Lancia Montecarlo
Lancia Montecarlo | ||
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Kerb weight | 970–1,040 kg (2,138–2,293 lb) |
The Lancia Montecarlo (Type 137) is a
from 1975 to 1981.Cars from the first series, which were produced from 1975 to 1978, were known as Lancia Beta Montecarlos and those from the second series, produced from 1980 to 1981, simply as Lancia Montecarlos.
Total production numbers come to 7,798 units,
Design
Fiat was seeking a replacement for its
During the
For a premium level of equipment, Lancia had the new 1,995 cc variant of the twin-cam four-cylinder motor from the Fiat 124 Sport Coupé, MacPherson suspension and again like the 124 Sport Coupé, a five-speed gearbox and disc brakes both front and rear. As the resulting Montecarlo shared very few components with the other Beta models, Pininfarina was chosen to build the car in its entirety.
The Montecarlo was available as a fixed head "Coupé" and as an open-roof "Spider" with a large folding canvas roof between solid A and B pillars.
Beta Montecarlo production figures* | ||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Body | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | Totals | ||||
Coupé | 0 | 412 | 900 | 740 | 28 | 0 | 671 | 452 | 0 | 3,203 | ||||
Spider | 2 | 772 | 2,279 | 478 | 27 | 0 | 437 | 380 | 0 | 4,375 | ||||
Corse | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 209 | 220 | ||||
Totals | 2 | 1,184 | 3,179 | 1,218 | 55 | 0 | 1,108 | 843 | 209 | 7,798 |
*stated by Pininfarina production records
Models
First series
The Beta Montecarlo was finally unveiled at the 45th
Distinctions of the first series were the solid panels to the rear wings above the engine bay and 5.5Jx13" "bow-tie" alloy wheels, unique to this model. The interior was upholstered in vinyl (TVE, Elasticized Vinylic Textile) as standard, in cloth as an option. The driver's side mirror (right one was optional) was a Vitaloni Californian. In 1978 the production of the Beta Montecarlo was halted.
Lancia Scorpion
The convertible version of the Beta Montecarlo was federalized and marketed in the United States from 1976-1977 as the Lancia Scorpion, to avoid conflicting with the Chevrolet Monte Carlo. 1,805 were manufactured in 1976 and sold as model year 1976 and 1977 (1396 and 405 respectively).
To accommodate U.S. emission regulations, a smaller emissions-tuned 1,756 cc twin cam engine was fitted. With less aggressive camshaft profiles, a smaller carburetor, and the compression ratio reduced to just 8.1:1, the Scorpion delivered 81 hp (60 kW), down from the 120 of the Montecarlo. To meet crash test and lighting requirements, the Scorpion had bigger 5-mph bumpers and low-rise pop-up, sealed beam headlights, adding some 130 lbs to the curb weight. Two additional series of vents on the engine cover were required to cool the catalyst.
Second series
After a two-year hiatus the revised second series was introduced in 1980. The Beta prefix was ditched, and the car was now simply badged as the Lancia Montecarlo.[9]
On the exterior the most evident changes were the updated signature Lancia split grille first introduced with the 1979 Delta, the glazed rear buttresses (providing better visibility) and, in place of the model badging on the tail, a full width brushed aluminium strip. Larger eight-spoke 5,5Jx14" alloy wheels from the Beta were adopted to clear the upsized brake rotors and calipers, and the brake servo was removed to address the brake lockup issue. In the cabin there was a new three spoke Momo steering wheel in place of the old two spoke one, as well as revamped trim and fabrics. The engine was revised too: a higher
Issues
The Montecarlo/Scorpion suffered from several issues. Between the taller springs used to meet the US height requirements, a lack of caster, and bump steer, handling of US market Scorpions did not meet the promises of the car’s design.
The engine noise in the interior of the car was sometimes criticized; Road & Track listing noise as one of their biggest complaints about the car, with "little joy listening to the wheeze of an emission equipment-stifled 4-banger",[10] and Motor calling the engine noise a "raucous cacophony".[11]
Harsh shifting is common and increases as the bushings wear (a common trait in mid-engined cars). The rear crossmember is a design flaw; the metal used was too thin and is susceptible to corrosion and eventual failure, although stronger replacement crossmembers are available from aftermarket companies.[citation needed]
The S1 Montecarlos and Scorpions suffered from overly boosted brakes, which caused the fronts to lock up easily in the wet. These were often criticised in reviews; for example Road & Track complained of "severe front locking and 37% fade"[10] and Motor that they found "it disconcertingly easy to lock up the front wheels when approaching corners".[11]
As a result, production was suspended in 1978 while the braking problems were resolved by some engineering changes, including removing the brake servo.
Rust is an issue for the Montecarlo and Scorpion.[12] Unless kept in a dry environment active prevention is required to fend off rust. The firewall and wheel wells are common locations for rust.[citation needed] Rusted floor pans are a major cause of early Montecarlo/Scorpion demise.[citation needed]
Racing
Abarth SE 030
The first offspring of the X1/20 project to actually be revealed to the public wasn't the definitive Beta Montecarlo, but rather the Abarth 030. Powered by a 280 hp, 3.2 liter
In 1974 one of the two prototypes took part in the then-popular Giro d'Italia automobilistico, a championship consisting of both road and track races. Driven by Giorgio Pianta and Cristine Becker it scored a remarkable second place, just behind the Lancia Stratos Turbo of the duo Andruet-Biche.
Montecarlo Turbo
The Montecarlo Turbo was a
Being a silhouette car, the Montecarlo Turbo only shared the centre section of the body with its namesake production car. Front and rear tubular subframes supported the suspension and housed the engine, still mid-mounted with Colotti gearbox. Three engines were used: 440 hp 1,425.9 cc, 490 hp 1,429.4 cc and 490 hp 1,773.0 cc.[14]
Rally 037
The Montecarlo was the basis for Lancia's successful
Similarly to the Montecarlo Turbo, the 037 only retained the centre section from the Montecarlo but little else, and its
In popular culture
- A Lancia Scorpion appeared in Disney's Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo (1977) as Herbie's girlfriend Giselle.
Gallery
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Lancia Montecarlo
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US-market Lancia Scorpion
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Lancia Montecarlo Badge
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Lancia Montecarlo
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1977 Lancia Beta Montecarlo Spider with early solid buttresses
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Group 5 Lancia Montecarlo Turbo
References
- ^ "Paolo Martin Designer - Lancia Beta Montecarlo". martin.demaria.to.it. Retrieved 2012-11-10.
- ^ "Lancia Montecarlo". carfolio.com. Retrieved 2007-11-21.
- ^ Production Data Archived 2009-03-12 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved from lnx.betamontecarlo.it on 2 April 2009
- ^ "Produzione Complessiva" [Cumulative Production] (PDF). pininfarina.it (in Italian). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-06-05.
- ^ "Montecarlo Consortium". Archived from the original on 2019-01-15. Retrieved 2017-08-07.
- ^ "Brio Trio: Fiat/Bertone X1/9, Lancia Montecarlo, Ferrari 308GT". 7 July 2008.
- ^ "Lancia Montecarlo: The Rivals". Motorweek. 1981-05-30.
- ^ Lancia Servizio Pubblicità e Promozione (ed.), Lancia Beta Monte-Carlo (official brochure)
- ^ "Montecarlo Consortium - Our Cars". montecarlo.org.uk. Archived from the original on 2012-11-11. Retrieved 2012-11-10.
- ^ a b Road & Track, September 1976
- ^ a b Motor, April 23, 1977
- ^ BENJAMIN PRESTON, "Could Pretty Cars Be the Key to Attracting Younger Car Nuts?", Wheels (blog), The New York Times, June 4, 2013
- ^ Armstrong, Douglas (July 1979). "European Letter". SA Motor. 17 (7). Randburg, South Africa: SA Motor (Pty) Ltd: 9.
- ^ "Lancia Montecarlo Turbo". lanciamontecarlo.net2. Retrieved 2012-11-09.