CONTENTS

HISTORY OF THE BETA MONTECARLO

The last member to join the Beta family was the Montecarlo. In 1970 Pininfarina had started to develop a mid-engined sportscar for Fiat, under the code name X1/8. This was the first time Pininfarina had undertaken the design of a complete vehicle rather than adapting a body to an existing chassis. The code name was changed to X1/20 in the following year but the style and layout of the car remained very much the same. The design evolved during the next 2 years, reaching its definite form in 1974. Pininfarina had worked closely with Abarth and consequently one prototype was fitted with an Abarth-prepared 3-litre V6 engine with a power output of 285bhp. This car, identified as the Abarth-Pininfarina 030, finished second to a Lancia Stratos in the Giro d'Italia in 1974 (its first competition!).

The first oil crisis in 1973 made Fiat decide to market the new car through the Lancia network and utilise the 2-litre engine from the Beta. For the first time ever, in addition to designing and styling the new car, Pininfarina was also to build it. The name chosen was Beta Montecarlo, to commemorate Lancia's 3rd victory in this most prestigious rally, gained by the Stratos in 1975. The new car was formally introduced at the Geneva motor show in March 1975. The right hand drive version only went on sale in the UK in March 1977.

The new car had a somewhat mixed reception from the motoring press after its launch. The road holding and handling gained high praise, with comments such as "formidable" being used to describe it. The ride was also considered very good, comfortable and absorbent. Straight-line performance was rated as acceptable, particularly for a 2 litre car weighing over a ton. Some testers thought that greater power would have been more in keeping with the character of the car and certainly could have been matched by its roadholding and handling. A more serious criticism put forward was that the front brakes locked up far too easily on wet roads. With most of the weight over the rear wheels and with servo-assistance only to the front brakes, the forward weight transference under braking was insufficient to maintain good front wheel grip.

About a year after its introduction in Europe, a version of the Montecarlo was produced for the American market, called Lancia Scorpion. The American car used the emission-controlled 1800 unit with a catalytic converter, resulting in a maximum power output of only 81bhp SAE at 5,900rpm. Other changes were the addition of heavier bumpers and the use of circular headlamps. The combination of the reduced power and the increased weight limited the performance of the car to a max. speed of 112mph and a 0-60mph acceleration of about 11 seconds. Consequently, sales of the Scorpion was disappointing and after only a year, imports to the US ended in 1977.

In 1978 production of the Montecarlo was suspended, most likely because Pininfarina's limited production capacity was to be concentrated on the production of the more expensive and profitable Lancia Gamma Coupe (while sales of the Montecarlo and Scorpion were lower than expected). This pause in production gave Lancia and Pininfarina the opportunity to make changes, resulting in the second series Montecarlo which was launched at the Geneva motor show in March 1980. The most significant changes were:

Removing the servo-assistance to the front brakes

Increasing the disc brake size on all 4 wheels

Using the 14inch alloy wheels of the Beta Coupe (to be able to increase the disc size)

Widening the front and rear track by 10mm

Adding electronic ignition to increase torque to 17,4kgm at 3,400rpm

Reducing the weight to 970kg

Revising the front grille, mirrors and badging

However, production of the second series ended in 1981, only six years after the model was introduced. Right-hand-drive versions reached the UK in May 1981 and remained on sale until the summer of 1983.

The total numbers of each series/type is listed below. The spider version of the car had a canvas roof designed and patented by Pininfarina - it was a clever design where the roof was rolled up and stored in the roll bar, above the rear window. The operation is easy and the roof can be removed in under 5 seconds.

BETA MONTECARLOS IN NEW ZEALAND

A limited number of new Beta Montecarlos was imported into New Zealand by Ateco Ltd (Previously Azzuro Cars). Most of these were the second series model. Unfortunately, due to market prices in Australia being higher than in New Zealand, a few of these original New Zealand cars have been exported across the Tasman Sea. All other cars were imported from overseas. We currently have in the country:

3 Scorpions

1978

137ASO*0100533 USA

Converted to 037 replica

Not a LRNZ member

1977

137ASO*0100559 USA

LHD - Soft top - Solid butresses

137ASO*0101598 USA

LHD - Soft top - Glass butresses

Not a LRNZ member

11 First series Montecarlos

1977

137ASO*0002031 Germany

LHD - Coupe - Solid butresses

Not a LRNZ member

1977

137ASO*0003022 UK

RHD - Soft top - Glass butresses

1978

137ASO*0003042 UK

RHD - Coupe - Glass butresses

1977

137ASO*0003076 UK

Being converted to 037 replica

Not a LRNZ member

1978

137ASO*0003105 UK

RHD - Coupe - Glass butresses

Not a LRNZ member

1978

137ASO*0003254 NZ new

RHD - Coupe - Glass butresses

1978

137ASO*0003287 ?

RHD - Coupe - Glass butresses

1978

137ASO*0003355 Hong Kong

RHD - Soft top - Glass butresses

1978

137ASO*0003633 Bahrein

LHD - Coupe - Solid butresses

Not a LRNZ member

137ASO*0003772 Singapore

Being converted to 037 replica

1978

137ASO*0003846 NZ new

RHD - Coupe - Glass butresses

Not a LRNZ member

8 Second series Montecarlos

1985

137ASO*0005051 South Africa

RHD - Coupe - Glass butresses

1981

137ASO*0005434 Singapore

RHD - Soft top - Glass butresses

Not a LRNZ member

1982

137ASO*0005627 NZ new

RHD - Coupe - Glass butresses

1982

137ASO*0005652 South Africa

RHD - Soft top - Glass butresses

1982

137ASO*0005657 NZ new

RHD - Coupe - Glass butresses

Not a LRNZ member

1982

137ASO*0005658 NZ new

RHD - Coupe - Glass butresses

1982

137ASO*0005760 UK

RHD - Soft top - Glass butresses

1984

137ASO*0005866 UK

RHD - Soft top - Glass butresses

Another 4 Montecarlos used to be in the country:

One first series came from the USA and was exported to Australia

137AS00005431 was an original NZ car (2nd series/silver) and was scrapped

137AS00005659 was an original NZ car (2nd series/blue) and was exported to Australia

137AS00005660 was an original NZ car (2nd series/silver) and was exported to Australia

A detailed list of Montecarlos currently in New Zealand is shown below.

YEAR & SERIES

1978 SCORPION

CHASSIS NO

137ASO*0000533

COLOUR

Martini livery

INTERIOR

SOFT TOP/COUPE

Double bubble

REAR QUARTER

Solid butresses

RHD/LHD

LHD converted to RHD

ORIGIN

Imported from the USA

NUMBER OF NZ OWNERS

CONDITION

Excellent

MODIFICATIONS

Converted to an 037

CURRENT OWNER

Allan & Alex Carter

YEAR & SERIES

1977 SCORPION

CHASSIS NO

137AS0*0000559

COLOUR original/current

Metallic Blue/Red

INTERIOR

Brown vinyl

SOFT TOP/COUPE

Soft top

REAR QUARTER

Solid butresses

RHD/LHD

LHD intended to be converted to RHD

ORIGIN

Imported from the USA in 1991

NUMBER OF NZ OWNERS

CONDITION

Stored - needs restoration

MODIFICATIONS

CURRENT OWNER

Donovan Hoar

YEAR & SERIES

1977 FIRST SERIES

CHASSIS NO

137AS0*0002031

COLOUR original/current

Metallic Blue/Red

INTERIOR

Red Fabric

SOFT TOP/COUPE

Coupe

REAR QUARTER

Solid butresses

RHD/LHD

LHD

ORIGIN

Imported from Germany

NUMBER OF NZ OWNERS

CONDITION

Stored - needs restoration

MODIFICATIONS

CURRENT OWNER

Allan & Alex Carter

YEAR & SERIES

1977 FIRST SERIES

CHASSIS NO

137ASO*0003022

COLOUR

Metallic Blue

INTERIOR

Red Fabric

SOFT TOP/COUPE

Soft top

REAR QUARTER

Glass butresses

RHD/LHD

RHD

ORIGIN

Imported from the UK in 1979

NUMBER OF NZ OWNERS

CONDITION

Stored - needs restoration

MODIFICATIONS

Second series mirrors

Fiat Engine

CURRENT OWNER

Ralph Roden