

I'm putting two new doors on my vx, but at 500 euro I'm beginning to think I should split it for parts! Reality has to be that no one will pay that when the cars are worth so little.

ricambi-automobilia in holland has polyester doors for about 240 quid

Side impact protection built in?

Hey, I have a Series Landy, with doors made of a few mm of aluminium, but at least the chassis bar is at a height to retard the progress of a non SUV that is ramming me from the flank.  All Beta variants are, of course, a tad low, so a bit of metal next to you seems a good idea.

metal for sure. just suggesting an available alternative as you mentioned £'s. Hope you get a good donor door.

got two!

Once you start down the road of changing panels it can snowball and you are in danger of ending up like me changing/repairing everything and ending up out of my depth, 12 years off the road and counting.......

There is that risk, as always, but I am hoping that I will be able to swap out the doors and bonnet.  The bootlid is Ok.  Query hidden grot on roof near screen.  Scuttle is bad but looks  do-able.  Neil has done wings etc.  One front wishbone is getting bad and needs painting to arrest grot.  Underneath of car otherwise surprisingly Ok.  If funds permit, full respray before next year.

I will post some photos later, but now have to drive across England to collect my daughter for half term.  As Yaj still has dodgy steering, I will go in my less interesting but reliable Alfa 156 (it is from 2001 and has a computer*, yuck, but at least it has a Busso V6 to listen to!).



 * not HAL 9000, I hope.

Now there is a thing, 'reliable' and 'Alfa' in the same sentence, who would have thought of it.......

Peter

perhaps pop art style blue and red to match the interior?? ;D

I sooooo knew that someone would say that!   Italian cars should stick together!  When I had a 1977 Alfa Spider, it never gave me a mechanical problem - just rustiness.   My 156 has needed a new alternator, the predictable new suspension bushes and, er, that's it in nine years and 70,000 miles of use.    Oh, and my ex wife burned out the clutch so one of those too.   No, I didn't get divorced for that! I had a Fiat Coupe Turbo four five and a half years years and it never went wrong.  I wish that I had never sold that car.  Some Barry Boy has ruined it now.    

It is too early to say whether YAJ is a reliable car.   I have had the Volumex since February and until the clutch failed last month it had been reliable for 2000 miles of daily driving.     It is to return to daily driver duties when the clutch is replaced.  The 156 will be kept under a cover as reserve car as it is not worth selling, and a Busso V6 is hard to part with.  

I have been lucky to own some great engines, - as well as three Lampredi twin cams, there's been one Alfa twin cam, the Busso, a Rover V8, a Chrylser 386, a Lotus 912, and a big valve Lotus-Ford twin cam.   The less said about the Hyundai V6 the better!

I've driven Italian cars ever since my first car back in 1983(fulvia coupe I seem to have gone backwards on the quality of my cars ever since!) but with gaps in more recent years, they are prone to lots of niggles but in general they are much better than painted, however the most unreliable car I ever had was a dedra turbo after that I had a delta hpe HF from new imported it from Rotterdam great car but it had its moments including the balancer shaft belt tensioner failing and dropping the ball bearings into the path of the cam belt.......result slipped timing and bent valves lovely. Back to Italian now with a chrysler delta which is ok but does gave those little annoyances that suggest lack of attention to design fine detail, they are very good buys second hand I think I read that they are apparently the highest depreciating car in the UK

Naughty me!  I don't much like the plain black grille on a pre facelift 1300, although I realise that to the cognoscenti it signals the uber rarity of the car.  I am going to fit one of the grilles with the chrome bars at the bottom.  I will take some photos tomorrow so you can all boo or cheer.  I like originality, but I am not a fascist about it.

A dude tried to buy YAJ from me in the Co-op car park earlier this evening.  He offered me good money, but I said no.  I have had some pretty cool classic cars before, including some that were v powerful and luxurious, but for some reason this shabby and beat up old miniBeta, with its shonky steering, porno seats and smoky engine (knackered gaskets, nothing serious) is making me smile the most.

Hi Gerard,

Sorry could not resist it......

Seriously, when I was looking for an interesting daily a few years ago, I had a conversation with my local independent garage guy, who is in his 60s, has worked in his garage since a lad and looks after a load of moderns and classics. he works with his son and both were very forceful in saying only buy and run an Alfa if it is under warranty........

Bought the Saab as a result of that search and very happy with it.

Would really have liked to have an Alfa, just not practical at present.

Peter

Any local garage guy may not be that much far ahead of the typical Clarkson pub bore, because the garage guy only sees what he sees, which may be a bunch of previously ill maintained cars.  I have found that garage dudes are as ready to spread pub myths about cars as anyone is.   To say that all Alfas of all kinds are unreliable is as daft a generalisation as saying that no BMW rusts.

Back on Lancias, the only engine issue that troubled me with YAJ when I collected it was a low oil pressure reading.  I was aware of leaky sump and rocker gaskets, but was still a bit concerned by the low reading.  The car was on 10/40, which my tame mech prefers generally, but I have put it on to a classic 20/50 and the needle is back in the middle of the gauge.

I understand what you are saying, in their defence, the son ran an Alfa for while and I really did not want the risk of a money pit for a daily, the Beta is quite enough at the moment thanks.

Interesting point about the oil.

Peter

So the son had a bad Alfa and that means all Alfas are bad?  I don't suggest that they are all good.  They are cars.  Some are good, some are rubbish, and much depends on how they have been looked after all their lives.  I don't buy into this idea that any marque is generically good or generically bad.    Some Lancias are dreadful.  Some are fine. 

Hmmmm ...........the son ran an Alfa which was unreliable? Not sure I would trust the mechanic who looked after it then ;D

Very much down to personal taste but I find the 5 bar grille boring and a bit odd. I think the best grilles are the very first followed by the very last

In 31 years running Italian cars I have only had to be recovered twice I don't think that is bad really.

Since 1989 I have had multiple hpe. and since 2002 gammas
and in all that time three breakdowns, one of which I caused
Yup Italian cars are really unreliable and should be avoided..

 ;D

Can beat that, once in 38 years, in seven different varieties of Lancia

It's a big boo from me about the grille. The chrome grille is one of the few things I dislike from my 'YAJ to FNC' swap!

BTW I didn't put 10/40 in YAJ. Unless Medhi changed it the last oil change was 20/50. This was before I changed the sender unit, and as discussed it read low after that. Great if it's back up to normal though.

Thanks, Neil.  Mehdi had been putting 10/40 in the wagon, he told me, and there was a big can of it in the boot. 

Re: grilles, I  could have put the more fancy Series 1 Grille on, but there were no Series 1 1300s, IIRC, so that would feel wrong.    The late shield shaped grille a la Volumex is too 80s, so a no no.

I have swapped for the chrome bar grille (soz!) and will see how I feel about it for a bit.

Photos later.

Really 10w40 should have been ok certainly within lancia a recommendations (http://i724.photobucket.com/albums/ww247/rossocorsa/IMG_20140525_115729.jpg)

My HPE VX runs fine on 10w40, but I am seeing a much better pressure reading in YAJ with 20w50.  I had a load of it left over from my old Jensen, so glug glug glug.

The car is in London today and despite hot and trafficky conditions the temp needle has not passed half way, so that's good.  A very lovely 1974 Rover P6 V8 in that delicious Rover blue followed me down the Aldwych.  The driver was photographing the Lancia at traffic lights, so perhaps YAJ is due a guest appearance on a Rover P6 forum somewhere near here.

Caption:  "Italian car in 'not broken down' SHOCKA."

Two recoveries in 31 years with Italian cars, two recoveries in  about 5 years running mg rover.....

Maybe more a case of the oil change refreshing the system and removing any debris? In any case the pressure gauges are only rough and ready not very accurate and worse with age

The Aldwych was the place to be today for ye olde heapes, as on the way back home from my office I bowled along with a lovely Citroen Traction Avant with a rusty rear bumper, driven by a very cool dude.  We exchanged compliments at the lights before parting.

I should not have mentioned the temperature gauge, as YAJ threw its alternator belt on the M40, but I limped home with frequent cooling stops.

Grille -

Grille again -

Makes it look facelift, and it's big strong point is that it isn't? I'm with Rosso in that if you don't like the black grille (it was meant to look cheap, along with the chrome trim that they actually painted Matt black), I'd go retro and fit a mesh grille. They come up on eBay fairly regularly.

Did the fan belt actually break? It was pre my ownership (2007).

Perhaps going for the distressed look you should make a grille from chicken wire?

It's not really a fan belt, as the fan is electric, of course, but it does of course drive the water pump and alternator.  What has happened is that the bolts securing the water pump pulley have fallen out and the pulley is hanging loose.   Ouch.     I haven't yet been able to check if the pulley is damaged.

I might perhaps go retro grille, as I have seen them for sale, or  might go back to the original.  I know that the plain grille is supposed to look boggo cheap, and that's fine  (my fave bit of the car is the 1300 badge*), but the basic grille is just a bit foogly, I think.


 * oh, and the 1300 engine.

I think the 1300 grille is quite cool, the 5 bar grille rather a case of bad over design........

This has happened once before a couple of years ago, though the bolts only came loose and I didn't loose them (I fitted that water pump in December 2009). After the last incident I Loctited the bolts. Makes me wonder whether the bolts & thread are a proper match?

The pulley may be worn.  There is one for sale on eBay in the US.    Betaboyz sales website is showing a message saying that it is closed dating from August 2012.

The YAJster roars and rorts once more! 
 
Shown below is what happened to the water pump pulley wheel on the M40 the other week. Fooka dook, it exploded!    There was a right crash bang wallop when it happened,and I had to limp home minus water pump and alternator.  New pulley wheel fitted today, along with new alternator/water pump belt, and head gasket tested and found to be unborked.   Compression good on all cylinders.
 
Steering update:  great improvement thanks to fitting of new bearing at column base.  It's not yet 100%, as there is a suspected collapsed bearing inside the rack, but that's a bigger job. The steering no longer seems like it is about to lock at low speed, and is generally much better than it was.
 
The Handbrake is a bigger deal, as it needs a refurb of the calipers.  My mobile mech dude Roy will take them home and spiff them up after his next visit, but I want at least one working Lancia, so that can wait until Roy has located the wiring fault in my Volumex's fuel pump electrics .    Hill starts with a dodgy handbrake are eased by the presence of a hand throttle.

Shouldn't be the calipers, they were rebuilt by BigRed less than 18 months ago, unless one has shed a locating lug, in which case it will be scrap. That was the reason I had the refurbed calipers fitted, the saga is on here somewhere!

Christ on a bike  - I've never seen that before. Flywheels yes but water pump pulleys?? You're a lucky boy it didn't take the cambelt out.

The wreckage is pretty spectacular, and I am glad indeed that further damage didn't happen.  Thanks to Peter for a good replacement part. 

As for the handbrake, it's not the calipers themselves but wedges.  The cable is unbroken and moving but the handbrake is totally ineffective.   Roy says that he has seen the same thing on the Matra Murena that has a similar set up and he knows how to fix it, but wants to take the calipers off to do this.

Very strange pulley failure I thought that the water pump pulley was pressed steel so can't imagine why that happened

If it's anything major relating to the re-furb the BigRed invoice should be within the car history file if you've got it. The offside caliper was only fitted last September. The term 'wedges' doesn't mean anything to me?

If the normal brakes work ok I wouldn't think it is anything to do with the calliper slides most likely the self adjustment is out of setting, may not work but worth trying, slack off the handbrake cable then brake heavily a few time in reverse then same forwards, readjust cable and see if it has improved. It s very important that the cable is not over adjusted it should always leave a little free play the actual adjustment is made automatically inside the calliper

The 'new' 1300 was pressed into service as Elena's 'Prom Car'. Didn't get a picture, but it looked so tasteful driving up to the venue drop off compared to the bright yellow Ferrari and a Bentley Continental behind it. The 1977 Rolls Royce behind that was a nice touch though.

I hypothesise that one or more of the three bolts fell out or sheared off, and the uneven stresses as the wheel rotated ripped the middle of it out.   

I was at my desk trying to get a document out to meet a hard deadline as Roy chattered about the handbrake with me going "yes, Roy, sorry, I'm mega busy", so I have only a very garbled version of what is wrong, but he is the most expert mechanic that  I have ever met in 25 years of running classic cars so whatever it is his diagnosis is more likely than not to be correct.  I will tell you when I next see Roy what he says the problem is. 

Now, all you strict originalists LOOK AWAY NOW. I am trying out a series one grille, because because.

No, I like that one, big improvement on that awful facelift grille and classier than the original. Might even get one myself!

Needs the chrome type headlight surrounds to look really proper but that is definitely the best coupe grille by far, looks a lot better than the wart on wheels next to it.

Possible makes me wonder if it's had a water pump bearing collapse does the current one feel ok?

Definitely related to my previous problem with loose bolts I think. The pump had 10,000 miles tops on it (December 2009), so it would be disappointing if the bearing had gone.

First test of the YAJmobile in the wet, with new tyres.  Goes great! 

Grippy trippy, doesn't flippy, leaky window, carpets drippy.

Water pump checked and appears to be fine.

Now do you get the NooKoop so shinaaaaay, Neil?  I hope that your daughter had fun at her school do.

A better view of the new (old) grille -

Just a wash and some of that spray on wipe off wax. Always looks brilliant from four steps back or in photos. In the flesh Mark's 'Chocolate Lime' is a far smarter car, but photos really don't do it justice.

Betacommuting, with mahoosive moderns and their rubbish parking -

There was a brown 1300 Coupe at the LMC National Weekend (YEG738T - Series 2 facelift). Unfortunately I didn't go because of the Tour de France. However that now accounts for four; YAJ, FNC, Cheeky's and the one above. Unless we find the mythical gold one YAJ remains the only pre-facelift on the road.

there could be another  - a morroco beige colour with orange cloth interior pre fl. the number plate -
DOO 43T . this car i last saw in 2007 owned by a LMC member who lives local to me. he sold the car to a dealer from Swindon at this time . the car was  in very good condition so should still be out there somewhere.(http://)

Checked on line it's both taxed and tested, lacks the slightly bizarre charisma of YAJ though.....

I'm guessing this is the 'gold' car seen by Paul Greenway in Manchester. He also mentioned orange seats, so I can't see there being another so similar. I'm thinking this maybe makes a full house! Pity the owners of DOO & YEG don't seem to be on the Forum here.

Well there are several hundred betas out there and just a handful of folks regularly on here

BTW - the matt black pre-facelift trim looks particularly odd against the beige paintwork!

In the world perhaps  - not sure the UK population makes it to several hundred.

http://www.howmanyleft.co.uk/family/lancia_beta (http://www.howmanyleft.co.uk/family/lancia_beta)

Plus those not listed as beta on the dvla database


http://www.howmanyleft.co.uk/family/lancia_coupe (http://www.howmanyleft.co.uk/family/lancia_coupe)

http://www.howmanyleft.co.uk/vehicle/lancia_cpe_2000_i# (http://www.howmanyleft.co.uk/vehicle/lancia_cpe_2000_i#)

http://www.howmanyleft.co.uk/family/lancia_hpe (http://www.howmanyleft.co.uk/family/lancia_hpe)

http://www.howmanyleft.co.uk/vehicle/lancia_spyder_1600 (http://www.howmanyleft.co.uk/vehicle/lancia_spyder_1600)

http://www.howmanyleft.co.uk/family/lancia_trevi (http://www.howmanyleft.co.uk/family/lancia_trevi)


In addition there are always cars that were stored prior to sorn requirement and those in the hands of motor traders.

If we take 2013 quarter 2 as a good indicator of those cars on the road (as most folks tax for spring/summer) that gives 180 taxed 350 sorn removing beta montecarlo we end up at 137 taxed 296 sorn even allowing for some cars on sorn probably being broken up it is still a surprising number and does not include cars in the no mans land of dealers, pre sorn or I think Northern Ireland and any cars personally imported at a later date (those would list as lancia other) . I think we sometimes forget that betas sold in large numbers here.
 I imagine the worldwide total of betas is still in the thousands especially in Italy

The 180 taxed is about what I'd have guessed, but surprised at the 350 SORN. Wonder how many will ever make it back to the road?!

If my 1300 Coupe research is correct then they make up less than 3% of the taxed Betas. Wonder if there are any 1300 Saloons left?

There's definitely at least one berlina the how many left figures for cars with 1297 or 1301 fitted is 5 taxed 10 sorn

Well hopefully mine will, if I ever have any spare funds for paint and so on that is

We are up to five Coupes, so none of the taxed cars are saloons. Out of ten on SORN the odds would favour at least a few saloons though I guess. My facelift Coupe is erroneously recorded as 1297cc on the V5 rather than 1301 and even has '1600 Coupe' entered in the model box.

There's is definitely one 1300 berlina in use, the how many left  figures are only a snap shot so can never be taken as 100% accurate only a close guide
Registration number: NTX 811R
✔ Taxed
Expires: 01 September 2014
✔ MOT
Expires: 04 March 2015
Vehicle excise duty
Vehicle excise duty rate for vehicle
6 Month rate    £79.75
12 Month rate    £145.00
Vehicle details
Vehicle make LANCIA Date of first registration 03 September 1976 Year of manufacture 1976 Cylinder capacity (cc) 1300cc CO₂Emissions Not available Fuel type PETROL Tax class PRIVATE/LIGHT GOODS (PLG) Export marker No Vehicle status Tax not due Vehicle colour MAROON Vehicle type approval Not available

I have seen (and parked YAJ next to one of the 1300 Berlinas).  It's a one family ownership minter and IIRC I posted a photo of it some pages back.  Another 1300 Beerlina was for sale on carandclassic a while back at what looked to me a slightly ambitious asking price.

A fair few of my car nut friends have taken a twirl in YAJ and all agree that it is just a hilarious grin machine despite its shonky extrerior and kronky low speed steering  (New rack still to go on).    All are amazed that it is just a 1300, but my mech says that a good Italian twin cam tends more or less to give 1600 ish  for 1300, 2000 ish for 1600 and so on when compared with engines of the same era from other countries.    Even though the car looks as scabby as a scabby thing, it still garners much kerbside and filling station admiration and banter.

Well, that's one way of putting it!

Did I mention above that when I took my wife for an anniversary dinner at Le Manoir Aux Quat' Saisons in YAJ, the staff let it park out at the front by the main door all night, relegating the mere Porsches and Astons and Ferraris to parking around the back?

Conversely, YAJ was once thrown out of pole position outside a posh Suffolk gastro pub. The obsequious waiter did however refer to it as that 'lovely midnight blue 'Lanchia' (Italian pronunciation) before asking me to shift it!

Yes it's the one quoted by Rosso above (NTX811R), talk about coincidence. The other may be the one from Holmfirth, then Northern Ireland, though that had a 1600 or even 2000 engine swap after being bought for it's 1300 gearbox for racing use.

No coincidence I'm just observant  ;D

My car model is marked as 1600 Coupe on the V5 too Neil . On the emissions results paper the tester can and does quote 1297. When i renew my tax disc they quote 1297. Ive asked the DVLA about 1301cc and they don't recognise it and the same for every insurer I've spoken to

G

There is only one type of 1300 Coupe available on the LMC database too, so perhaps that comes from the all pervading list of cars that insurance companies etc. use these days? Though I think it is the facelifft that it lists. Strange really about the DVLA, because there were many significant changes on the facelift and you would think they would want it right.

My 1600 f/l, like a few others, the DVLA has the capacity as 1592 (the pre f/l value), guess when registered they just carried on with the engine as being 'generic Lancia 1600'. An old phrase comes to mind, 'close enough for government work'......

It could of course have been laziness on the dealers, just copying the previous car details when first registering them.

Peter

You would think that the cars came with some sort of check sheet when delivered to the dealer, especially re the correct engine size, but perhaps not?

Graham, any idea where your car was first purchased? Mine was from a Lancia agent in Stockport I think?

Approvals were not as strict back then as current type approvals, perhaps it was just easier to ignore minor variations?

All i know at the moment is the first owner had it serviced at Vicarage Road Garage, Watford, which still exists so I'll contact them to see if anyone there remembers the car. I have an MOT receipt from that garage in 1990 ... £14.26 !

Does anyone know if there was any reason behind which registration office was used for a cars first registration?
If i understand the letter prefixes correctly then as some examples  'YAJ' was Taunton,  'FNC' was Canterbury  and my car 'FRK' was Preston.

cheers
Graham

or is it the 2nd and 3rd letter that denote the office? That would make 'YAJ' Middlesborough,  'FNC' Manchester and 'FRK' London North West.

cheers
Graham

In the  days of three letter prefixes the "county" was always indicated by the 2nd and 3rd letters. For instance Denbighshire in North Wales was always  UN  and CA so you had  AUN and ACA working thro the alphabet as the years progressed.

'AJ' and 'NC' definitely represent the North East and Manchester respectively, as that is where my Coupes were originally registered (albeit that FNC32T is a cherished transfer by the second owner).

YAJ update:-

I have been blatting about in the old thing a bit  ("Well, the handbrake was working this morning, Officer").    My mech has been off work ill, but is back in action as of tomorrow.  He says in an email:

"I will be bringing my special tools with me, and if the calipers are O.K. and I
can, I will rebuild them there and get the handbrake working.  You'll understand
more when you see them, but there is a small wedge in the back
that gets knocked out if the calipers don't self-adjust and then you
have to strip them to put it back in.  It is a tricky job even when on a
bench and is almost impossible on the car.
The wedge gets trapped in the boot at the back with the grease so
generally you don't lose it unless the gaiter is split open or missing and both yours looked O.K. last time."

He adds that garages often get stumped as they do not have the special tool for stripping calipers and may incorrectly advise fitting new ones, only to find that locating new ones is a mare.

Handbrake inspection reveals:-

1.  The pistons have been put on upside down.
2.  The pads are the wrong size and don't fit properly.
3.  The cable is seized, so the calipers have not been self adjusting properly.
4.  One wedge had fallen out but is still there and can be repositioned.

Also, the back wheels were held on by, in effect, two studs, as someone has fitted studs that are way too short and only grip by two threads.  Yikes!  

Hi Gerard

It is not like it is important or anything......... ::)

I take it you are going to check the front two wheels now?

Peter

You betcha.  

Also no thermostat fitted.  My eBay clicky finger is getting a workout.

Well that is better than the guy on Lancisiti.net who has had a mare with thermostats, read on....

http://www.lancisti.net/forum/showthread.php?7886-Beta-Beta-Thermostats (http://www.lancisti.net/forum/showthread.php?7886-Beta-Beta-Thermostats)

I assume the US ones are the same, so please excuse me if not.

Peter

Hang on, thermostat at the three branch bit at the front, not on top.   Clicky finger can have a rest.

Update: the oh crikey brake bodge has been unbodged and the wheel have proper bolts.  Onwards and upwards!

Would be interested to know what the brake bodge was? Especially if it was the nearside rear, as I paid for that doing properly!

Knew about the assortment of random wheel bolts, I never did get round to sorting those out, and carried a multi-head wheel brace instead.

Piston upside down, wrong type of pads.

Piston upside down? Don't really know what that means. As for the pads, I recall them being Mintex, or do you mean that they weren't the correct pads for the caliper? If it's the latter then it was an ebay failure (not unknown!). Anyway take it all is good on the brake front now?

the piston that the cable works on at the back of the caliper has a slot in it, the lip on this slot is deeper on one side, this retains the piston drive block (wedge). if the piston is upside down I imagine there is no proper retention of the wedge and it can fall out

Black mark for Big Red then if this is the case. Disappointing, as they came highly recommended on here.

This would explain the sudden failure of the handbrake though. It was fine while I had the car.

Without physically looking at a calliper to check construction I can't be 100% sure but in diagrams it looks that way

Yes, and to make matters worse the pads were the wrong size and had just been jammed in as far as they would go, so they weren't properly in place.  I wouldn't use that garage again if I were you!

Most years since 1993 I have gone away camping with a group of friends in July or August. Originally we all went in classic cars, mainly British ones (prior to my Lancia days; MG Midget, Frogeye Sprite, Mini). As the children came along the classics dwindled away, with my Beta being pretty much the last classic standing!

However things looked up a bit this year, with the appearance of Neil's V6 Corsair convertible. It was it's first proper run post restoration, from Sussex to Cambridgeshire, and he had some fuel vaporisation issues until he disconnected the mechanical pump, bypassing a copper feed pipe bolted to the cylinder head that seemed to serve no purpose other than boiling up the fuel.  

Just clicked over 50,000 miles on the odometer on the way back from getting my hair cut.

A years ownership of FNC effectively finished last night when I collected Elena from her dance class in it. SORN from midnight. Good to check out on an excellent weekend trip (apart from the M1 traffic) to Betameeta and the LMC Committee meeting, clocking up just under 400 trouble free miles.

Must now write up my winter 'to do' list.

Another 1300 Coupe emerges from the shadows, albeit that I don't think the seller knows that it's a Beta. He only refers to it as a 'B', presumably from reading the boot badge? A poor ad even for ebay, but 9 bids already never the less.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Lancia-B-1300-1981-Non-runner-Project-/390967180555?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item5b0775bd0b (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Lancia-B-1300-1981-Non-runner-Project-/390967180555?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item5b0775bd0b)

Off road since 1993, it is a mind bogglingly late registration for a 1300 difficult to tell condition from pictures it looks very original but I also suspect that it is very badly deteriorated structurally

The 1300 coupe was discontinued in the UK in January 1980!! Easy to figure from this that the advertised car which was registered August 1981 must have been built in 1979.....

Sold for £410 on 12 bids. Got to be worth that just as a breaker?

Looks a lot of hard work but too good to break hopefully someone dedicated enough to do it has bought it?

YAJ the 1300 has gone for welding and painting.  Update in a week or two.

Alas, just too much rust to make this a viable project within my budget.  Anyone want the car for, say, £500?  Mechanically OK, but needs big weldage and paint.

For what it's worth my budget was £3k with no work to the interior. The car would have been pretty much as good as FNC then, so worth say £2.5k. A labour of love which meant that when an equivalent car came up that had much less work to do for less that £3k it was a no brainer really.

Glad you enjoyed your ownership and gave it a try Gerard. I think we established that this was one of only two or three pre-facelift 1300 Coupes left. It would be a shame if it gets broken. Definitely a good project for someone with time and the requisite welding skills.

Unless you DIY I think £3k is probably a severe underestimate, when you start to dig it always snowballs. One for a home restoration I think

The sills and front inner wings have been done though.

Back end is very bad.  I have newish doors for it.  Also new steering rack.

YAJ now sold as  a project.

Did it go to someone on here or are we to expect a new recruit for the asylum?

A guy on Autoshite.com who has driven the car at a meeting and liked it very much has bought it.  He will do his own welding and swap out the dodgy steering rack.   He may or may not paint the car, as its comedy rat look is quite popular.

The fine weather this weekend encouraged me to drive twice round the block, rather than just letting the car warm up on the drive after it's fortnightly start.

The gear change has definitely improved after the oil change. Roll on Spring!

Another 1300 Coupe emerges on ebay in the North East. Unlikely to see the road again sadly?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/dal536t-lancia-beta-coupe-1-3-project-/201298035860?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item2ede4c4494 (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/dal536t-lancia-beta-coupe-1-3-project-/201298035860?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item2ede4c4494)

Does appear to have a lot of cosmetic perforation! Does look very straight though

Hello I just thought I'd let you know I have a 1300 coupe.owned it for 22years and only 1 owner before that,52,000 miles from new.i took it off the road 12years ago because the clutch was starting to slip and I was going to do some faded paintwork.the car has only ever been worked on by my friend who worked at lancia denham when it was new,infact he even had to do the delivery inspection to make all ready for its need owner,I bought the car at 30,000 miles.the colour is ascot dark green,when I take it out of the carcoon and wash and polish it I will post some photos when I can get my son to show me how.it has to live in the carcoon now because I have a montecarlo in the garage.also I've just sold my dedra turbo,so I like lancias it's safe to say.cheers from longy

Brilliant, another 1300 Coupe identified. We must be just short of double figures now! Is yours facelift or pre-facelift (brown dash)?

It's a 1981 series 2 one of the last.ive been in the lancia motor club for 20 years and taken it to 2 day outs many years ago I remember meeting flavio iorio, I think that was his name and it was in the viva lancia that year photographed at a meet I think it was a go karting get together about 15years ago.there was a few betas there that day.cant remember the name of the place something hall I think.

Look forward to the pics.

Bit of a hiccup on the MOT test this year. A pin-hole at the bottom front of the OS rear wheel arch turned into quite a mess.

All fixed and on the road now. Phew!

reminds me a bit of my VX  :(

Might be well worth cleaning the whole system. Tank to carb.
The added ethanol in the fuel can strip crud off lines tanks and reservoirs so worth cleaning fully and I'd agree flitter king a great idea.
Best if luck .
Huw

Unusually, I was the sole Beta representative at this years LMC Great Northern Weekend in New Lanark (there was also a Spider on the participants list, but it didn't show).

448 miles in three days, including  a 188 mile non stop return in three and a half hours this morning.

Only hiccup was the increasingly annoying radiator fan thermostat (see separate post).

I finally got round to fitting my NS window winder and mirror. Unfortunately I couldn't quite finish the job, as the previous owner had left off the bolts that connect the glass to the winder carriage. The glass was held up with a long bolt through an aperture in the door to one of the carrier bolt holes. A handy tip if you end up with a winding mechanism broken in a not fully raised position.

I have a pair of bolts from my scrapped door, but they are over at my Mothers, so I'll have to wait until the weekend to finish the job.

The mirror has been a bit of a bugbear with this car, as on my Police driving courses the instructors hammered checking the NS mirror for cyclists and motorbikes, especially when exiting a roundabout at speed. They'd check that you were doing this every time, so for the last 18 months I've found my self constantly glimpsing at nothing!

Old NS mechanism truly shot!

Neil

I too suffer  from imaginary mirror syndrome - I have been too slack on tracing a matching early mirror and must get onto it again.

Hope the regulator goes well- may be brave enough to try mine then!

Mark

After a somewhat fraught search of my Mother's garage the bolts were found and the job finished.

Slight further crisis when that fiddly screw that secures the lock button went flying across the drive and remains un-located. Fortunately there was a spare in the box of fittings from the scrap door, which located on the thread straight away. No doubt the other screw will re-appear, now that I don't need it!

Just a clean up now before Betameeta.

271 mile round trip this weekend going to the LMC National Weekend and my friends wedding.

This included collecting the very interesting Daniele Audetto from Birmingham Airport. Due to the wedding I missed his apparently excellent presentation on Saturday evening. Seems he knows everyone in F1 and world rallying from Lauda onward.

Another highlight was screeching into the church car park with five minutes to spare after the dash from Stratford to Derbyshire. The groom was impressed with our entrance!

Though not entirely obvious from this photo my Coupe had it's new bonnet and boot lid painted and fitted this week. Have spent all morning cleaning, fettling and replacing trim. Hopefully now ready for the LMC stand at Manchester Classic car Show.

Hi Neil

Very nice, hope you have good show in Manchester. I must admit I did not realise your boot and bonnet were that bad?

Peter

The bonnet was a funny one. The leading edge was fine, but the double skin at the rear behind the grille had gone. A previous owner had filled it and the rust underneath was starting to break out. Amazing what you can get away with on a dark coloured car. If the car had been white, silver or even light blue it would have already looked horrendous.

The boot lid had the regulation rust scab on the bottom left hand corner, again in the double skin, exactly where it was on my last Coupe. I was lucky to pick up an immaculate, though silver, lid from ebay.

From the photo it appears the paint colour match is very good which can be difficult, unless recently painted of course.

Peter

It took two goes to get the shade right. Just some bits of faded/worn paint on the front wings letting it down a bit now.

The big bullet to bite in the future will be pulling out the rear screen and fixing the bits of rust around that. The original owner had the front screen done about ten years ago.

Couldn't resist copying this link from the LMC Forum

http://www.autoscout24.com/offers/lancia-beta-13-25000-km-originali-gasoline-blue-277589115 (http://www.autoscout24.com/offers/lancia-beta-13-25000-km-originali-gasoline-blue-277589115)

Hope it works. Definitely the best 1300 I've seen, possibly the best Coupe. The price may seem high, but it would only buy a mediocre Fulvia.

looks exceptional, not sure that it will make the price though especially in Italy where the Beta is still barely out of the banger/scrappage category in terms of reputation to many.

I got a call from YAJ's current owner last night asking if I wanted to buy it back (no). He said it was on ebay but a search didn't turn it up.

Someone on the LMC Forum had spotted it, but the listing has finished now and it looks like he got the £500 he was asking for it.

It's in a fairly sorry state. Hopefully a serious restorer has got it this time? Anyone on here?

There is a thread on Autosh*te about how the owner acquired the car from Gerard and the bits he has done including fixing up the distributor/ignition. What is that Forum about??

The car has deteriorated since I let it go 18 months ago. Keeping it in a field with the window open can't have helped! I once had to take off the door trim on a campsite to get the drivers window back up, so after that I never lowered it more than two thirds of the way down. Although the photos seem to show the passenger, rather than driver's window stuck down.

The distributor is a funny one. In seven years I never touched the ignition, one of the reasons being that the distributor cap screw was hard up against the cam box. The answer was to slacken off the distributor and rotate it back round, but as the timing was spot on I was shy of doing that and it ran fine for all those years.

The off side A post and sill were always going to be the big challenge. The latter was bodged by the local garage, who also passed the final MOT in October 2013, leading to a winter of use that the car could have well done without I guess.

still advertised here http://www.classiccarsforsale.co.uk/detail/motors/classic-cars/lancia/beta/157346 (http://www.classiccarsforsale.co.uk/detail/motors/classic-cars/lancia/beta/157346)

looking at all the pictures on the links I'd say that would be a very brave rebuild

YAJ was bought by some sort of small time dealer and moved on via ebay for £515. Clearly, if he thought there was a quick buck to be made, he was wrong.

Wonder where it is now?

funny how it was for sale for £500 for a while and no doubt sold for less then sells for £515 on ebay. it still looks restorable to me but it will be a huge job as i know from my VX wil be interedting to see what happens

My fortnightly winter start failed just after Christmas due to fuel drain back. There was plenty of juice in the battery, but I felt I was labouring the starter and decided to leave it, but it was preying on my mind now and then.

Yesterday I got round to giving the carb a good glug of fuel using a priming bulb and the car started first time.

I'll book the MOT next week and I'm looking forward to my first trip (to Sheffield) on 2nd April.

Through the MOT today with a couple of advisories. So tax next week and I'm off!

A relief after last years surprise hole in the wheel arch.

Well done Neil. A week a to go and I haven't lifted a spanner since September with the house taking priority. It still starts and runs nicely, so here's hoping.

Mark

Thanks Mark

It was only yesterday that I noticed that I'd only done 1900 miles last year, as opposed to 2700 in 14/15. I seemed to do lots of long trips last year, so it must be down to day to day running about, which I tend to do in my old Polo now.

I had a good run out yesterday before changing the oil and filters.

The only annoyance was that on a perfect dry Spring morning the council had heavily gritted the roads, having believed the Met Office's pessimistic and wrong forecast of snow.

Another brilliant Great Northern Weekend. No long drive for me this time though, as it was just up the road in Harrogate.

The cream Fulvia behind me in this photo was my car of the weekend, though there was a massive range of cars, from Lambda to Lybra.

A pity only 3 of us made it to the Harewood Hillclimb, which was a storming day out!

I completed a 500+ mile round trip the weekend before last for the LMC committee meeting then on to see my son in Bath. From Gaydon to Bath and back I stuck to the Fosse Way as long as I could, which delivered some great driving. I followed this up with an impromptu 'use the Force' diversion through Sheffield to avoid a crash on the M1 North. Not sure if I saved much time, but much less boring.

All in glorious weather. Can anything beat driving a Lancia.........

If a Weber carburator Lancia stands for so many years.
Change as a precaution weberparts and distributor cap.

Distributor cap (101-D4018)

Diaphragma autochoke 34DAT weber 34.2/250L8
Diaphargma accelerator WE 483 TU-KIT 34DAT
rubber fuellines and fuel filter.

It is easy to do yourself
For under € 100,00 your Lancia will love it.

Leo

Leo

I agree. I changed all those parts excepting the auto choke diaphragm. Must bear that in mind.

Neil

The Coupe enjoyed it's second outing as a Prom car. Unlike last time though there was no queue of exotic cars pulling up to the venue. Shame.

Did my annual camping trip in the Coupe earlier this week. To Ledbury and back, so a 500 mile plus round trip including a drive down to the Forest of Dean. Sadly the car ran poorly on the run down, including some alarming 'jolts' at 70 on the motorway, and to add insult to injury another radiator fan thermostat failed. At least this was in the 'on' mode again though.

I was a bit down in the mouth about it all, but then the car ran like a dream on the trip home! What can you do! No doubt another bit of microscopic crap in the carb jets that eventually dislodged itself.

Just the Otley Vintage Transport Fair next week then SORN is approaching.

So, the Beta hasn't left the garage since it's return from Italy other than a quick blast into the Dales in July. I didn't think this would do, so I paid for an extra 2000 miles on the insurance (only £11, but then a £25 admin fee!). Setting off for five days camping near Abersoch, Wales in an hour.....

Have a good trip Neil. Lovely spot Abersoch as I recall it and snowdonia on the doorstep. Watch for the local bobbies after bikers.

I have hardly used mine since Betameeta and it's rolling road session, but had a quick spin last night, all good, but that flashing brake warning is back again. There is loads left on the pads but still thing it's the pad wear system, as it goes off when you brake.

Mark

Neil, I live 6 miles from Ledbury, so if you ever are down this way again and your car is throwing a wobbly, give me a shout. I might even have a beta myself by then!
I saw yours in Bristol but you weren't with it!
Richard

I had a successful trip to Wales. A definite highpoint was driving the B4391 between Bala and Ffestiniog, low point miles of queues on A55 on way home.

My friends Corsair Convertible was nearly written off in a hit and run accident in the spring, a fortunately rare occurrence with classic cars, so the Beta was the only older car on the trip. John and Lynne's VW California Camper introduced a new dimension to camping though....

Note classic Beta next to 'classic' caravan.

Hi Neil

I suspect the caravan is somewhat older than the car.....

Peter

The Coupe's most eventful year effectively came to an end yesterday when I filled out the SORN. 4100 miles since the MOT in March, 8% of the 38 years worth of total milage, including it's trip to Italy.

Rounded off the year on Saturday with a quick ride up to the Dales and a visit to Billy Bob's Diner.

Start up and oil change yesterday. Pennasol 10/40 this year, which is noticeably thinner than my classic 20/50. Good pressure on start up, but I'll monitor and report back on any surge and leaks.

 MOT hopefully later this week (last one??).

New exhaust bought (IMASAF - shipped from Germany in 4 days), fitted and MOT obtained. My Lancias have proved costly this year on the MOT front, but the Beta now sounds great.

I imagine it's a lot cheaper to run than more popular 'reliable' marques like Ford and a lot more smiles per pound too. It's easy to lose touch with what other cars cost to run and tbh really lancias are very tough and reliable compared with most.

First run out (70 miles over the day) yesterday with the new exhaust fitted. Quite a revelation, with the car running really well at both low and high revs. Obviously a good piece of kit with less back pressure than the old system, which wasn't I guess helped by the leak either.

What surprised me the most however was that the snap/crackle/pop on the overrun has completely gone....

A 601 mile round trip was completed between Friday and Sunday to the LMC Great Northern Weekend in Drymen near Loch Lomond. Always one of the best events on the LMC Calendar and the Beta ran so well, especially on the long slog up and down the M6/M74.

The combination of last years run to Italy and the new exhaust seem to have finally delivered smooth tractable running over the full rev range.

I got a guest slot on 3ma in North Yorkshire this year (Fiat 131 Club, part organised by Thotos of this Forum). Turin next year... mmm...

Looks like Italy anyway on that photo!

Mark

After nearly 2000 mile the update on the 10/40 is that it gives good oil pressure and does not leak out. Consumption is notably higher, but this may be a quality rather than viscosity issue. Surge is the main problem on cornering as compared to the slightly thicker stuff.

YAJ returns to ebay yet again, but not quite as we know it......

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Lancia-Beta-coupe-1300-1978-Project-Spares-Repairs/113336040840?hash=item1a635abd88:g:e20AAOSwqM9b1fOX:rk:3:pf:0 (https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Lancia-Beta-coupe-1300-1978-Project-Spares-Repairs/113336040840?hash=item1a635abd88:g:e20AAOSwqM9b1fOX:rk:3:pf:0)

What a dog's breakfast...

Hi Neil

I bet you are getting all nostalgic about it......

I hope you were not the high bidder!

I wonder how many more times we will see it end up on Ebay?

Peter

The 1300 has lived under this cover from Ultimate Outdoor Car Covers (£180) for the whole winter with one disposable dehumidifier in the boot. It has remained bone dry, better in fact than the ie which got the garage and is a little fusty, how I miss my bone dry garage in Bingley, which is probably just full of household junk now like most garages.....

The 1300 passed it's final compulsory MOT after needing the nearside jacking point welding up. No doubt due in part to it's use in anger in December. The rust on the offside door jamb was a fail at first, but then they dug down to the 'solid' metal of the sill and decided it wasn't. Or was it that they couldn't be bothered/didn't have time to cut and weld in the repair panel Stuart supplied me some time ago? Call me cynical but I'm still convinced that the MOT is just a money making racket these days and older cars are well out of it!

Lets just say that investigation looks pretty superficial!

That is a semi superficial panel as the main strength is in the sill that runs behind the wing panel however I think I'd want to cutting that out and checking/repairing given what I know from my car.

Yes, definitely on my 'to do' list now....

After 5 years and 20,000 miles or so of solid service, and surviving several MOT advisories for cracked walls, I finally gave up on my Michelins. I really wanted to keep the 155 tyre width, so the only option that I could find was Nankang via Black Circles. I was dubious previously, but there is a long running article in Viva Lancia about a track racing Integrale. The preferred racing tyre option? Nankang.

Hi Neil

Nankang has been the only available tyre in that size for some time. I tried two on my 1300 some years ago and was pleased with their longevity, if not the look. I contacted Michelin in Clermont Ferrand 5 years ago to see if there was any way of getting the MX-P 155 R14 80S tyres I originally had - those tyres were superb and suited the car, with a really nice kerbing rim on the wall. I know that sounds fussy, but its amazing what a difference a tyre makes to the look of the car. Sadly, the MX-P no longer existed. 2 years ago I changed to Michelin 165/70R14 which have been good too

Graham

175/70 X 14 would have been a contemporary option on the Beta and there's still plenty of choice on that size

Might well of been contemporary. I had a discussion with Michelin about that. Doesn't necessarily suit a 1300 with steel caps though.

I checked my big pile of info and you are correct, not because the 1300 normally had steel rims (1600 had steels too in most countries), but, for some bizzare reason, the 1300 had 5 inch rims whereas the 1600 had 5.5 inch. For this reason the 1600 came with 175/70 in facelift format even with steels but the 1300 only had this size if specified with alloys which were always 5.5 inch.

If I'd known about the 165/70R14 I'd have probably gone with those, should have checked on here. I'll see how the Nankangs go. Will obviously last several years if I stick with them. I still like the skinny 155 look though...

Michelin X tyres in the correct 155/80/TR14 size and profile are still available from specilaists (see Longstone Tyres) but pricey at about £100 each!

Having driven a 100 miles or so on my Nankangs I have to say I'm happy with how they look and ride. Low speed steering has definitely improved too.

On the servicing front I got 5 litres of Mobil semi synthetic 10w/40 for £24 at Halfords (30% off) which seems great value. Certainly moving on re lubrication......!

Another 1300 Coupe emerges. I haven't seen a green one before. It would be interesting to see what it fetches.....

https://angliacarauctions.co.uk/classic/saturday-15th-june-2019/1981-lancia-beta-1300-coupe/

Photo looks good only the phrase 'very solid' is off putting as to me it implies significant deterioration. Will be interesting to see more photos.

I see this 2.0 one made good money in the previous auction

https://angliacarauctions.co.uk/classic/results/results-from-saturday-13th-april-2019/1981-lancia-beta-20-coupe/

The Panda Sisley 4x4 that went for £7,400 baffles me a bit. Interesting car for sure but £7.5k? 

Superficially the 1300 looks a nicer car more original car but easier to tell once there are more photos

Now this is a good colour Stuart.  (Or maybe I'm a bit biased?)  Looks great though!

Last of my late father in law's F103 Champion oil filters used with yesterdays oil change. He bought them for his Saab 900s, and they got me out of a real hole once. I bought a pair of filters from ebay and changed the oil on my old 1300 before a run to my first LMC Committee meeting. The ebay filter didn't fit (I still have them for some reason...). That was when I found that Tony's old 103s fitted the Beta. I wasn't sure why I'd even kept them, sentiment I guess.

Had what was probably my last ride out in the 1300 to Skipton yesterday before I SORN the car at the month end. It should then qualify for free tax in April. Such a responsive and solid ride compared to the ie for reasons not entirely known to me. Thinking I made the right decision keeping this one.....

My guess would be that suspension was tired on the ie plus possibly the wheel alignment was out, Betas are very sensitive to alignment even when it appears to be ok a full 4 wheel alignment can work magic!

For the last 18 months I have been paying £80 a month for a dark, dank, narrow and sometimes rat infested garage. So, I decided to invest some of the proceeds of the sale of my ie Coupe last year in a garage. The block is recently refurbished and I have painted the floor and walls to further brighten it up. Somewhere nice to be while I work on the car at last!

Hi Neil

Some sort of matting/Carpet/Cardboard for areas of the floor work wonders for me when I am working on the lower parts and also when it is cold helps to keep your feet warmer rather than standing on cold concrete. My favourite is a large old piece of rubber backed dog matting, which is indestructible and a very good insulator (this is matting from the car for the dog and yes she has had a new replacement....)

Peter

Hi Peter

I use a sheet of cushioned Vinyl from B&Q. It insulates, cushions and you can still slide around under the car. Combined with big foam mats it keeps my old bones working!

Eric   

A day sanding down and painting some of the crispy bits was interrupted by an alarming fuel leak between the filter and carb, which obviously took presidence to be fixed. Meanwhile Nicky did a great job of rescuing my spare seat almost destroyed by 18 months in my dirty old garage.

......

Very nice looking too!

Hello all.  Does anyone know if Yaj finally died the death?   I would be sad if so.  The bloke that I sold it to for 500 quid, despite full disclosure of its seriously corroded state, got rather grumpy and even at one point asked for his money back.  I politely declined.   I gather that he gave up on the project and flipped the car on, and that it appeared on eBay in various states of chaos.  I now have a non-rusty 1600 Coupe that I am very keen on, but it lacks the crazy character that Yaj had.  My 1600 is exceptional only in that it is a car that spent 34 years on the Isle of Man but did not rust much.  Because Ziebart.

Glad you're back in the Beta fold Gerard. If you scroll back through this thread YAJ was last seen for sale painted in white emulsion! Sadly I assume it has surely now been broken? The gearbox and exhaust would have been worth £200 and the engine was ok too.....

Hiya and cheers, I am glad that your 1300 is still going strong.  

I have gone full Lancia, as I now have a sliding-pillar and pillarless V4 Lancia as well as a pretty reasonable Beta.   I have a yen for a Fulvia Berlina or a Flavia Coupe, and would loooooove an Aurelia, but I have to be realistic!  

RIP Yaj if dead.  As well as a good engine etc, it also had barely used Pirelli tyres worth a few quid.   Plus those unforgettable seats!!!!  

I got four squares of this matting for £24, which makes up to pretty much the length of the car. I hurt my back servicing my daughters car, but once I've recovered a bit this should help with swapping out the front down pipe....

I have a luxury roll of B&Q cushioned Vinyl which serves well for insulation and providing a surface I can slide on getting under the car. Not very Formula 1 but it works remarkably well after upgrading from cardboard boxes and old carpet.
I add some large closed cell foam matts and my old bones are much happier!

Eric 

Fixing the downpipe/gasket problem didn't go all that well in the end. A previous owner had bodged on an early 'kinked' pipe. On this type one of the fixing nuts is hidden behind one of the two first stage pipes and must have been tightened when fitted with a shortish spanner. It would not accept a socket or even the crowfoot spanner I bought.

In the end I gave up, and it was off to the garage, who changed the cambelt and tensioner for me too. Even they found the old pipe a fight with one of the studs shearing and needing to be replaced.

Anyway, the car is back now for the summer and super quiet!

Good to hear!  My 1600 was far too noisy for a while, but after some fixes is now quieter, smoother, and generally better.

I got in a nice 120 mile drive to Castle Howard and back yesterday to mark 'Drive It Day', including finding some great driving roads (and a good pub lunch) between there and Boroughbridge.

Nice selection of other classics seen on route too.

Great stuff Neil. 120mls is a good shake down and confidence builder for the dryer seasons, and your Coupe looks very handsome... Well worth getting a pro to fettle that manifold too!

You are right Chris, the run was a proper Italian tune up on those country roads......

Your car is looking well, Neil.  I did about 120 miles in my 1600 on Sunday and saw some interesting cars.  The best bit of spotting was a white mid to late sixties Flavia Berlina.

There are two, count them, TWO 1300 Coupes for sale on carandclassic at the moment, although both LHD.  One of them gains extra bonus points for being brown.

As some of you may have gathered from my post on fuel hose the Coupe sprung a leak on the hose between the pump and filter. I suspect that the hose I used in 2017 wasn't ethanol proof enough.

To properly fit new hose it is easiest to loosen the pump a bit. As I'd gone that far, and am not really using the car at the moment, I decided that it was time to get the carburetor rebuilt and fit the Filter King that I have long considered.

When removing the carb I noticed that the gasket between it and the manifold has perished on one corner and wonder if this has caused an air leak leading to the slowly increasing idle speed?

Anyway, the carb is now away for an estimated 4 weeks at CFS locally in Bradford, so I can re-plumb the rest at my leisure....

(On the subject of plumbing I now have a date for the removal of my catheter that I have been stuck with since my summer illness. So hopefully I will be back in full action before the car....)

Hi Neil

Hope the catheter removal is soon as in my experience seem to cause a whole load of infections. Glad you are safe n the road to recovery, hopefully a full one.

Peter

In their monthly back page article in Viva Lancia Omicron Engineering noted that they were starting some work on a 1300 Beta Coupe. Omicron have long been the preserve of Aurelia and Flaminia owners, largely due to their fastidious and (justifiably I'm told) expensive work. Nor is this the only Beta that they have mentioned of late. Surely a sign of our cars becoming much more valued.....

Hi Neil, I wish you better soon!

Re Ethanol - is there an Esso station near you?  Esso 99 is Ethanol-free in many but not all areas of the UK.


See also -

https://classicenginesmodernfuel.org.uk/

An article that I wrote regarding the upgrades to and finally getting to use my car was published in this month's Viva Lancia. I've attached a word version for anyone who is interested and not an LMC member. 'Back in My Beta'

They also included my favorite pic of the year......

I bought this panel from the chap selling parts near Mark W's stall at Betameeta last year. As I was doing an oil change it seemed a good time to paint and fit it.

The one it replaced has definitely seen better days.........

My car doesn't have those.... Must have been removed at some point so I may have to make some, probably aluminium this time!

Guy

Well that answers the question as to what at least one of the two bits of odd shaped rusty sheet I got back with my car were..

Is there another one that goes somewhere?

There is a different one (smaller?) that fits on the left hand side.

The Coupe ate up circa 500 miles on the ever brilliant Great Northern Weekend.... (outside the Jim Clark Museum in Duns)

Out again to Coffee & Cars East of Leeds. Further events planned for 11th June and 10th September for anyone who wants to come along.

Finished the season with another run to The Motorist where I met Kevin Plowman in his immaculately restored Dedra Turbo.

I set off with 67145 on the odometer, pretty much exactly 20000 miles more than when I bought the car just over 10 years ago, so this post is also marking 10 years of this thread! What a decade, I'm not sure that there is much in my life that hasn't changed in that time, but FNC has seen me through it......

Hi Neil, belated congrats on a decade of Betakooping and of Betakoopthreading.