Lancia Beta Forum

Today was a mix of excitement mixed with a little apprehension.
After 2 years and a lot of work (my guess is around 2000 hours) I got to drive my ‘new’ car.
Unfortunately I know very little of its history as I bought it as a non runner in need of restoration and a complete mechanical overhaul. Not least, a complete engine build due to blown head gasket, bore corrosion and run out of oil.
As it turns out the apprehension quickly turned to smiles, lots of smiles.
It’s my first Berlina having owned countless coupes and HPE ‘s. Maybe my age has changed my appreciation of the Berlina, it really is a lovely drive and I regret not owning one earlier.

I’m sorry I didn’t do a restoration blog (I did remember to take photos along the way mind), but really it’s because I’ve been working from dawn to dusk 6-7 days a week to make the most of my spare time to get to today.

Excuse the wheels but they’re all I had laying around with good tyres on.

Well Done Ian

Finishing a car and driving it a concept I would be wise to follow!

Cheers

Eric

Thanks Eric,
I did doubt I’d finish it a few times.

Fortunately, amongst other things, my mother gave me the stubbornness to keep going.

Well done, looks lovely!   I do like Lancia Blue .........

Now enjoy it!

Cheers,

Always wanted a Blue Lancia since the first Blue Lord Integrale rolled into Barry Waterhouse’s workshop when I worked there.

30 years later. . . . .

That's lovely Ian.

I hope to post a similar experience later this year........all this furlough time has
accelerated my hpe project beyond all expectations!

Best wishes
Nigel

Congratulations Ian, we had a Berlina back in the 80s and was a most enjoyable car to drive. I have to say it does look odd with those alloys and think the original steels or alloys look the part. What wheels are you intending to end up with?

Peter

Thanks Peter
It does have a luxurious drive, so much so that the missus prefers it over the Alfa 159.

The wheels I have waiting for refurb are the fine spoke alloys as fitted to Berlina models (I forget the cd model no.). As an option on the Berlina I believe?
Not sure what tyres to put on them when they are ready as the current 185 65 tyres spin up if you floor it in 1st. The new 2.0 engine feels quite strong. So I’m reluctant to go down to 175 70 although they do look more period.

Thoughts?

Depends how old the tyres you have at the moment are. Last time I drove my Spider ( 4 1/2 Years ago.....) I had bugger all traction as they'd started to harden.

A modern 175 tyre designed for a small hatch could have more grip than you've got currently. 

Hi Ian

How about Toyo Proxes CF2 in 185 x 65 14? They have a good reputation for modern world grip and are widely available. Personally I would fit 7x15 wheels with 195 tyres as I think Mark Wastnidge did. No shortage of options and I think they suit the bulk of the body better.

Eric   

I definitely prefer the correct period fit and feel of the 175/70 profile rubber.  Was running 185/60 on my coupe for many years but 175/70 does feel just a tad more delicate and comfortable on the road.

I fitted new correct H rated Pirelli P1 175/70/14 tyres to the car last year and despite managing to get these for less than £160 shipped from Germany have found them to feel just right (for me). 

I think anything new from most reputable brands even in the standard size is likely to perform considerably better than either cheapo or aged rubber of wider section/lower profile.

Any more pics of the car?

The car is currently sitting on fairly new toyo proxes cf2 185 65 14 but 1st gear traction is challenged in the dry. I guess this is a combination of standard berlina suspension (except it does have later betaboyz wishbone bushes) and the high torque 2.0 ltr engine spec I like to build for Standard looking road cars.
So I guess going down to 175 tyres is not really an option unless I start ‘driving miss daisy’.

Going up to 15 inch as Eric mentions is a good option, but I think I want to keep it looking fairly standard for a change.

When it’s run in, the rolling road will be high on the agenda. Looking forward to seeing how this standard looking motor performs.

Great work, Ian. That looks absolutely lovely.

Nice work.
2000 hours? Imagine you had to pay somebody for that worktime.

What a great day; to be able to turn the key and drive something that’s been so challenging and time consuming... and now looks magnificent.
Good for your inherited stubbornness... or perhaps tenacity.  Great achievement Ian.

Thanks Mango

How right you are.
And if I tried to sell it, I’d barely cover the cost of parts and what I paid for the car.

It’s a labour of love and worth every minute.

Thanks fella,
A little apprehension driving the first few times around the block until I realised it was job done. Then I started driving along grinning like a bit of a plum, almost laughing. Great feeling.

I then noticed whilst sitting at the traffic lights, that amongst all the new black BMW’s, Mercedes and Range rovers that no one payed any interest in each other’s cars which surely cost a fortune to make some sort of statement.
Only the little blue Lancia literally stopped people in their tracks.

Hi Ian

I agree about the attention grab. Watch out other drivers get so distracted they drift over the line towards you and lose their lane discipline on motorways when passing based on my experience in the Montecarlo. They also make turning fun because they change speed in a way you never see with a modern car.

Stay safe and have fun in the sun this week!

Eric

Hi Ian

How about these 15 inch wheels? A period look and lots of grip if you use AD08 Yokohama tyres on them!

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Lancia-RONAL-A1-Style-15-Alloy-Wheel-4x98PCD-FITS-Beta-Monte-Carlo-Thema-TUV/233502132725?hash=item365dcfc9f5:g:iBoAAOSwRi9eT91c (https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Lancia-RONAL-A1-Style-15-Alloy-Wheel-4x98PCD-FITS-Beta-Monte-Carlo-Thema-TUV/233502132725?hash=item365dcfc9f5:g:iBoAAOSwRi9eT91c)

Changing the badge should be easy enough!

Cheers

Eric

it's a shame that no one does an update on the original coupe wheels in 7 x 15 really, but i guess there's not enough demand unlike for 'grales and Alfas

Nice find Eric

I like them a lot. Would look superb with the rim polished.
Might have to wait until furlough finishes and I know I’ve got a job to go back to.

That would make a nice wheel.

Something that always bothers me with aftermarket wheels is weight.
The original beta wheels only weight about 5.5kg as opposed to most 7x15 wheels coming in a 10kg.
I’ve got a set of forged oz 7x15 and even they tip 9kg.

Apart from performance they affect ride quality.

Thoughts? Am I just being fussy?

Not at all. I agree entirely. Makes a very noticeable difference in so many aspects of a car's performance.

I'm surprised that a forged Oz wheel is that heavy, though. My only experience of Oz wheels is on two wheels and a set of forged Oz wheels from an RSV Factory completely transformed my Falco.

I agree on the weight of some wheels. The pepper pot Integrale wheels are surprisingly heavy (and it is focused on the outside edge) compared to my Azez A with both in 7 x 15. Unfortunately in pot hole land light wheels are too frequently broken wheels. Especially when they are running low profile tyres.

Modern BMW wheels are very heavy as I experienced switching from summer to winter tyres and they still have a nasty habit of breaking from pot holes. But they do provide a huge amount of grip.

Beta wheels are frequently bent but rarely broken. When getting Beta wheels re-furbished I always had them spun on a tyre balance to weed out the oval ones!   

 

Popped in to see a buddy this week and he took a few snaps.

Couple more. . .

What a fantastic car! I used the gear knob and lever from one of these on one of my Beta Spiders and loved the design.

Very impressive. The Berlina love is slowly but surely growing.

On the wheels I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one that's toyed with the idea of custom made 15s but £1000+/set is a bit much for a nice to have and they would inevitably be heavier unless magnesium but that's stupid money.

What a beautiful car, Ian. Top work. In my earlier years of Beta appreciation I always overlooked the Berlina saloons, but they are really growing on me now. Very classy.

I was exactly the same. Never gave a Berlina a second look 30 tears ago. Spent many years bouncing from coupes to HPEs with the occasional spider thrown in. Perhaps it’s an age thing but I love the way this drives, feels and looks now “I’ve” got a few more miles on the clock.

I have to say that they seem much better built than coupé and the interior space is fantastic. I haven't owned one for 20 years though.