I’m the very, very lucky new owner. My first car was a Beta HPE. It slowly rusted away and then caught fire. I’ve been looking for one ever since. Saw this driving down the road just before lockdown and followed the driver home to interrogate him. He was lovely, but he had bought it fresh from a 1000 hour full nut and bolt restoration and was never going to sell it. He did, and I am incredibly fortunate to be the custodian. The love for Lancia is just immense and I truly feel honoured to own this car. And what a blinding video by Harry 👌🏻
God bless people like you Simon, for keeping cars like this on the road. Best car I ever owned was a Lancia Beta 2.0. Lovely car to own and drive. Had it as a mature student at Manchester Poly in 87. Lovely clean, low mileage and rust free model. Real beauty, but kept being keyed in Manchester. So sad to see her go. I just loved the shape and handling. Had lots of supposedly 'better' cars since, but none I've ever loved as much. What a beauty you have though. On another level altogether.
Health to drive and enjoy this beautiful car. Hollybrook Sports Cars always seem to have a leftfield Italian car in stock, that I'd love to have myself. This was definitely one of them.
What's been done to Lancia, has to be, one of the saddest stories in European post 1999 car history. Such a great badge, so much history, so much heritage, and nitwits and idiots got a hold of it and absolutely tarnished and destroyed the entire franchise. Frankly, it would've been better off dead in a ditch, than having to suffer being re-badged junk.
Fiat should have sold it to VW instead of destroying this company. Lancia was always the brand for the real connaisseur. Loved them back in the eighties..
@@humanbeing1675 I don't know what happened to Fiat. They made some great fun cars back in the 70s and early 80s, like theX1/9, 128 3P, Mirafiori Sport etc etc and then they replaced it with the likes of the Regatta and Tipo which was a seriously disappointing cars, and every time they replaced them they got worse and now Fiats are just horrid vile things. The dragged Lancia down with them. The only good Alfa any more is the Giullia. What happend to Italian style, flair and ingenuity?
Lancia is such an iconic brand here in Italy. EVERYONE have a relative that drove or owned a Lancia at some point in their life. Was more like the sporty-luxury brand compared to Alfa. Lancia basically invented such niche products like the fast saloon (Thema 8.32) and the Ferrari-like performance hatchback (Delta Integrale) not to mention all those crazy beats like the Stratos, 037, Delta S4. Then you look back at their coachbuilt period during the 50s and 60s when theirs cars where still named like streets in Rome and how they were pioneers in technology: first V6 vehicle, first 5 speed gearbox, first cars with indipendente suspensions and so on. Marchionne was gutted when he had to decide which brand to save, Alfa or Lancia. He said how it felt like having two sick children and you have to kill one the save the other. Here in Italy they still make the Ypsilon which is essentially a cheaper Fiat 500. It’s so sad that bring my tears.
well no-one but Marchionne decided Lancia-branded Chryslers was a great idea.. Also to reduce the Fiat palette to basically only 500’s. No Coupe, no Barchetta, no Dino 2400, no 131, nothing
Wow, that's been a very special one indeed. Aurelio Lampredi, the engineer who designed the Fiat twin-cam four, was a great supporter of supercharging, and that's the technology he pushed as head of Abarth, during the late 70s. I've had the pleasure of listening to the story of the 037 directly from his designer, engineer Sergio Limone. He knew the Audi Quattro was the way of the future for rallying but, since Abarth still lacked experience with 4WD and turbocharging, he bet on a lightweight RWD car designed to be easy to repair and set up quickly on the rally stages. The experienced Lancia team, under the great Cesare Fiorio, then did the rest.
Ciao Matteo non sapevo che subscribe a Harry sei un grande! Belle macchine queste Lancia un orgoglio del nostro paese purtroppo queste macchine in Italia non producono piu . Io pensavo che la 037 aveva il motore della Ferrari 308 GTB forse mi confuso con un altro Lancia ma no la Thema ?
Other RUclipsrs: "I'm going to accelerate for 3 seconds in this generic supercar to show off the exhaust" Harry: "I'm going to take this 037 for a blast on my farm tracks"
Have you seen Chris Harris getting the life scared out of him as a passenger in an 037 ? ruclips.net/video/mXgWWNJVdYA/видео.html Oh, and there are a couple of other Lancias as well :)
I can remember the various models back in the early 1980s. They were beautifully designed cars, but their issue with the dreaded RUST, was a long standing joke at the time. I do not think there was another car, in that era, that had such a issue with corrosion,
Lovely video, Harry. Couple of things... The VX compressor is smaller, 1100cc and uses a gear oil reservoir which must be topped up. The 037 uses a 1300cc compressor, which is engine oil fed, and has a drain back to the dry sump system. The only road going car to use that large compressor was the Abarth Volumetrico 131 of 1981-82. They did 90 2 door versions and more of the later series 4 door versions. Your most glaring, and surprising omission is that the Beta Volumex has the standard 2 valve per cylinder engine, whilst the 037 has the 4 valve engine, and an 8 counterweight crankshaft. There are a host of other differences. Those huge "Abarth" cast valve covers with their rows of 6mm bolts are a dead giveaway. Lovely video as always, and thank you for giving us a listen to that incredible Abarth mechanical music! Your best quote ever: "Ah, what a man thing this is!" I was fortunate to have driven an E2 Roncaglia sponsored car, and I was just 30, and it was a job then. Your facial expressions are priceless... Cheers
Thanks for filling in some of the info.Yes ,Harry missed out the valve differences etc.His quote was "Ah,what a mad thing this is".You are right,never seen Harry so happy.
A brilliant engine! Both in my 2000ie and in my friend's Strada (Ritmo) Abarth. The latter also had the loudest induction system I have ever come across in any road car - although the carbs were in front of the engine you could hear them sucking air in from the driver's seat.
@@harrysgarage I had a lovely montecarlo back in 1987 to 1989 had to sell it for a deposit to buy a flat. Took it from Edinburgh to watch the Monaco Grand Prix. Via the Route Napoléon... Happy days.
Best days of rallying 1982 - 86. Many great memories and photos of all the group B rally cars. Used to love sat in Dalby Forest 2am Lombard RAC . Sport Quattro could be heard miles away echoing through the forest that was my favorite car. I got a kiss off Michèle Mouton and shook hands with Ari Vatanen, or was it the other way round I can't remember to be honest. Great video thanks for the memories.
In my youth my mates all had escorts and capris. I had Lancias. 1600 HPE, 2000 Coupe, and then the Lancia Volumex Coupe. (Marketing at the time dropped the Beta name for the Volumex.) I then bought my first house and had the sell the Volumex to pay for central heating. Such is life....
Such an underestimated car. My dad had the 2000 coupe, when it worked it was fantastic. Sadly he had to change the automatic gearbox for a manual and then the fuel pump went. Never forget my father sucking petrol to get the feed back into the carbs in Beckenham!
You don't need words, just Harry in the rally version, growling and reminiscing as he goes back to being a youngster again. The new owner Simon is a lucky guy.
Owned two of these cars. Solid, soulful and a hoot to drive. When the Weber's were tuned right, boy they were fun. First true love which you never forget.
This has to be Harry’s best video..... pure driving joy. I know the chap in Northern Ireland and he is pretty much keeping the Lancia legend alive single handed!
Same engine as in my first car, a Fiat Ritmo 130 TC Abarth, only mine had an 8 valve head. That's a car you chould have on your show. Very rare these days. A firecracker.
Back in the mid-80s I had a 2 litre Beta Coupe. Wonderful cars. Full of character and a really easy and fun drive for a 21 year old. No speed cameras and a certain lack of impulse control... heavenly. It is, without question, the car I miss most and would love to drive again, albeit it was a car of its time and would probably be a little disappointing today.
Lovely to drive; somewhat frustrating to own. I read that ‘owning a Lancia is like being in love with a beautiful woman who doesn’t care if you live or die’. Sadly, I can only agree. The cars can be a bizarre symphony of failure. Odd things go wrong, then new things go wrong while those faults are being repaired. Not for nothing does FIAT stand for ‘Fix It Again Tony’. But, on a good day, on a good road with everything working - oh yes!
My second ever car was a Lancia Beta Coupé. It cost me all the money I had at the time (£800 I think) but I didn't care as I loved the shape. I bought it from a garage who said they would also respray it for the price so I presumed it would be a refreshed version of the burgundy colour it was when I test drove it. Turns out the garage meant it would be the 'original' colour, that being being rosso red... boy was that a nice surprise. It was a later one too so wasn't too rusty. Not keen on how the Volumex changed some of the styling details but wish I had had that engine in mine. Thanks Harry, wonderful stuff.
My all-time favorite! Remember seeing group Bs at 1000 Lakes Rally when I was a kid, and of all the metros and audis, the 037 was just plain scary! We used to hide behind a boulder when it came round a corner! The sound and presence was just something insane and menacing!
Standing in a freezing cold forest in Wales watching quattros and Lancia sliding around,and smelling the burn fuel in your nose! I'm 58 oh to be young again!
I've owned 3 Lancia HPE's, all 2000IE. Considering it's a design from the 1970's with the addition of the Bosch L Jetronic fuel injection in the 1980's. Guy Croft was the person to go to for tuning these engines in the UK. The main features: Front wheel drive, independent suspension (multi link on the rear), 5 speed box, disc brakes all round, alloy wheels,headlight self levelling on HPE. Dash gauges for oil pressure/temp and oil level through a tube and a hollow dipstick! You can feel the history of Lancia EVERY time you turn the key. Won 11 WRC's in 20 years
@@simonoliver574 Yes, torque much increased in the VX (with the Roots blower). Probably feels like a 3 litre motor. Even the standard engines, peak torque under 3000rpm and low gearing made for a fun time when allowed! Have you ever seen photos of the Lancia Trevi Bimotore, with 2 VX engines front and rear. Used for testing 4wd potential.
Enjoyed this video. 037 Stradale in red is a lottery win car for me. This Beta is a stunning car, your a very lucky man. I had the chance of buying a White 'X' reg Beta Hi-Fi off my cousin back in 85' with very low miles, instead I chose a MK2 RS2000. RS was a good car but to this day I regret not buying that Lancia Beta. Great looking cars.
There is not any other vintage sport car channel more genuine and truth than Harry's one. Thank you sir for this review talking about my favourite car brand manufacturer!
OMG...always liked these and looking again in such detail...it's just gorgeous. The stance. The proportions. Pretty and purposeful all at once. Italians just knew how a car should look. And sound. And handle. You're a lucky man Simon!!
Back in 1978 I was a trainee on British Rail and remember passing an airfield near Elstree full of new Lancia's, all sitting in a soggy field upto their axles in water!
I remember sitting in the back seat when my dad bought his Lancia Beta Coupe home. It was brand new and had that smell. Was the first car that I'd ever been in that would push you back in the seat! Later that year we went to the opening of a H.R. Owen showroom that he'd designed. I was 10 years old, sat in a group B 037. I had to have one was my only thought. I ended up with an Integrale, was close enough... Should never have sold it but happy to see its still racing in Australia enjoying the sun...
The 037 is still very present in the media. It is a real pleasure to see the Beta VX and it is a rarely covered car, great review, great choice, thanks Harry.
Great great video. The 037 actually had a 16v cylinder head compared to the Beta’s 8v. Also the 131 Abarth rally car had the same engine as the 037 but wasn’t supercharged. Love Italian cars ❤️
My friends all had Lancia when I had a Mk1 GTi Golf. Beta Coupe and HPE’s and a Beta Spider, my best friend collected me the day after my 21st party and was driving me to another 21st Birthday in a Blue Beta Coupe and we had a huge crash...still made the party still in our suits after sorting out the mess 🙂
I couldn’t help grinning the whole way through that. Lancia will always be my favourite marque, and seeing this reinforces how tragic what has happened to this once great manufacturer. RIP Lancia ❤️🇮🇹
How does one country produce the greatest cars, the greatest clothes, the greatest architecture, most UNESCO world sites, the best food and be so good looking too. Lucky bastard's
As much as I agree but it was never that easy and Italy behind closed doors shall we say had and still today gone through some bad times full of corruption greed and poverty in the South of Italy which till this day struggle.
@@claudioschumi87 So true,unfortunately.Many who try to run a business in Italy find it difficult if not impossible. The Alfa Sud was a result of a work scheme in the south to provide employment,but not the best result.It would be nice if it was La Dolce Vita.
Owner of three of these in the earlier 80s brilliant fun best cars I’ve ever had left one rusting in a field nobody wanted it people didn’t know what a car they were thanks for the memories Harry
I had three HPEs: a 1600, a 2000, a 2000 I.E. Sensational cars, fantastic styling, great engines and the oh so typical Lancia discreet yet distinctive behaviour.
Had many Beta's including saloon and hpe' were rust boxes back in the day :) Currently I am restoring a 63 Flavia coupe ' The Volumex escaped me' due to rarity ' a pretty penny today I should think .. Great review 👍
I’ve had my VX coupe since 2012 and have pretty much restored it to full glory. I’ve aimed to keep it as close to standard as possible but I did remove the side rub strips as they were clipped into holes in the panels that let water in. Mine is now smooth sided. The only thing I want to do is re-carpet the interior and the boot as, although not ripped or stained, I 5ink there has been some shrinkage as it doesn’t quite cover up the wiring under the glovebox as I think it should. Problem is that I very rarely drive it - only 3000 miles since 2012 - so I might just end up selling it. Harry didn’t mention the lovely rasp from the exhaust (very Italian) at about 2000 rpm and although he did mention the torque, I don’t think it came across just how torquey it really is. It will pull 5th gear from about 1500 rpm easily - 30 mph - if you want and the way the supercharger works, there is no real point exceeding 4500 rpm as the best work is done by then.
Agree. I picked it up from Harry today and it just powers off straight away with no fuss, pretty much no matter which gear you’re in. Kind of runs out of steam just after 4,000 rpm as you say, but more than lives with modern cars given some enthusiastic driving!
Back in 80's a friend of mine sold me a 1974 lancia beta, love that car, I've heard that term fun to drive before, and with this car I understood what that MEANS! It wasn't that fast but it was a blast ,the sound of that little engine, the shifter was smooth like silk, hell if I could find another one I think I would buy it, good times good times
The HPE is a masterpiece which I've always adored, as well as its spiritual predecessor the Volvo P1800ES. Never owned one unfortunately but did own a Beta Coupé and a Gamma Coupé.
Thank you SO MUCH, Harry! So great to see these rare birds drive. I'm quite sure a Beta VX never made it to the States. Great little car. And yes, 0-60 in 9 seconds in '84 was quite respectable here as well (for those that don't believe me, check out Motorweek episodes from the time on RUclips). Cars just weren't quick due to many factors. I'd rather have a lot of safe fun in a minimal power rorty car than a 600hp bore. I've always been fascinated by the creativity of Lancia. Alas, they always seemed allergic to making a profit, however.
Oh no! HPE is so cool. Would love to find an early one, with a colourful interior, something wild like yellow or green. Trouble is they are rare even in Italy. But this Videos got me thinking about tracking one down 😉
Did you not find them a little guttless in that heavy HPE frame? They needed about 160 bhp not 133. I'm sure that much would have been easily attainable with reworked cams and a higher boost pressure. I had a Mirafiori racing (European version of the Sport) in the late 80s that had a little more than 160 bhp without a supercharger, so if I could get that figure, I'm sure Fiat/Lancia could have!
I owned a HPE Volumex some years back -such an understated car, fast, spacious and comfortable a definite high performance estate. Very few left now, the coupe was a little smaller but lighter and slightly quicker. As for the 037, the stradale version is my favourite ever car but at £500k+ owning one is very unlikely. I'll stick to my Fulvia 1600 Sport (Zagato), just like Harry's.
Brilliant video! I owned a Beta Coupe and loved the way it made you feel when driving, the grip was like nothing else at the time. Oddities like fibre optics to light the dash were pure Lancia over-engineering! The car set fire to itself via battery terminals touching the bonnet one day, it would just stop for no reason...then start again minutes later and one day decided it didn't like reverse gear. Again, pure Lancia!! Eventually the terrible steel used in the bodywork meant it crumbled away so the scrap man took it away, but the experience and the beauty of the car will live with me forever. RIP Lancia
Wow. My father had the beta coupe 2000. Stunning car. It looked to me Harry like the 037 was a car you seriously loved driving for the experience. I haven’t seen you drive a car and looks so involved and enjoying the experience. Thanks for this amazing video.
Your face when the 037 cuts out - a picture in itself! So sad that Lancia fell away. I was an Alfa fan (had 4) but I always admired my mate's dark green Lancia Beta Coupe. The twin headlamps (E30-like) and the rest of the styling was spot on.
I had a champagne gold injected 1982 model. It was a great car and remains one of the favourite cars I've ever owned. Thanks for a wonderful trip down memory lane Harry 😀
Had a couple of HPE volumex's in the early 90s. Loved the looks and the handling but always felt they needed a bit more woomf. I had ideas about fitting an Alfa V6 and gearbox from a 164 in it, but it came to nothing.
037 wow lucky fella - Nice test - I've a white beta 2000 coupe R reg one with orange seats !! - the engine sounds like two sharp knives being drawn against each other, and the gear change is like putting the front wheel of your bike into a bike stand - lovely !!
My dad had a beta coupe VX which spent many years at an Lancia Specialist in South London . Funnily the seat cloth was by Zegna and Italian clothier, the cloth is rarer than rocking horse food. Many fond memories in that car growing up, well when it was working.
I am a MASSIVE fan of Lancias from the 80's! They were sooo much fun! Thank you Harry for a great video - I love how you spliced the 037 into this one!!
Yup, it was needed back in the day, when rallying wasn't as professional sport, especially on the organizer's point. Sometimes if they drove in countries with lack of english language understanding etc, the blood type on the names was important symbol so that local medical personnel knew what sort of blood they needed in case of bad accident and injuries.
@@gigiminiotti They don't put blood groups on competition cars anymore. It was a dangerous thing to do! If you swapped crews,or non designated driver was using the car it would be the wrong blood group and could be fatal.Even on the overalls would be dangerous Safer to use plasma than specified blood group!
A KT Green invoice!!!!!! That was my local Subaru dealer in Bramhope back in the day and I bought my first two Scooby's from them. Small world. Wonderful.
@@andyholmes7377 I owned a 1984 Beta 2000 HPE and found similar cases of ‘that’ll do’, for example use of twin 8 amp wires between to points where the wiring diagram showed one 16 amp wire. Why not?
The most eagerly anticipated channel on YT. Although we are from different sides of the pond, Harry and I are the same age and share pretty much the same level of interest and enthusiasm for cars. An absolute joy to watch. Well done Harry. Well done indeed.
I’m the very, very lucky new owner. My first car was a Beta HPE. It slowly rusted away and then caught fire. I’ve been looking for one ever since. Saw this driving down the road just before lockdown and followed the driver home to interrogate him. He was lovely, but he had bought it fresh from a 1000 hour full nut and bolt restoration and was never going to sell it. He did, and I am incredibly fortunate to be the custodian. The love for Lancia is just immense and I truly feel honoured to own this car. And what a blinding video by Harry 👌🏻
Nice one mate. So good to see this video and along with that lovely car of yours.
Congratulations! Please enjoy it for the rest of us and consider allowing more videos of it!
God bless people like you Simon, for keeping cars like this on the road. Best car I ever owned was a Lancia Beta 2.0. Lovely car to own and drive. Had it as a mature student at Manchester Poly in 87. Lovely clean, low mileage and rust free model. Real beauty, but kept being keyed in Manchester. So sad to see her go. I just loved the shape and handling. Had lots of supposedly 'better' cars since, but none I've ever loved as much. What a beauty you have though. On another level altogether.
Wow, what a cool first car! Mine was a Vauxhall Nova. 😂
Enjoy your Beta, it’s beautiful.
Health to drive and enjoy this beautiful car. Hollybrook Sports Cars always seem to have a leftfield Italian car in stock, that I'd love to have myself. This was definitely one of them.
Even a broken down 037 is more head-turning than almost anything else on the road. What a car.
I recon one of the mega rare, and highly costly roadgoing Sport Quattros, like the one Harry drove in an earlier video.
That's my dream transport.
@@peterlewis3540 1xdp
@@peterlewis3540 the 037 is more unique and has more interesting history than the audi quattro
@@peterlewis3540- im german I would take the 037 over any Quattro 😊
What's been done to Lancia, has to be, one of the saddest stories in European post 1999 car history. Such a great badge, so much history, so much heritage, and nitwits and idiots got a hold of it and absolutely tarnished and destroyed the entire franchise. Frankly, it would've been better off dead in a ditch, than having to suffer being re-badged junk.
Fiat should have sold it to VW instead of destroying this company. Lancia was always the brand for the real connaisseur. Loved them back in the eighties..
@@humanbeing1675 I don't know what happened to Fiat. They made some great fun cars back in the 70s and early 80s, like theX1/9, 128 3P, Mirafiori Sport etc etc and then they replaced it with the likes of the Regatta and Tipo which was a seriously disappointing cars, and every time they replaced them they got worse and now Fiats are just horrid vile things. The dragged Lancia down with them. The only good Alfa any more is the Giullia. What happend to Italian style, flair and ingenuity?
True
Easy to answer. Fiat haven’t been managed by enthusiasts for a long time...they’ve been run by accountants.
The most stupid decision Fiat ever made.
Damn, that smile on Harry's face as he belts it on the 037 says it all! RIP Lancia.
“It’s got a number plate... we can take it for a drive...” There was a brief mad glint in Harry’s eyes right there, ha.
Lancia is such an iconic brand here in Italy. EVERYONE have a relative that drove or owned a Lancia at some point in their life. Was more like the sporty-luxury brand compared to Alfa. Lancia basically invented such niche products like the fast saloon (Thema 8.32) and the Ferrari-like performance hatchback (Delta Integrale) not to mention all those crazy beats like the Stratos, 037, Delta S4.
Then you look back at their coachbuilt period during the 50s and 60s when theirs cars where still named like streets in Rome and how they were pioneers in technology: first V6 vehicle, first 5 speed gearbox, first cars with indipendente suspensions and so on.
Marchionne was gutted when he had to decide which brand to save, Alfa or Lancia. He said how it felt like having two sick children and you have to kill one the save the other.
Here in Italy they still make the Ypsilon which is essentially a cheaper Fiat 500. It’s so sad that bring my tears.
Gratzi,malto benni.The real reason Lancia left rallying and crawled away slowly to die,starting with no more exports around 1995.? Alfa survives....
Wow you speak better English than the average Northerner
@@user-ht9fr6eh9u Go vegan!
well no-one but Marchionne decided Lancia-branded Chryslers was a great idea.. Also to reduce the Fiat palette to basically only 500’s. No Coupe, no Barchetta, no Dino 2400, no 131, nothing
Lancia could have been the right brand for luxury EVs, imagine like Tesla but with Italian style inside and outside. Missed opportunity.
Wow, that's been a very special one indeed. Aurelio Lampredi, the engineer who designed the Fiat twin-cam four, was a great supporter of supercharging, and that's the technology he pushed as head of Abarth, during the late 70s. I've had the pleasure of listening to the story of the 037 directly from his designer, engineer Sergio Limone. He knew the Audi Quattro was the way of the future for rallying but, since Abarth still lacked experience with 4WD and turbocharging, he bet on a lightweight RWD car designed to be easy to repair and set up quickly on the rally stages. The experienced Lancia team, under the great Cesare Fiorio, then did the rest.
Ciao Matteo non sapevo che subscribe a Harry sei un grande! Belle macchine queste Lancia un orgoglio del nostro paese purtroppo queste macchine in Italia non producono piu . Io pensavo che la 037 aveva il motore della Ferrari 308 GTB forse mi confuso con un altro Lancia ma no la Thema ?
Davide Cironi has a great RUclips channel with subtitled interviews with many of the designers of legendary Italian cars like this. Well worth a watch
Other RUclipsrs: "I'm going to accelerate for 3 seconds in this generic supercar to show off the exhaust"
Harry: "I'm going to take this 037 for a blast on my farm tracks"
There are so few videos on the 037, being my favourite car, this makes me ridiculously happy.
Have you seen Chris Harris getting the life scared out of him as a passenger in an 037 ? ruclips.net/video/mXgWWNJVdYA/видео.html Oh, and there are a couple of other Lancias as well :)
Me too
Yes the Chris Harris vid is great
Lancia. The greatest rally cars of all time. Period. And this has to be the best episode so far.
Yep.
The best car manufacturer of the 20th century
@@Yaro2 All times probablly.
Do you think people would say that if Lancia had not cheated back in 1983? Then they would not have won.
Lancia is one of those brands that its just heartbreaking to see what they were and what they are now :(
I can remember the various models back in the early 1980s.
They were beautifully designed cars, but their issue with the dreaded RUST, was a long standing joke at the time.
I do not think there was another car, in that era, that had such a issue with corrosion,
Could you explain to me why they are not making cars anymore? (besides the Ypsilon in Italy).
@@smideralessandro9124 I heard it being a decision between Alfa Romeo and Lancia by the FCA some time ago, sorry I could not recall the details
maybe an unpopular opinion but my mother has a 2010 lancia delta and i find it extremely pretty way better than the competitors offer from back then .
I had the privileged opportunity recently to work on that 037, what an absolutely stunning machine.
Simply stunning, the Martini colours are probably the most striking and iconic rally colours.
Lovely video, Harry.
Couple of things...
The VX compressor is smaller, 1100cc and uses a gear oil reservoir which must be topped up. The 037 uses a 1300cc compressor, which is engine oil fed, and has a drain back to the dry sump system. The only road going car to use that large compressor was the Abarth Volumetrico 131 of 1981-82. They did 90 2 door versions and more of the later series 4 door versions.
Your most glaring, and surprising omission is that the Beta Volumex has the standard 2 valve per cylinder engine, whilst the 037 has the 4 valve engine, and an 8 counterweight crankshaft. There are a host of other differences. Those huge "Abarth" cast valve covers with their rows of 6mm bolts are a dead giveaway.
Lovely video as always, and thank you for giving us a listen to that incredible Abarth mechanical music!
Your best quote ever: "Ah, what a man thing this is!"
I was fortunate to have driven an E2 Roncaglia sponsored car, and I was just 30, and it was a job then.
Your facial expressions are priceless...
Cheers
Thanks for filling in some of the info.Yes ,Harry missed out the valve differences etc.His quote was "Ah,what a mad thing this is".You are right,never seen Harry so happy.
Legendary Lampredi's engine. The same engine for many cars. For us in Italy is a mith. Thanks Mr Harry, your channel is one of the best in the world.
Amazing engine. I have had 5 cars with this engine, my favourite being the Ritmo Abarth 130TC.
@@paolov73 my friend have one. No brakes no chassis... but the engine is the value the price of ticket 😉
You have a silly middle name
Agreed, genius simplicity of an engine, so ahead of it’s time. Got a Argenta 120ie with around 145hp, its great fun
A brilliant engine! Both in my 2000ie and in my friend's Strada (Ritmo) Abarth.
The latter also had the loudest induction system I have ever come across in any road car - although the carbs were in front of the engine you could hear them sucking air in from the driver's seat.
I could listen to that sound track all day.. love Lancia
Such an elegant car. Always wanted a Beta Montecarlo back in the day - bet they're rare now!
Super rare, unfortunately
I believe most of them rusted so quickly that owners basically ended up with a puddle of paint on their driveways
@@harrysgarage I had a lovely montecarlo back in 1987 to 1989 had to sell it for a deposit to buy a flat. Took it from Edinburgh to watch the Monaco Grand Prix. Via the Route Napoléon... Happy days.
@@nedboase7909 Very much so - even have a channel (but probably bit off to link to it here).
Well but fall on parts sooo fast too:)
Best days of rallying 1982 - 86. Many great memories and photos of all the group B rally cars. Used to love sat in Dalby Forest 2am Lombard RAC . Sport Quattro could be heard miles away echoing through the forest that was my favorite car. I got a kiss off Michèle Mouton and shook hands with Ari Vatanen, or was it the other way round I can't remember to be honest. Great video thanks for the memories.
I rewatched that episode from Grand Tour (season 2 ep. 7) about the battle between the quattro and the 037 with tears in my eyes and goosebumps 🥲❤️👌
In my youth my mates all had escorts and capris. I had Lancias. 1600 HPE, 2000 Coupe, and then the Lancia Volumex Coupe. (Marketing at the time dropped the Beta name for the Volumex.) I then bought my first house and had the sell the Volumex to pay for central heating. Such is life....
Wow! My dad had a Beta 2000 HPE - still remember the odd interior and the sound of the engine. Beautiful cars.
RIP the 3dr estate!
Such an underestimated car. My dad had the 2000 coupe, when it worked it was fantastic. Sadly he had to change the automatic gearbox for a manual and then the fuel pump went. Never forget my father sucking petrol to get the feed back into the carbs in Beckenham!
@@gr0wler147 You mean the other way around? Cause Automatic would not be much fun with this car.
@@positivesquad well kick down was fantastic. The manual made it come into its own though..
I would give anything in the world to own such a car. What a fantastic sight to behold.
You don't need words, just Harry in the rally version, growling and reminiscing as he goes back to being a youngster again. The new owner Simon is a lucky guy.
My love for the 037 knows no bounds. You're a legend Harry!
Reason #427 as to why this is in my top 5 RUclips channels, never even heard of this model before, thanks Harry❗❗
If you’re talking about the 037 you must be only person in the world to not know about it
@@onelyone6976 no....that Beta VX, ofcoarse I've heard of the O 3 7😋
Owned two of these cars. Solid, soulful and a hoot to drive. When the Weber's were tuned right, boy they were fun. First true love which you never forget.
That’s the happiest feeling I’ve had on a Monday morning that I can remember!
Never have I clicked on a video so fast in my life, Love Group B hero cars
That volumex is one of my favorite cars of all time , good lord
This has to be Harry’s best video..... pure driving joy. I know the chap in Northern Ireland and he is pretty much keeping the Lancia legend alive single handed!
Patrick. He's a Saint
I’m speechless harry this is my favourite of all of your vlogs it used to be the Muira but seeing your face says it all great job mate👍👍
Same engine as in my first car, a Fiat Ritmo 130 TC Abarth, only mine had an 8 valve head. That's a car you chould have on your show. Very rare these days. A firecracker.
Back in the mid-80s I had a 2 litre Beta Coupe. Wonderful cars. Full of character and a really easy and fun drive for a 21 year old. No speed cameras and a certain lack of impulse control... heavenly. It is, without question, the car I miss most and would love to drive again, albeit it was a car of its time and would probably be a little disappointing today.
Lovely to drive; somewhat frustrating to own. I read that ‘owning a Lancia is like being in love with a beautiful woman who doesn’t care if you live or die’. Sadly, I can only agree. The cars can be a bizarre symphony of failure. Odd things go wrong, then new things go wrong while those faults are being repaired. Not for nothing does FIAT stand for ‘Fix It Again Tony’. But, on a good day, on a good road with everything working - oh yes!
@@sallykoep Unfortunately, your analogy is far too close to the money. The sex was mind blowing, but all the crockery was broken.
My second ever car was a Lancia Beta Coupé. It cost me all the money I had at the time (£800 I think) but I didn't care as I loved the shape. I bought it from a garage who said they would also respray it for the price so I presumed it would be a refreshed version of the burgundy colour it was when I test drove it. Turns out the garage meant it would be the 'original' colour, that being being rosso red... boy was that a nice surprise. It was a later one too so wasn't too rusty. Not keen on how the Volumex changed some of the styling details but wish I had had that engine in mine. Thanks Harry, wonderful stuff.
I've been waiting for this one - thank you, Mr. Metcalfe!
NEVER CLICKED SO FAST!! So 037 is my alltime favorite car!
My all-time favorite! Remember seeing group Bs at 1000 Lakes Rally when I was a kid, and of all the metros and audis, the 037 was just plain scary! We used to hide behind a boulder when it came round a corner! The sound and presence was just something insane and menacing!
Standing in a freezing cold forest in Wales watching quattros and Lancia
sliding around,and smelling the burn fuel in your nose!
I'm 58 oh to be young again!
I've owned 3 Lancia HPE's, all 2000IE. Considering it's a design from the 1970's with the addition of the Bosch L Jetronic fuel injection in the 1980's. Guy Croft was the person to go to for tuning these engines in the UK.
The main features: Front wheel drive, independent suspension (multi link on the rear), 5 speed box, disc brakes all round, alloy wheels,headlight self levelling on HPE. Dash gauges for oil pressure/temp and oil level through a tube and a hollow dipstick!
You can feel the history of Lancia EVERY time you turn the key. Won 11 WRC's in 20 years
True. I’ve had an HPE IE, but the Volumex is on another level. Just smooth and fast with very little effort. Feels like a much bigger engine.
@@simonoliver574 Yes, torque much increased in the VX (with the Roots blower). Probably feels like a 3 litre motor.
Even the standard engines, peak torque under 3000rpm and low gearing made for a fun time when allowed!
Have you ever seen photos of the Lancia Trevi Bimotore, with 2 VX engines front and rear. Used for testing 4wd potential.
Enjoyed this video. 037 Stradale in red is a lottery win car for me. This Beta is a stunning car, your a very lucky man. I had the chance of buying a White 'X' reg Beta Hi-Fi off my cousin back in 85' with very low miles, instead I chose a MK2 RS2000. RS was a good car but to this day I regret not buying that Lancia Beta. Great looking cars.
There is not any other vintage sport car channel more genuine and truth than Harry's one. Thank you sir for this review talking about my favourite car brand manufacturer!
As the proud owner of a VX Coupe, this motivates me to fix the broken bits and get it back on the road for Summer :) Great video, thanks Harry!
OMG...always liked these and looking again in such detail...it's just gorgeous. The stance. The proportions. Pretty and purposeful all at once. Italians just knew how a car should look. And sound. And handle. You're a lucky man Simon!!
Thank you! I am. Very.
Back in 1978 I was a trainee on British Rail and remember passing an airfield near Elstree full of new Lancia's, all sitting in a soggy field upto their axles in water!
Pre-soaked for rust treatment!
Ford did something similar, they kept new cars on the old oil refinery on Canvey Island sitting in grass and flood water up to their axles.
I remember sitting in the back seat when my dad bought his Lancia Beta Coupe home. It was brand new and had that smell. Was the first car that I'd ever been in that would push you back in the seat! Later that year we went to the opening of a H.R. Owen showroom that he'd designed. I was 10 years old, sat in a group B 037. I had to have one was my only thought. I ended up with an Integrale, was close enough... Should never have sold it but happy to see its still racing in Australia enjoying the sun...
The 037, an achingly beautiful car.
I have fond memories of my Lancia Montecarlo; the one I should have kept!
Im sat here with my cigar and cognac with a huge smile on my face. Superb video Harry. Bring back the 80's!
I like the sound of that. Living the life ;-)
The hairs on my arms are standing up and I’ve got goose pimples, love the 037 ,excellent video H .
The 037 is still very present in the media. It is a real pleasure to see the Beta VX and it is a rarely covered car, great review, great choice, thanks Harry.
Great great video. The 037 actually had a 16v cylinder head compared to the Beta’s 8v. Also the 131 Abarth rally car had the same engine as the 037 but wasn’t supercharged. Love Italian cars ❤️
The 1984-'85 Pininfarina Spidereuropa (Fiat 124)also used the Volumex Roots-supercharger on it's 2 litre, to give 135 hp
@@TheKnutin yes and they are lovely cars. I had a Ritmo/Strada Abarth 130TC which was so much fun.
@@paolov73 I used to drive an Abarth 130 TC back in the mid '80s, complete with the Recaro seats.
@@TheKnutin I had mine in 1999 for 3 years. That engine and those seats ❤️
@@TheKnutin Correct, as well as Fiat Argenta VX and the actual first car with this engine, Fiat 131 Compressore. That car had 140hp tho.
My friends all had Lancia when I had a Mk1 GTi Golf. Beta Coupe and HPE’s and a Beta Spider, my best friend collected me the day after my 21st party and was driving me to another 21st Birthday in a Blue Beta Coupe and we had a huge crash...still made the party still in our suits after sorting out the mess 🙂
Thanks for another great video. Took me back to the early ‘80’s and my dad’s SAAB 900 Turbo. Know you had one - would love to see a review
I couldn’t help grinning the whole way through that. Lancia will always be my favourite marque, and seeing this reinforces how tragic what has happened to this once great manufacturer. RIP Lancia ❤️🇮🇹
This reminded me of how much I still miss my Integrale.
Same
Amazing cars. I miss my Thema ie Turbo. Love my Alfa's especially my Guilia, but the world is a sadder place without the mad Lancia's.
How does one country produce the greatest cars, the greatest clothes, the greatest architecture, most UNESCO world sites, the best food and be so good looking too. Lucky bastard's
As much as I agree but it was never that easy and Italy behind closed doors shall we say had and still today gone through some bad times full of corruption greed and poverty in the South of Italy which till this day struggle.
Italy: Greed and Corruption!
USA: Hold my Trump banner ...
@@claudioschumi87 So true,unfortunately.Many who try to run a business in Italy find it difficult if not impossible. The Alfa Sud was a result of a work scheme in the south to provide employment,but not the best result.It would be nice if it was La Dolce Vita.
Owner of three of these in the earlier 80s brilliant fun best cars I’ve ever had left one rusting in a field nobody wanted it people didn’t know what a car they were thanks for the memories Harry
as a kid i always loved lancias and still do 'the most Italian car' they used to say.I always liked the beta coupe spider and the monte carlo.
Can't express how much I enjoyed that, memories flooding back of my Beta HPE & Abarth 130tc. Incredibly envious of the 037 drive, thank you!
More Lancias please 🙏🙏🙏
Great job Harry.
I’ve had quite a few betas in my life and wonderful to see a volumex featured here. Special memories and great practical classics.
I had three HPEs: a 1600, a 2000, a 2000 I.E. Sensational cars, fantastic styling, great engines and the oh so typical Lancia discreet yet distinctive behaviour.
Had many Beta's including saloon and hpe' were rust boxes back in the day :)
Currently I am restoring a 63 Flavia coupe '
The Volumex escaped me' due to rarity ' a pretty penny today I should think ..
Great review 👍
Mr Metcalfe you almost brought a tear to my eye with your excitement n drive byes in that 037. We all salute you!!!
I’ve had my VX coupe since 2012 and have pretty much restored it to full glory. I’ve aimed to keep it as close to standard as possible but I did remove the side rub strips as they were clipped into holes in the panels that let water in. Mine is now smooth sided. The only thing I want to do is re-carpet the interior and the boot as, although not ripped or stained, I 5ink there has been some shrinkage as it doesn’t quite cover up the wiring under the glovebox as I think it should.
Problem is that I very rarely drive it - only 3000 miles since 2012 - so I might just end up selling it.
Harry didn’t mention the lovely rasp from the exhaust (very Italian) at about 2000 rpm and although he did mention the torque, I don’t think it came across just how torquey it really is. It will pull 5th gear from about 1500 rpm easily - 30 mph - if you want and the way the supercharger works, there is no real point exceeding 4500 rpm as the best work is done by then.
Agree. I picked it up from Harry today and it just powers off straight away with no fuss, pretty much no matter which gear you’re in. Kind of runs out of steam just after 4,000 rpm as you say, but more than lives with modern cars given some enthusiastic driving!
Back in 80's a friend of mine sold me a 1974 lancia beta, love that car, I've heard that term fun to drive before, and with this car I understood what that MEANS! It wasn't that fast but it was a blast ,the sound of that little engine, the shifter was smooth like silk, hell if I could find another one I think I would buy it, good times good times
The Beta design has aged very well. A friend's dad had an HPE and I've always thought it was gorgeous.
The HPE is a masterpiece which I've always adored, as well as its spiritual predecessor the Volvo P1800ES. Never owned one unfortunately but did own a Beta Coupé and a Gamma Coupé.
@@dm5374 There’s only one word for the design of the HPE body: ‘Bellissima’.
Thank you SO MUCH, Harry! So great to see these rare birds drive. I'm quite sure a Beta VX never made it to the States. Great little car. And yes, 0-60 in 9 seconds in '84 was quite respectable here as well (for those that don't believe me, check out Motorweek episodes from the time on RUclips). Cars just weren't quick due to many factors. I'd rather have a lot of safe fun in a minimal power rorty car than a 600hp bore. I've always been fascinated by the creativity of Lancia. Alas, they always seemed allergic to making a profit, however.
Brings back memories - had a HPE Volumex in the 80's it was only my third car (didn't realise how special it was), traded it in for a Volvo 360 GLT :(
Oh no! HPE is so cool. Would love to find an early one, with a colourful interior, something wild like yellow or green. Trouble is they are rare even in Italy. But this Videos got me thinking about tracking one down 😉
Did you not find them a little guttless in that heavy HPE frame? They needed about 160 bhp not 133. I'm sure that much would have been easily attainable with reworked cams and a higher boost pressure. I had a Mirafiori racing (European version of the Sport) in the late 80s that had a little more than 160 bhp without a supercharger, so if I could get that figure, I'm sure Fiat/Lancia could have!
Not a bad car,the Volvo 360 was made by Daf in the Hoek of Holland. Not the drivers car the Lancias were though.
Those Lancias look so good, they make you feel you want to own one. The smile on Harry's face driving the 037 says it all.
Love Lancia. Never haven’t. Miss them. Had 5 Ded Ra’ts
I felt like I was in the 037 when Harry was hooning it
The smile said it all .. pure driving pleasure
I owned a HPE Volumex some years back -such an understated car, fast, spacious and comfortable a definite high performance estate. Very few left now, the coupe was a little smaller but lighter and slightly quicker. As for the 037, the stradale version is my favourite ever car but at £500k+ owning one is very unlikely. I'll stick to my Fulvia 1600 Sport (Zagato), just like Harry's.
Brilliant video! I owned a Beta Coupe and loved the way it made you feel when driving, the grip was like nothing else at the time. Oddities like fibre optics to light the dash were pure Lancia over-engineering! The car set fire to itself via battery terminals touching the bonnet one day, it would just stop for no reason...then start again minutes later and one day decided it didn't like reverse gear. Again, pure Lancia!! Eventually the terrible steel used in the bodywork meant it crumbled away so the scrap man took it away, but the experience and the beauty of the car will live with me forever. RIP Lancia
the 037 is one of the most wonderful cars ever made. the end
Can't imagine how amazing driving the 037 must be, especially on the road! Fantastic.
Never seen Harry drive on public roads like a devil...and I love it!
Wow. My father had the beta coupe 2000. Stunning car. It looked to me Harry like the 037 was a car you seriously loved driving for the experience. I haven’t seen you drive a car and looks so involved and enjoying the experience. Thanks for this amazing video.
The 037 is a 'lottery car'. Cars from that period of rallying are stunning, even if they were just parked up in my 10 bay 'lottery garage'.
Your face when the 037 cuts out - a picture in itself! So sad that Lancia fell away. I was an Alfa fan (had 4) but I always admired my mate's dark green Lancia Beta Coupe. The twin headlamps (E30-like) and the rest of the styling was spot on.
I guess I’ll be loading up dirt rally 2 later then...
I had a champagne gold injected 1982 model. It was a great car and remains one of the favourite cars I've ever owned.
Thanks for a wonderful trip down memory lane Harry 😀
Ah,champagne metallica... I had 1982 Gamma coupe in that colour,with brown velour interior.
@@simonalexandercritchley439 Another stunning car 👌🏻
Had a couple of HPE volumex's in the early 90s. Loved the looks and the handling but always felt they needed a bit more woomf. I had ideas about fitting an Alfa V6 and gearbox from a 164 in it, but it came to nothing.
037 wow lucky fella - Nice test - I've a white beta 2000 coupe R reg one with orange seats !! - the engine sounds like two sharp knives being drawn against each other, and the gear change is like putting the front wheel of your bike into a bike stand - lovely !!
The dream episode
My Friend had a racing green Beta Coupe 2.0ie. Great days
Whenever I played Sega Rally I ALWAYS chose the Lancia.
My dad had a beta coupe VX which spent many years at an Lancia Specialist in South London . Funnily the seat cloth was by Zegna and Italian clothier, the cloth is rarer than rocking horse food. Many fond memories in that car growing up, well when it was working.
And not a lot of people know that...👍🏻
Rohrl what a driver 💥
I am a MASSIVE fan of Lancias from the 80's! They were sooo much fun! Thank you Harry for a great video - I love how you spliced the 037 into this one!!
is that the BLOOD TYPE on the door besides the names?
Yes it is, it was compulsory on rally cars.
Yup, it was needed back in the day, when rallying wasn't as professional sport, especially on the organizer's point. Sometimes if they drove in countries with lack of english language understanding etc, the blood type on the names was important symbol so that local medical personnel knew what sort of blood they needed in case of bad accident and injuries.
@@d-d-i That applies also in English-speaking countries for quicker medical assistance
@@gigiminiotti They don't put blood groups on competition cars anymore.
It was a dangerous thing to do!
If you swapped crews,or non designated driver was using the car it would be the wrong blood group and could be fatal.Even on the overalls would be dangerous
Safer to use plasma than specified blood group!
@@nearlyretired7005 Please keep in mind I said 'it WAS compulsory', and ok, I should have written 'it applied'. Are we good now?
Your enthusiasm is priceless Harry! Great stuff
The 037 stopped because you were not driving it fast enough.
A KT Green invoice!!!!!! That was my local Subaru dealer in Bramhope back in the day and I bought my first two Scooby's from them. Small world. Wonderful.
I love how they couldn't even be bothered to put the sticker straight.
Quite sadly, I also found myself noticing that!
@@andyholmes7377 I owned a 1984 Beta 2000 HPE and found similar cases of ‘that’ll do’, for example use of twin 8 amp wires between to points where the wiring diagram showed one 16 amp wire. Why not?
The most eagerly anticipated channel on YT. Although we are from different sides of the pond, Harry and I are the same age and share pretty much the same level of interest and enthusiasm for cars. An absolute joy to watch. Well done Harry. Well done indeed.
7:07 When Mr. Harry said 235 bhp for the Volumex... I was rather surprised!
I think it was a slip of the tongue ; D
Yes, a total of 135 hp, 13 hp over the 122 hp i.e-version
At 22:45 - 23:05. That HOWL ❣❣❣
Reminds me when as a young boy watching 80's Rally of Thousand Lakes in Finland. Those were the days....🖤
You can keep your modern day hyper-cars. Me, I'd have an 037 instead, a real car for real roads.
Anytime
Completely agree!
THANK YOU for this, and a big thank you to the owner for giving us this chance to take a drive in this car with you Harry.
Oh my,
Tears of jealousy and desire.
Sound is definitely not compromised. Love listening to you Harry but that sound track in the back ground is just the best! Daniel