Sadly, Lancia Betas of this quality and condition are nearly as rare as angels’ poop today, many having succumbed to rust. This is especially true of the model in the UK, where they corroded so badly that their engine subframes not uncommonly became loose, often when the cars were still quite new, resulting in Lancia buying them back and pretty much destroying the marque’s name in Britain.
Whilst rust is the worldwide scourge of Lancias of that era - and don’t go all “yes, we know - the Italians used Russian steel” (we’ll get to that in a minute) - the problem isn’t as bad Down Under, very probably because we don’t salt our roads. In this respect, Australian vehicles are very much like the fabled “California cars” or those from South Africa, often being significantly sounder than examples from countries whose roads ice over or that are, at the opposite end of the spectrum, very humid.
It's likely that today's Beta coupe - brought to us by SEQC PeteR, as are the next two offerings - has benefitted from the relatively benign climate of South East Queensland which, apart from coastal salt air, is generally kind to ferrous metals. Either that or its owner has lavished lots of love and attention on it!
Now, before we go any further, a note on the Italians' alleged use of so-called "Russian steel": There's no evidence that supports the oft-pedalled story that the cash-strapped Soviets exchanged their second rate sheet metal - apparently cobbled together from recycled souvenir Kremlin ashtrays, vodka bottle caps and Cold War-era submarine deckchair hinges - for a licence to produce a Lada version of the Fiat 124. None!
Most informed sources now acknowledge that the problem was caused by a lack of effective rust-proofing (sometimes the inner surfaces of panels weren't even primed), poor workmanship and industrial action, also identifying that Italy was a huge producer of steel at the time, negating any benefit in using another country's product. It’s also worth noting that other nations' cars - including ones from Japan, Britain and Australia - weren't completely immune to tin worm, either.
Here's a list of credible* videos and articles in support of this:
A video and an article from Italian car expert and Alfa savant Matteo Licata:
A Number 27 video by Jack:
Martin of Grand Thrift Auto's video on the Lancia Beta:
My own contribution to the subject:
*You can tell me how credible you think I am in the comments section.
Our segue to PeteR's second feature car isn't quite as rickety as it might initially seem. First, by the time that the Beta was introduced, Lancia had fallen under Fiat's control and, second, both share versions of Lampredi's fabulous twin cam four-pot engine.
Whilst Betas were equipped with a version of that donk of between 1.3 and 2.0 litres capacity (I believe most Aussie-delivered editions ran the larger units), canted forwards by 20 degrees and mounted transversely to drive the front wheels, the Fiat 124 CC - like the one featured here - was longitudinally fitted with a 1592 or 1756 cc variant powering the rear wheels, while the earlier ACs and BCs came with either 1438 or 1608 cc engines.
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Both the Lancia and Fiat also featured what were, at the time, high-spec five speed manual transmissions, coil springs on all four corners and disc brakes all 'round. Many CCs sold in Australia were also fitted with LSDs. Neither the Beta or 124 CC were what we might call slouches!
Like the Beta above, this particular Fiat is in excellent condition and might also have been the beneficiary of South East Queensland's relatively dry climate. However, its overall presentation hints very, very strongly at it having been comprehensively and immaculately restored, even if it wasn't as far gone as cars from colder, wetter environments may have been. It's ostensibly stock, save some extractors, twin side-draft carbies, perfect Cromadora CD68 wheels that are bang on for era, and a very tasty (Momo Prototipo?) steering wheel that's not dissimilar to the one fitted to the Beta.
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Here's a link to one of PeteR's other contributions - a lovely 124 Spider of a similar era - just in case you're in a Fiaty kind of mood: https://uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com/2022/10/from-south-east-queensland.html. And here’s a Hobart-based CC from the Chief Photographer: https://uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com/2022/08/fiat-124-cc-sport-coupe.html. Please enjoy!
Call it laziness if you will but I personally don't know anything about the Alfa 4C that's worth imparting and I'm not a fan of simply regurgitating stuff I've just read on the internet. They're just too new for me have any experience or knowledge of, not to mention them being way beyond my budget. Let's just agree that this one's a stunning example of contemporary Italian design, enjoy PeteR's excellent pics and leave it at that.
U M P H
(uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.co.au).
Photos by PeteR.
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