1978 Lancia Beta Montecarlo |

Closed Auction- Unsold

1978 Lancia Beta Montecarlo

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Mileage~60,786 on Clock
TransmissionManual
Engine2.0-litre
LocationNorwich

AUCTION CLOSED

1978 Lancia Beta Montecarlo

Introduction

Dom Ginn

Professional Consigner

Born on the race track, this sleek Lancia brings Italian engineering expertise and delivers an unforgettable driving experience.

The Lancia Beta Montecarlo was intended to serve as a replacement for the Fiat 124 Coupé. However, Fiat opted for the more economical alternative designed by Bertone, leading to the inclusion of the Pininfarina-designed Montecarlo into Lancia’s Beta family.

Paolo Martin from Pininfarina, who was chosen to design the car, gave the Montecarlo a clean and modern shape. The finish to the build gave a sleek and contemporary design, characterised by a squared-off nose and tail, and sporting a distinctive pair of wings at the sides of the rear window leading to the lip of the side-hinged engine cover.

In 1974, the Lancia Beta Montecarlo made its debut at the 45th Geneva International Motor Show. Featuring a mid-engine configuration and rear-wheel drive, the Lancia Beta Montecarlo differed significantly from the front-wheel-drive Betas with a front-engine layout. Kitted out with a premium level of equipment, Lancia chose a 2.0L twin-cam four-cylinder motor from the Fiat 124 Sport Coupé with a five-speed gearbox and disc brakes at both front and rear.

For a car that's been on the road for over ~40 years, it looks like this Lancia has been well looked after, especially over the past ~4 years of ownership. No doubt, this is a rare example with only around ~8,000 of these cars being made, with production spanning from 1974 until 1982.

This Lancia is a tidy-looking example ready to drive away by the new owner.

This listing was written from information supplied by Dom after meeting Kim the owner, and having visited and photographed the vehicle.

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Secure Auctions

We verify all our sellers and buyers to keep our community safe whilst also providing the highest levels of website security.

Full Transparency

8 out of 10 people that buy cars via our service don’t feel the need to visit due to the transparency and thoroughness of our listings.

Vehicle Delivery

We're there every step of your buying journey and will even arrange pick-up and delivery of your new vehicle.

Meet the owner

Lancia has been one of my favourite car brands for as long as I can remember, when I saw the Montecarlo I knew I had to own it.

As a big fan of rally racing and all things Lancia, when the opportunity to own a Montecarlo came up, Kim knew he had to jump at the chance to get hold of this model, he said, "It's everything I wanted in a car, I adore the styling and it has so many unique features that make it such an interesting car to own. I love the way the rear engine bonnet folds up to the side, the cabin area is just luxurious and having the option for a removable roof makes sunnier drives so much more exciting".

With less space at home than before and less time spent driving the car than he'd like, Kim has decided to sell his beloved Lancia, he went on to say, "I'll really miss this car as I've enjoyed every minute of owning it. I've always wanted to own one but now I've had the experience with it, I know it should go to a home where it will be driven and loved".

Kim will be available to answer any questions about the car in the comments below.

Kim

Vehicle Owner

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CONTACT OWNER

Exterior
Interior
Mechanics
History
All Images

EXTERIOR VIDEO

Exterior

Italian craftsmanship meets racing heritage. The Montecarlo's iconic exterior design has an irresistible blend of elegance and performance.

Wheels and Tyres

Multi-spoke Lancia-badged 15" wheels add a sporty look and are finished in an attractive dark grey colour. We didn't observe any significant signs of damage, with only minor marks noted on the rear offside wheel. These show nicely around all four corners and complement the car well.

The wheels are fitted with a mix of tyres; Nordex Cirrus at the front, with a mix of Toyo Proxes and Alliance at the rear, all appear to be in good condition. The specifications were 195/50, date-coded from 2011 for the front and 2012 for the rear tyres. For a more detailed view of the Lancia's exterior and a closer inspection of the wheels and tyres, please refer to the photos and videos.

Bodywork

The Montecarlo maintains well-aligned panel gaps. Both doors, bonnet, and the boot open and close smoothly when we visited the car. During our visit, we didn't note any major dings on any of the panels - just a crack on the rear spoiler bracket and OSF nose capping.

The bodywork looked good overall, a well-kept example.

We've highlighted in more detail our observations through our hi-resolution images and videos, so please take time to look through all the media files for a detailed view of what’s on offer and for you to assess the condition of the car for yourselves.

Paint

Finished in blue, the paint showed well across the panels, even in colour and finish. Paint coverage is consistent and presented no major concerns. We noticed some light marks across the car and minor paint chips to the bonnet and underside of the front bumper. There was a sign of paint blistering on the offside front near the windscreen edge, front nose capping (with a small crack) but otherwise, the car showed its age very well.

Again, we have taken high-resolution images and videos of the car for you to assess the condition of the bodywork and paint for yourselves. The images are taken from a few different angles to show off the car as you would see it if you were standing there yourselves. So please, take the time to fully assess these high-resolution images and videos of the car to make up your own minds about the condition of the paint.

Glass and Trim

All the glass sections on the Lancia appeared to be in great condition, including the windscreen, removable roof section, side windows, and mirrors. We didn't observe any cracks, chips, or scratches during our visit.

Take a look through the exterior gallery and review video. We take you across all the areas of the car as if you were standing there yourself. This way, you can see in greater detail how the exterior of the car is presented.

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INTERIOR VIDEO

Interior

From the plush upholstery to the simplistically designed dashboard, immerse yourself in a cockpit of vintage charm and modern comforts.

Seats and Carpets

The 2-seater layout in the Montecarlo features seats finished in cream leather which appeared to be in great condition. With minimal marks on the driver's seat and only minor signs of wear on the driver's seat bolster section.

The car is fitted with black carpeted floor mats with a blue trim, showing minimal wear, the roof lining looks good as well. Inside the front boot, the presentation is very nice.

Please see the interior gallery for more detailed images.

Dashboard

The black dashboard appears to be in great condition, with no concerning signs of wear noted. The odometer displayed ~60,786 miles at the time of our visit. The top of the dash also looked well-maintained.

The dials, switches, and controls all looked to be in good condition; surfaces appeared clear, with no fogging or scratching. The dash display dials functioned well, and everything seemed to work as it should. We did not observe any issues with warning lights when starting the car from cold or during our drive on the road.

Our interior gallery section takes you through some closer images of the Lancia's dashboard.

Steering Wheel / Gear Stick

A clean, black three-spoke steering wheel was present, showing a good finish. We didn't note any signs of excessive wear or concerns here.

The manual gear selector had no issues that we noted, with only minor signs of usage. We observed a split in the gaiter surround during our visit.

We've captured high-resolution photos for you to review and appreciate the condition of the interior in our gallery section.

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'ON THE ROAD' VIDEO

Mechanics

Capable of a 0-62 MPH in ~9.3 seconds and a top speed of ~121 MPH from factory - its rarity, styling and performance made it a baby supercar for its era.

Engine and Gearbox

Starting up from cold, we noted no concerns, and the car idled smoothly. The Lancia performed without issue when out on the road.

The engine bay appeared well-maintained, and the bonnet paint finish looked good, with no major concerns observed. The stainless steel exhaust at the rear also appeared in good condition.

We took the car out on some local roads with the current owner, Kim, to get a better feel for what this vehicle is all about. During the drive, we went through the motions, shifting through the gears and getting an overview from Kim's perspective on how the car performs.

Suspension and Brakes

We noted no knocks, bangs, or issues from the suspension when we were on the road, it gave us no concerns in its performance or handling.

The brakes in the Montecarlo felt great, with no noticeable vibrations during the journey, allowing the car to come to a firm stop.

We cover the underside of the Lancia in our 'Mechanical Gallery' section. Head over to our video section, where we've summarised our visit in more detail for you to view for yourself. We take you around the mechanical elements of the car and give you an overview of what's on offer here.

The Drive

Pulling well and without hesitation, the engine was responsive and engaging. Although not equipped with power steering, the handling of the car felt balanced and responsive, thanks to its low stance which provided plenty of grip.

The car is fitted with luxurious seats and offers comfortable cruising on long trips.

Electrics and Other

All switches, dials, and gauges appear undamaged and in good condition. Kim informed us that the three main dials in the centre console, showing oil pressure, voltage, and temperature aren't currently working as they aren't wired up. Additionally, an aftermarket speaker system has been fitted to the car.

Kim mentioned that he's had no issues with the other electrical elements of the car and believes that everything should be working correctly to the best of his knowledge, except the gauges mentioned above. The only other issue Kim told us about is the front luggage release handle needs some attention, the bonnet can still be opened from inside the car though.

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History and Paperwork

A rare car that's been well looked after during the last four years of Kim's ownership.

In March 2024, a fuel leak was repaired with new fuel pipe materials. September 2022 saw the addition of a new ignition switch, replacement of the horn fuse, and re-welding of the exhaust.

In September 2021, a new bonnet release cable and horn relay were fitted, along with a double-bubble Spider roof and roof straps installed in August 2021. The auxiliary air valve, gear linking bushes, and bushing kit were repaired in July 2021.

November 2020 saw the installation of updated front brake flexis, a new hazard switch, full fluid and oil filter replacement, and new cooling fan wiring. A new battery was fitted in November 2019. In August 2018, the fuel pump was replaced, and in February 2018, a wheel spacer kit, silicone radiator hoses, California-style wing mirrors, and an air filter were added. The oil filler cap was replaced in October 2017.

For a comprehensive look at the car's history and maintenance, please refer to the history and paperwork media, which includes previous MOT reports and service receipts.

We’ve done all our usual seller checks including photo ID, V5 and actioned a HPi check on the vehicle.

Should any questions be required, Kim would be happy to answer these in the 'ask the owner' section.

We've summarised our own view on the car based on information gained from the seller in the listing above, however, and as you can see, we go to great lengths to photograph and video the car in hi-resolution detail - this has been done for you to make your own assessment from the comfort of your sofa. So please sit back, have a cuppa and take your time to review everything on this listing in order to make your own assessment on the vehicle's condition. Viewings are also welcomed with all our listings, so please get in touch with us to arrange a suitable time - we just need to speak to you first and receive a valid photo ID before confirming.

If there's anything you're unsure about, no matter how small, then please first ask the owner in the comments area below before placing your bid/s, as bids can't be retracted and form a binding contract if you win the car - just like a traditional auction house.

Service History

Date	Type	Mileage
08.09.2022	MOT	60,364
30.10.2020	MOT & Fluid Change	59,088
02.05.2019	MOT	57,469
23.04.2018	MOT	56,531

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Key Details

ModelBeta Montecarlo
TransmissionManual
Reg. Date09.03.1978
CC1,995
Mileage~60,786 on clock
HistoryRecent
ColourBlue
Interior ColourWhite / Cream
Interior TrimLeather
Chassis #137AS/T0003359
Engine #5384
MOT ExemptYes
HPi ClearYes - All Clear
Former Keepers10
Tyre BrandMixed
# of Keys2
LHD or RHDRHD
VisitedYes
Sale TypePrivate
Owned~4 years, 9 months
Key FeatureRare Model
Auction ID1829

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All Images

All Videos

Vehicle Location

Diss, Norwich

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Auction Closed

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This car didn't meet its reserve price and may soon be available as a private sale - please contact us for more information.

Ask Questions

Seller : KimP

Post a comment or ask the owner a question about the car.

Member

McMarty

Hi Kim, Car looks great – I have a few questions if that’s ok 🙂 The body kit is group 4 correct ? How has the rear wing been finished inside, would you say a seamless job ? And the front – are they full wings or just extensions ? The sills condition ? There seems to be some rust and damage is places and jacking points – are the sills ok or have they been replaced ? What about the ‘bellows’ inside the sill ? You will know about some of these areas so maybe you could appraise the… Read more »

Author

KimP

Hi Martin, thanks for message.. Yes, the Lancia has a Group 4 body kit.. I bought the car as you see it now from South Yorkshire coming up to 5 years now and drove it back to Norfolk. The car used to be a darker shade of blue but was repainted to the current colour. I am not sure about the wing fitment, the rear spoiler is bolted on and looks ok from inside.. The first trip I made after driving her home was to take the car to ITALICAR who are specialists and I have used them for years.… Read more »

Member

splitbus64

Hi
Is it possible to view please before I bid
Thank you
Rick

Author

KimP

Hi, yes it is possible to view.
Regards

Member

splitbus64

Hi great car I had the coupe version back in the day
Is viewing possible before I bid
Thank you Rick

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Vehicle Location

Diss, Norwich

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