Marque: Lancia - Company History & Models - Cars By Brand
Lancia
Born in 1881,Vincenzo Lancia became book keeper for Giovanni Ceirano, who imported Rudge bicycles, then built his own cycles and moved into car building.Vincenzo was fascinated by the workings of the vehicles, and when F.I.A.T. took over Ceirano in 1900, he became chief inspector for the company.
F.I.A.T. was keen to use motor sport to promote its cars, and in the summer of 1900 Vincenzo…
Lancia Beta
PRICE: Saloon: Rough, £250. Good, £750. A1, £1500
Coupé/HPE: Rough, £500+. Good, £1200+. A1, £2500
Spider/Volumex Coupé: Rough, £1000+. Good, £2500. A1, £3500
Fast Facts
- Produced:
1973-84 - Bodywork:
Four-door saloon, two-door coupé, two-door Spider, three-door sports estate - Engine:
Overhead camshaft, in-line four-cylinder.
1297cc/1301cc, 82bhp
1438cc, 90bhp
1585cc, 100bhp
1592cc, 100 or 108bhp
1756cc, 110 or 120bhp
1995cc, 122bhp (Volumex, 135bhp) - 0-60 mph:
1585cc: 10.5 sec
1995cc: 10+ sec (Volumex, 9+ sec) - Top Speed:
1585cc: 110 mph
1995cc: 115 mph (Volumex, 125 mph) - MPG:
18-35 mpg
Lancia’s neat Beta saloon was introduced in 1972, reaching Britain in the summer of 1973.
Powering the newcomer were twin cam, Fiat-derived engines, offered in 1.4, 1.6 and 1.8-litre sizes.
The autumn of 1974 saw the U.K. debut of the 1.6 litre fixed-head coupé, and in the following year, the Spider (a 2+2 coupé with a Targa roof and folding hood). HPE (‘High Performance Estate’ – like a Scimitar) versions arrived in the autumn of 1975.
Two-litre models were offered from early in 1976, and in the spring of the same year, restyled, Series 2 Betas were introduced. A 1.3-litre version of the coupé was added to the line-up in the summer of 1977.
The summer of 1982 saw the arrival of updated 1600 and 2000IE HPE models, and the introduction of the 2000IE Coupé. A supercharged two-litre engine and uprated running gear were notable features of the rapid Volumex Coupé and HPE, which brightened the Beta range in the autumn of 1983.
It is sad that the much-publicised rust problems of the Beta were to blight the model’s reputation, for these are attractive, enjoyable cars were top of the class in their day. Survivors are comparatively rare, but worth tracking down as a well cared-for Beta can make an excellent sporty, practical classic.
Lancia Delta HF Integrale
PRICE: Integrale 8v: Rough, £1500. Good, £3000+. A1, £6000+
Integrale 16v: Rough, £2000. Good, £4000. A1, £7000
Fast Facts
- Produced:
1982-94 - Bodywork:
Five-door hatchback - Engine:
Twin overhead camshaft, in-line four-cylinder; turbocharged and intercooled. 1995cc
HF Integrale 8v: 185bhp
HF Integrale 16v: 200bhp
HF Integrale 16v Evo: 210bhp
HF Integrale 16v Evo 2: 215bhp - 0-60 mph:
HF Integrale 8v: 6.5 sec
HF Integrale 16v/Evo: 5.5 sec - Top Speed:
HF Integrale 8v: 130 mph
HF Integrale 16v/Evo: 135 mph - MPG:
22-35 mpg
Lancia’s five-door Delta hatchback made its debut in 1979 and became popular as a family car.
However, by the early 1980s Audi was stealing the show in international rallying, and Lancia chose the Delta as the base vehicle with which to mount a serious challenge…
In 1982 the Delta 4x4 appeared, with permanent four-wheel drive and 130bhp. The following year, a revised, front drive only HF Turbo version was put into production. In 1985 the Delta S4 4x4 gave 250 bhp for road use, but for rallying there was a rousing 400 bhp available – helping this Italian model to win the World Rally Championship in 1986.
During 1986 the fuel-injected, 140bhp Turbo i.e. was introduced, and the 165 bhp HF 4WD, which had a re-engineered drivetrain incorporating a centre differential/Ferguson viscous coupling, and a Torsen (‘torque-sensing’) rear differential. This extrovert vehicle featured side skirts, bonnet vents and quad headlamps. Following amendments to rallying regulations, Lancia developed a new, 260bhp model.
The 1987 Frankfurt Motor Show saw the debut of the new, 185bhp eight-valve HF Integrale, with a host of changes compared with previous versions. For the next two years, rallying success continued for Lancia, and in 1989 the firm unveiled a 200bhp 16- valve Integrale (rally versions produced nearer a heady 300bhp).
In 1991 a 210bhp ‘Evoluzione’ arrived, with upgraded running gear.
Production of the road-going versions continued even after Lancia ceased rallying in the early 1990s, the last ‘Evoluzione 2’ examples being introduced in 1993; production ceased in 1994. Special delta editions included the U.K.‘s 1.6 litre HF ‘Martini’.
These fabulous Lancias are still awesome modern classics with legendary levels of handling capabilities and performance. However these cars are complex and special care is needed when buying and owning, plus many have been crashed (‘Inters’ are all left-hand drive).
The lesser. slower HFs are a good bet but don’t waste your time on the ‘cooking’ Deltas which are only a pleasant alternative to the likes of an Escort MK2 and have no real value.
