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…

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Lancia Beta 2000

Fast Facts

Produced:
1975-1981
Engine:
1995cc S4 DOHC 115bhp @5500 rpm
0-60 mph:
11 secs
Top Speed:
106 mph
MPG:
23 mpg

The much-maligned Beta offers one of the best engines of its era, a well appointed interior, charming road manners and space for five inside an elegant body. Unfortunately it also offered a great deal of tin worm with it. The Beta actually debuted in late 1972 (with 1.4, 1.6 and 1.8-litre engines) offering performance in the BMW class and, especially with the ES trim, a great deal of standard kit. The boxy Trevi replaced the original Beta Berlina in 1981. For the enthusiast who wishes to sample one of the great car marques of all time and sod the rust (and iffy Italian electrics), the top 2-litre Beta 2000 has much to offer

Lancia Beta

RATING:

7 / 10

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

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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

RATING:

9 / 10

PRICE: Integrale 8v: Rough, £1500. Good, £3000+. A1, £6000+
Integrale 16v: Rough, £2000. Good, £4000. A1, £7000

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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.

Lancia Fulvia

RATING:

6 / 10

PRICE: Saloon: Rough, £500+. Good, £1500 A1, £3000+
Coupé: Rough, £1000. Good, £3000 A1, £5000+
HF 1600 Lusso: Rough, £1500+. Good, £4000. A1, £7000

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Fast Facts

Produced:
1967-77
Bodywork:
Four-door saloon, two-door coupé
Engine:
Overhead camshaft, V4.
1216cc, 80bhp
1298cc, 85bhp ('S' Zagato, 90bhp)
1584cc, 114bhp
0-60 mph:
1216cc: 15+ sec
1298cc: 12 sec ('S' Zagato, 11 sec)
1584cc: 10 sec
Top Speed:
1216cc: 100 mph
1298cc: 105 mph ('S' Zagato, 110+ mph)
1584cc: 110+ mph
MPG:
25-35 mpg

The last of the ‘original’ Lancias built before the Fiat take-over of 1969, the front-wheel drive Fulvia was introduced in 1963, and sold in saloon and coupé versions.

At the heart of the Fulvia was a narrow angle V4 engine, with an aluminium cylinder head and twin, chaindriven overhead camshafts. Initially it was of 1091cc, but 1216cc versions were fitted in the 2+2 Coupé. All Fulvias were equipped with disc brakes at both the front and rear and an allsynchromesh four-speed gearbox.

Coupé versions arrived in the U.K. in 1965, with saloons making their British debut in 1967.

Interesting variations on the Fulvia theme included the 1298cc Rallye (complete with lightweight aluminium alloy bonnet, bootlid and doors), the higher compression Rallye HF and the fastback Sport Zagato.

In 1969, new versions to the range included the 1.3-litre GTE saloon and the Rallye 1.3S. Series 2 1.3-litre Rallyes (from 1971) featured a wider grille and a five-speed gearbox.

The Rallye HF Lusso Coupé of 1971 was powered by a lively 1.6-litre engine, and was the road-going version of Lancia’s competition machine.

It was identifiable by its wide wheel arches housing magnesium wheels, also its sporty interior.

Sport Zagato versions arrived in the U.K. in 1972. but the range was discontinued in 1977.Excellent handling, eager performance and neat styling typify the Fulvias – enthusiasts rate these classic Lancias highly, rust excepted.

Lancia Beta HPE

RATING:

6 / 10

Fast Facts

Produced:
1975-1984
Engine:
1995 cc S4 DOHC 122bhp @5500 rpm
0-60 mph:
10 secs
Top Speed:
112 mph
MPG:
23 mpg

The Beta name was to contribute to the death of the Lancia marque in the UK but the HPE deserves to be better remembered. Based on the 1973 Coupe, the 1975 HPE (High Performance Estate) was built on the longer floorpan of the Beta Berlina, making it a fiveseater with reasonable luggage accommodation. An HPE 1600 was also briefly listed but these are nearly non-existent in the UK. In 1981 the fuel injected 2000 engine was added to both the coupe and HPE, and (desirable) power steering became available. The supercharged VX HPE and coupe models were introduced in 1982 and it also received a stiffer suspension and improved brakes; the HPE lasted in this form for a further two years. A surviving, rust-free, Beta HPE is swift, well appointed and elegant – a reminder of what the Lancia shield once stood for.

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