International Lancia Forums

I'm actually surprised by the content of Huib's group of posts here. I don't disagree. I've been of the opinion that Fiat should just let the Lancia name slip into the history books rather than crank out Autobianchis or minivans (!) in its name. However, I stopped posting that sort of comment since it just frustrated other people on here.

I will speak up for the much-abused Beta. I have the fortune to live in a dry climate so my coupe is 28 years old. It would be prettier if it had the European bumpers instead of the silly U.S. crash bumpers. It would obviously be more lively if it had the European spec engine and less of the "luxury" loading like the nonfunctional A/C and the now-leaky sunroof that was added to jack up the profit margin for the U.S. importer. But nonetheless the car is nimble and connects the driver with the road, even though it needs new struts! I also drive a 1991 Alfa Romeo 164. The Alfa has a much nicer engine (3.0) which manages nearly the exact same fuel economy as the Beta 2.0 but with vastly greater power but . . . the steering has the least "feel" I've encountered in an Italian car (though my unassisted Biturbo wasn't much better), the brakes are vague and I've yet to experience a car with hydraulic clutch operation that I can shift smoothly. The inside driver's door handle has broken TWICE in my 4 years ownership. The Beta has none of those vices and it's 10 years older. I'm dangerous in the Beta: it urges me to drive faster and so I always do. I'm safer in the Alfa: it encourages me to drive like a banker in a Buick. Make of that what you will.

A number of years ago the Fiat people started talking about Lancia as a "brand." That was the end.

Nationalist?

Did you happen to notice that they dropped a piano on the British-made car in that scene?

Since TopGear I've been wearing with pride my Lancia Delta (new logo) back pack on my daily commute into London. BTW this back pack was this year's gift organised by Bart on the International Fulvia Flavia rally last September.....

Anyway,
Tonight I slumped into the intercity to get home from London and dumped the bag opposite me.

Great cars said the guy sitting opposite.

Yes I said - did he ever own one.

11 he said, including a brace of betas, some themas including a couple of turbos and an 832, and an integrale - all bought from new From RT in the eighties. He thought the 832 was the best car he ever had and was tweaked with lowered suspension, side skirts etc.

An no he never had a rust problem even with the betas!

Now drives a flying spur but has fond memories..

He also thought the TG piece was a fair and positive tribute to the brand.

Tim

Nice story, Tim.

The TG opinion does seem to fall into two categories: Those who have never seen the show before, who think 'what a bunch of complete morons--how dare they!', And those of us who watch regularly (or just get that they're not to be taken that seriously), who think 'that was amazingly positive treatment for TG--must be good for us'.

The idea to drop a piano (or something equally heavy) on a car may be only tolerable on a toon moovie, whatever is the brand, the nation.

Ciao
Piero Vanzetti

Starting this week --- hey, just in time for chrstms shopping (surprise surprise)... George C. steals a horrible, made in a far away planet-polluting human-rights violating land, ugly...imho... & overpriced useless little hot-water plastic-box from a store that looks like a store that would only sell only the finest of the only finest of luxury gifts; ürecious jewels, rare works of art (or RPB Lancia) .

He walks outside with a paper bag in his hand. He is being filmed, inside & outside (the store, not inside & outside of his body) . No security person stops him !

He immediately looses the machine & must go back inside to report the theft.
A piano crashed to the ground, killing....the piano...right where he was recently standing.

I have seen this "advert" while watching important world news, on CNN, at least 20 times this week(td)

Unfortunately, it isn't a cartoon.

It is good for the CNN budget.

Unfortunately there isn't a rusty old car under the piano. or a plastic hot water

Shame on G !!! ... imho

Signed: Johnny48; lover of buon Caffè made in real Caffè Machines made in real Italy:)

PS: I sold a lovely made in Milano RPB work of art LaPavoni Caffè Maccina today.

The 2d one this week ! Delivery...last Jan week. Gained 2 new Caffè Clients too !

If the weather was better & I had a jet-plane at my instant disposal, I'd fly to Milan on Monday to get them ! Ooops, they have to be built first & that will be in the 3d Jan week.

PS: the trend in real Caffè Machines is moving away from "electronic controls & fancy do-dads";

Simple rugged traditional non-plastic design is the future !!

Now, if Lancia would re-intro the 1.3 S Fulvia Coupe,,,,what a wonderful thing for us to buy (ourselves) for ....absolutely any time of year; even it isn't advertised on CNN. !!


PSS: what happened to all the Volvo ads on CNN ?

Piero

Wat is a toon Mooovie??

Tim

PS you must be in need of psycholigical support...

for those us us who remember - "loony tunes"; bugs bunny, yosemite sam, porky pig & other hoodlums

I think,

when it's prohibeted for EVERY film-crew/cineast to crash car(s)/truck(s)/bus(ses)/train(s)/plane(s)....,

only romantic drama's will be shot

unless,

it's prohibeted te BREAK hearts......

*dull world*

BTW: every donor car isn't a parts car any more and SHOULD be restored.

Sh*t, I'm in big trouble allready!!!!!!

I see no harm in BurningBetas if it were donorcars. I think more (like in many many many more) better Betas died a silent death in the crusher, than the Betas shown on TG.

For a total horror story on the Beta side: look @ the episode they crossed the African desert in a Beta........

Bart & the fantastic fulvias

there is a Lancisti, E. NL in W. Holland who cut a hole in his Gamma Coupe roof because he is very tall.

He afixes a folding plastic-top if it is going to rain; & this year in Alpine Passes between Montreux &Turin.. when it got very cold very quickly as sun faded & altitude changed...I know; I followed him, in warm Gamma with a steel roof:) I am not very tall; but my co-driver, R. NL on that trip, is very tall; he scrunched :X during the entire trip; no matter which seat he sat in/on.
E. NL's co-driver was a lovely young lady; his daughter; A. NL; she didn't have to scrunch !

When E. NL has to "ride-closed" he has to scrunch, a lot, to fit in his Gamma. The price he pays for beauty !!! Of course he also has fleet of G- Berlina to choose from, in which he doesn't have to scrunch. So his Gamma targa is usually a sunny-day car.

It was the 2d most popular Gamma at this yrs Gamma Meet - MM I,. His targa was "signatured by an always smiling & often head shaking Gamma Chief Designer"; A. Bravone; a nice man, not tall;)

The most popular Gamma was the 4 Door (built 1x) Scala; sorely in need of a resto after yrs in the North.

It, the Scala, is now back in Ital; as is the "Pope John Paul" real Gamma Targa; which has just been bought (at a record price for a Gamma) & brought to Italy by the same Dr. Ing. Francesco Vellucci who owns the Scala.
The real Gamma Targa was built 1x as well !

SO WHAT HAS ALL THIS GAM-TALK HAVE TO DO WITH FULVIA ? Actually, I have only - thus far - "been setting the stage for what follows:

Well, there is a guy* in BE who cut a hole in his (perfectly good) Fulvia Berlina roof, because...in his words" "I just decided to do it & a R5 folding roof was exactly the right size and not expensive";) He is also quite tall; which may have had something to do with this decision ???
The results of this mod ? ...from my point of view: quite nice; which can't be said about the Gamma Conversion (which also eliminated the center roof support- bar ! It, the conversion, is un-nice; but effective !

So what will this *Fulvisti do when (& if) his Fulv-Zagato (if it really exists) is ever finished (in time for MM II ???).

Sit on fat pillow on floor ? or better yet, sit, 1/2 reclining in/on rear bench; with no seats in front ? Please, do not cut a hole in the roof !!

My my my, his Zagato would be a rare & precious seatless-lightweight ! However, the last that I heard he doesn't have a motor for it, so..........................

PS: Ferrairy 308/328 & other cars of this ilk force tall driver to look over the windshield; probably wearing ski-style sunglasses B); perhaps a good helmet too. ::o

Back to Fulvia:
I can't remember if I never knew (or cared) before reading in "Lancia 100 Yrs" - the # of Z all-alu 1.3 Fulvia built. "Lancia 100" pegs it at a series of 25. I was certain that some all-alu Zs must still exist somewhere; however,,,I don't remember if I have ever seen 1 or remember 1 being "for sale". Currently there is 1 - newly restored - whatever that really means - all-alu Z for sale in N. Ital; ask-price €30,000; which may be fair or even cheap....
I have no idea ! NO, I won't be bidding on it.

More news: non Fulvia....my my my...if that isn't a bargain? I thought last wk whan I read that 1 of the few cars that caused me to choke when I 1st saw 1 - choke in horror that is !!! - went for only € 1,700 at a recent Barons Auction in UK - in good 3+ condition, ready to reregister. No, I won't buy a TR7 (nor 8) any time soon, at any price !

Same auction: 3.0AutomaticFordGranada 4 dr, lo-lo-miles, top-condition: €10,600. Wow, that is amazing.
I assume that Auction-Fees are not included.

More Fulvia News: different auction, same country: white Fulvia Z S1 1968, total km...less than 10,000 (really?) - that has spent many years in a museum; noted at 2- ; € 10,500; which may be very very cheap.

IMPT INFO: for photos of the most beautiful little car ever ever ....keep clicking onto www.motor-klassik.de; there is a wonderful report on the 1st Abarth even built. Unfortunately, the only photo that can now be seen is a tiny shot on cover of the Jan edition of this Magazine. The cover showing a red Porsche 911 being chased by an Audi 4wd.
I believe after 1 month, now in about 20 days, the "last-month editions" photos are published online.

This Abarth is a beautiful work-of-art; into which Maltes Jurgen, not a small man by any means, managed to scrunch himself into. It is ...knowing I am repeating myself...a rolling sculptured work of beauty.
I has a solid, fixed-roof too !!
Maltes will attend MM II. I doubt if he will arrive in the Abarth !
MK will publish an Article about MM II later this year....so all you Fulvisti...saddle up for a trip to Stuttgart in April; hole in roof or not !!

Last Note: The Ital Organizer of MM II told me "mention it everyday, everywhere in mid & north; I will do same in South...so that a lot of Lancia come from everywhere". Unfort; I have no Lancia contact in France !

But, someone who reads this forum does ! Un assistanza per favor !!! Lancisti unite ! -D