Lancia Beta 2000 Coupe (1980) – Into the Wild

It almost never happens in this section that we enter the registration number of a classic or youngtimer spotted on the street and the number ‘1’ is behind the number of owners. Yet that is certainly the case with this white Beta Coupé. On June 19, 1980, the car was registered with the first owner, which means that he/she has owned the Beta for over 42 years. Unfortunately we don’t know the story behind the car. In any case, the Beta regularly gets a fresh MOT, judging by the expiration date that is on March 11, 2024.

When putting together the Beta, the first owner did not opt ​​for the base engine, a 1.6 with 100 hp. Instead, the Beta Coupé 2000 was checked on the order list, then the most powerful variant. It does not make much difference in power, because the 2.0 four-cylinder with carburetor releases 119 hp on the front wheels. Later Lancia built an even more powerful version of the Beta with a supercharger, the Beta VX (Volumex) with 139 hp, but it was only available from 1983. By the way, unlike the Spider, the Beta Coupé was not designed by Pininfarina, but by Lancia’s own design studio.

Lancia Beta

This copy still looks fantastic. At first sight, rust does not appear to be present in the white paint, as far as visible no imperfections can be detected. The chromed bumpers are also still in good condition, although the front bumper is starting to get a bit dull. However, that’s not too much of a problem. A bigger problem for the Beta was the rust sensitivity. However, there is no crispy edge on this copy, which suggests that he spent most of his life in a covered shed. The interior is not visible, but given the condition of the exterior it is obvious that it has also been well taken care of. A unique example, mainly because of its history!

Thanks to AutoWeek forum user ‘Afentoe’ (flickr) for uploading this unique Beta. Could you do with your car for more than 40 years? Let me know in the comments!