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Lancia Montecarlo - mid-engined sports car with and without Beta

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Created on October 3, 2018

Reading time 9min

Written by:

Bruno von Rotz

Photos:

Daniel Reinhard

Bruno von Rotz

Lancia (FCA Group)

Lancia

Archiv

Daniel Reinhard

Bruno von Rotz

Lancia (FCA Group)

Lancia

Archiv

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Lancia Montecarlo (1980) - ab 1980 mit modernisiertem Kühlergrill und Fenster in den C-Säulen

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Lancia Montecarlo (1980) - die Brücke zwischen Fiat und Lancia?

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Lancia Montecarlo (1980) - die Kunststoffelemente an der Front sorgten schon damals für Diskussionen

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Lancia Montecarlo (1980) - zeitlose Formgebung, nur die Gummi- und Kunststoffelemente verraten das Alter

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Lancia Montecarlo (1980) - der Wagen sitzt satt auf seinen vier Rädern

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Lancia Montecarlo (1980) - die Kabine wirkt dank der zusätzlichen Fensterflächen filigran

Bild von Partner Planai Classic 2025 Inline 1

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Lancia Montecarlo (1980) - der kurze Überhang hinten ist charakeristisch

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Lancia Montecarlo (1980) - die Karosserie wurde bei Pininfarina gebaut

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Lancia Montecarlo (1980) - ungewöhnlich - die Motorhaube öffnet sich seitwärts

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Lancia Montecarlo (1980) - hierzulande mit zwei Spiegeln ausgeliefert

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Lancia Montecarlo (1980) - viele Öffnungen für die Kühlluftaufnahme

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Lancia Montecarlo (1980) - war ursprünglich für die Fiat-Palette gedacht

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Lancia Montecarlo (1980) - freundliche Stoffbezüge runden das ansonsten sportlich gehaltene Interieur ab

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Lancia Montecarlo (1980) - Schwarz-in-Schwarz

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Lancia Montecarlo (1980) - das Momo-Lenkrad war Serienausstattung

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Lancia Montecarlo (1980) - Jaeger-Instrumente

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Lancia Montecarlo (1980) - Drehzahlmesser, roter Bereich ab ca. 6200 Umdrehungen

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Lancia Montecarlo (1980) - ungewöhnliche Zusatzinstrumente

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Lancia Montecarlo (1980) - die seitlich öffnende Klappe erlaubt einen guten Zugang zum Motor

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Lancia Montecarlo (1980) - der quer eingebaute Vierzylindermotor und das Reserverad teilen sich den Platz hinten

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Lancia Montecarlo (1980) - es geht relativ eng zu im Motorraum

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Lancia Montecarlo (1980) - der Motor stammte ursprünglich von Fiat

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Lancia Montecarlo (1980) - vergaser-bestückter Vierzylinder mit zwei obenliegenden Nockenwelllen

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Lancia Montecarlo (1980) - Chassis-Plakette

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Lancia Montecarlo (1980) - die 1980 eingeführten zusätzlichen Fenster hintern verbessern die Rundumsicht

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Lancia Montecarlo (1980) - Entlüftung in der C-Säule

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Lancia Montecarlo (1980) - geräumiger Kofferraum

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Lancia Montecarlo (1980) - das Pinin-Farina-Zeichen

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Lancia Montecarlo (1980) - der Karosseriebauer ist eindeutig angegeben

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Lancia Montecarlo (1980) - der neue Lancia-Kühler ab 1980 mitsamt Lancia-Zeichen

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Lancia Montecarlo (1980) - das Lancia-Zeichen auf dem Heck

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Lancia Montecarlo (1980) - Lancia-Schriftzug

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Lancia Montecarlo (1980) - ab 1980 heisst das Auto nur noch "Montecarlo"

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Abarth SE 030 (1974) - den berühmten Periscopo-Sportwagen von Abarth nachempfunden, Pininfarina-Entwurf

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Abarth SE 030 (1974) - auf dem Montecarlo basierende Sonderversion von Pininfarina

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Lancia Beta Berlina 2000 (1976) - aus der 2. Serie

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Lancia Beta Berlina 2000 (1978) - aus der 2. Serie

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Lancia Beta Berlina 1800 (1978) - aus der 2. Serie

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Lancia Beta HPE (1975) - Sportkombi der ersten Serie

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Lancia Beta HPE (1978) - praktischer Sportkombi

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Lancia Beta HPE (1981) - aus der vierten Serie mit modernisiertem Kühlergrill

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Lancia Beta HPE (1981) - aus der vierten Serie

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Lancia Beta Coupé 1300 (1976) - elegantes Autos

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Lancia Beta Coupé 1300 (1976) - Nachfolger der Fulvia, gesehen am Turiner Autosalon

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Lancia Beta Coupé (1973) - Seitenansicht, rechts

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Lancia Beta Coupé (1974) - charmant präsentiert

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Lancia Beta Spider 1.6 (1974) - aus der ersten Serie

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Lancia Beta Spider 1.6 (1975) - aus der ersten Serie

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Lancia Beta Montecarlo (1975) - eine der drei grossen Kreationen Pininfarinas in Genf - neben Rolls-Royce Camargue und Peugeot 604 - Genfer Automobilsalon 1975

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Lancia Beta Montecarlo (1975) - als Coupé oder mit Faltdach erhältlich - Genfer Automobilsalon 1975

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Lancia Beta Montecarlo (1975) - offene Variante mit Rolldach

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Lancia Beta Montecarlo (1975) - "Spider" der ersten Serie

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Lancia Beta Montecarlo (1975) - mit Rolldach

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Lancia Beta Montecarlo (1978) - in der Werbung für die Lancia-Produktpalette

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Lancia Beta Montecarlo Turbo Gruppe 5 (1978)

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Hans Heyer auf Lancia Beta Montecarlo gegen Ford Capri Zakspeed Turbo an der DRM in Hockenheim im Jahr 1981

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Hans Heyer auf Lancia Beta Montecarlo an der DRM Spa 1981

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Lancia A112 (1981) - in der Werbung - womit Frau Heyer ihren Mann abholt

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Lancia Beta Montecarlo (1980) - neugestaltete Front und zusätzliche Seitenstege mit Fenstern - Genfer Autosalon 1980

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Lancia Beta Montecarlo (1981) - das modellgepflegte Mittelmotorcoupé hatte eine zusätzliche Scheibe hinten

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Lancia Beta Montecarlo (1981) - das Facelift bekam dem Mittelmotor gut

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Lancia Montecarlo (1980) - sieht schon im Stand schnell aus

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Summary

When the Lancia Beta Montecarlo was launched in 1975, there was actually already a mid-engined sports car in the Lancia range, namely the Stratos, which rushed from rally victory to rally victory. And the Montecarlo should actually have been born as a Fiat, but as is so often the case, everything turned out differently. The compact sports car remained exclusive and ultimately reached customers in two series, while racing modifications ensured success in the one-make world championship and the DRM. This driving report portrays a Lancia Montecarlo from the second series and tells its story, illustrated with many pictures from then and now, supplemented by a sales brochure and a sound sample.

This article contains the following chapters

Own initiative
Premiere as the Abarth
Lighthouse car for Lancia
Independent design in tune with the times
Sportiness suitable for everyday use
Also as a Scorpion
Reworking for the second version
The road-going version of a racing winner
Clear production figures
Exclusive pleasure
Further information

Estimated reading time: 9min

Preview (beginning of the article)

When the Lancia Beta Montecarlo was launched in 1975, there was actually already a mid-engined sports car in the Lancia range, namely the Stratos, which went from rally victory to rally victory. And the Montecarlo should actually have been born as a Fiat, but as is so often the case, everything turned out differently. The order came from Fiat, but Pininfarina developed the potential replacement for the Fiat 124 Coupé entirely on its own, so for the first time it was not based on an existing platform. The first drawings are said to have been made as early as the end of the 1960s, with Paolo Martin being credited as the creator of the lines.

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