Author Topic: Beta Coupe Restoration (Read 15193 times)

Boundah · « **on:** May 13, 2014, 06:00:37 PM »

Hi,

I am finally getting around to putting my old beta coupe back on the road and thought it would be a good idea to join the forum.

I am hoping to get some good tips on finding parts. It seems that most spares are now rarer than the proverbial rocking horse droppings!

I originally bought the car, a 1975 1600 coupe, back in early 1983. I ran for about four years before 'putting it away for the winter' because the sills were starting to get a bit scabby and I didn't want to make things worst by driving on salt laden snowy roads.

So, in short, the car has been in dry storage since about 1987. It is very solid for a series 1 so I don't anticipate needing body panels but I do need a pair of rear quarter lights since the frames have got particularly rusty. I suspect, however, that these are no longer around or are pattern parts now available?

Any help on the spares front would be much appreciated.

Regards,

Graham

HFStuart · « **Reply #1 on:** May 13, 2014, 06:37:12 PM »

Welcome.

My God another S1 !

Matt is your man for advice on this but it's surprising how often parts do turn up on eBay or at the various specialists around the world. There's even some S1 ( I think ) seat fabric on EBay Aus at the moment! Most stuff is available somewhere though if you don't want to wait it'll probably come from Italy and you'll have to pay well!

Pics please!

rossocorsa · « **Reply #2 on:** May 13, 2014, 07:58:18 PM »

The later series rear side windows have stainless frames, not sure if they interchange or not but worth checking shouldn't be difficult to find

Boundah · « **Reply #3 on:** May 13, 2014, 08:10:50 PM »

Hi,

Thanks for the replies. That's very interesting to know re: the frames. If the later ones are stainless there are presumably plenty around?

The only pics I have of the car were taken nearly 30 years ago. (see below, hopefully!)

The car is currently nestling under a cover in the garage with a Ducati fairing on the roof and tank cover on the bonnet! Another Italian project yet to be completed. Any Ducati nuts on the forum?

I plan to get the car out into the open shortly.......... I have a container arriving soon to clear space in the garage. Hopefully I'll post some current pics soon!

Thanks to all!

rossocorsa · « **Reply #4 on:** May 13, 2014, 08:18:37 PM »

Lovely looking car and a real series 1 too

Boundah · « **Reply #5 on:** May 13, 2014, 08:21:13 PM »

Thanks!

Are there 'fake' series ones out there?

I know when I had this car in regular use there were series ones trying to look like series twos. i.e. series two bonnet, grilles and headlights etc.

Neil-yaj396 · « **Reply #6 on:** May 13, 2014, 08:23:07 PM »

Great to have these S1's coming out of hiding! I think there are some late (tinted) rear quarter lights on eBay at the moment. I presume you could swap the glass?

Boundah · « **Reply #7 on:** May 13, 2014, 08:31:48 PM »

If they are the ones that I saw on there I believe that they were for an HPE but thanks anyway.

MattNoVAT · « **Reply #8 on:** May 14, 2014, 05:50:37 AM »

Welcome Graham and Oh what a beautiful looking S1……… Just how a Beta should look. (IMHO)

I have accumulated a fair amount of spares, especially for S1's because of my own restoration project.

PM me if your looking for something specific or if you have any questions.

Boundah · « **Reply #9 on:** May 14, 2014, 06:40:04 AM »

Well thank you sir!

Hopefully it won't take too much work to get her back to how she looked in the photos.

I am sure that I will be in touch re: spares.

G

rossocorsa · « **Reply #10 on:** May 14, 2014, 07:46:45 AM »

Quote from: Boundah on May 13, 2014, 08:21:13 PM

Thanks!

Are there 'fake' series ones out there?

I know when I had this car in regular use there were series ones trying to look like series twos. i.e. series two bonnet, grilles and headlights etc.

Not really but they are very rare and many folk with series 2 cars think they are series one

betasulo · « **Reply #11 on:** May 15, 2014, 01:00:41 AM »

Wow it is a great looking car!
Any one kind enough to list the differences between S1 and S2 ? And did the S1 get this grill or the chrome one?

Boundah · « **Reply #12 on:** May 15, 2014, 05:51:51 AM »

The grille in the picture is actually a chrome one sprayed matt black.

I believe they were all chrome although I'm sure some members on here are better positioned to comment further.

The grilles are only plastic and the chrome on mine had pretty much turned green so I painted it. "philistine!"...... I hear the purists scream!

The headlight trims cleaned up ok .

Neil-yaj396 · « **Reply #13 on:** May 15, 2014, 07:19:18 AM »

The main S1 differences are the engine, alloy cambelt cover, instruments (similar to Fulvia3), chrome air vents and of course that bonnet, though that was retained for some time on the S2

peteracs · « **Reply #14 on:** May 15, 2014, 07:29:25 AM »

Quote from: Neil-yaj396 on May 15, 2014, 07:19:18 AM

The main S1 differences are the engine, alloy cambelt cover, instruments (similar to Fulvia3), chrome air vents and of course that bonnet, though that was retained for some time on the S2

I think I am correct in saying that the bonnet, the alloy cam cover and the grill/light surrounds were retained for the 1600 S2 pre facelift. I think the cam cover was changed out for the yellow plastic one at some point.

Apart from the instruments, was the interior also retained as it was with the Spyder?

Peter

Boundah · « **Reply #15 on:** May 15, 2014, 07:57:23 AM »

Chrome air vents?............Do mean the air vents on the dash? Mine are brown from memory to match the dash... Or the external 'vents' behind the rear quarterlights?

MattNoVAT · « **Reply #16 on:** May 15, 2014, 08:13:23 AM »

And the roofline of the S1 was lower, on the S2 they lifted it a bit (for rear passenger headroom) and that added the swage line at the back if the roof. Rear ARB attachment to rear hub is different and hence so are the bushes.

Air vents at the back of the car behind rear windows and the two vents grilles in the bonnet should be silver.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

smithymc · « **Reply #17 on:** May 15, 2014, 08:23:03 AM »

My early S2 has the same grille and mine too had the green 'corrosion' when found, which I assume liked a component of the chrome.

Painted mine too, but resisted the urge to go matt black.

Lovely car I look forward to seeing.

Good luck.

Mark

Boundah · « **Reply #18 on:** May 15, 2014, 09:25:55 AM »

"And the roofline of the S1 was lower, on the S2 they lifted it a bit (for rear passenger headroom) and that added the swage line at the back if the roof."

Does that mean that the rear side windows might be a different profile and therefore not interchangeable?

peteracs · « **Reply #19 on:** May 15, 2014, 10:16:18 AM »

Hi Matt

Never seen the silver/chrome vents on the bonnet before, always thought they were black. Having had a look around most are black, but just seen a picture of ones which are silver/chrome on a US spec one in brown.

See

http://files.conceptcarz.com/img/Lancia/75-Lancia-Beta-DV-11-PVGP_01.jpg

Took me a while to suss out the subtle difference in the rear part of the roof as well.

Peter

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Author Topic: Beta Coupe Restoration (Read 15193 times)