1982 LANCIA MONTECARLO

1982 Lancia Montecarlo

Possibly one of the prettiest cars ever built has just arrived at Cranborne and judging by the heads that turned on our first proper road-test. it`s going to be a popular car. With just 69. 00 miles recorded and benefitting from full bodywork restoration and significant mechanical fettling over the years. this late-model Series 2 coupe (one of just 1. 23 built) has it all. A glorious Italian 2 litre twin-cam. fabulous mid-engine styling by Pininfarina and above all. real road presence with a soundtrack to die for.

Part of the Beta range. the Montecarlo entered production in 1975 and was aimed at being an upmarket. bigger-brother to the Fiat X1/9. both offering mid-engine 2-seater fun with the option of a convertible roof (the Montecarlo was available as either a coupe or canvas-roofed spider). Originally a Fiat project. the Montecarlo had been passed to Lancia who in turn enlisted Pininfarina not only to design the car but inevitably to actually build it (the first car ever to be constructed in-house by the design team). The classic recipe of a 2 litre twin-cam engine. McPherson strut suspension and front and rear disc brakes made for a sure-fire winner particularly when clothed in a body more reminiscent of a true super car. Of course. there were issues. This was an Italian sports car…! On early cars. brakes were over-boosted causing early lock-up in the wet. On later cars (1980 onwards). the servo was removed eliminating the problem. These cars were also fitted with Marelli electronic ignition which improved torque and gave a better sprint time (0 to 60 in 8. 6 seconds). Rust was the other major issue (!) owing mainly to the poor quality of steel used at the factory with many cars simply rotting away within just a few years.

Our car was registered in January 1982 having been originally sold by a Fiat dealer in Denia. southern Spain. to a Mr. Davis of East Sussex. In July 1982. the car was first serviced (6000 miles) by St. Leonards Motors in St. Leonards-On-Sea. Thereafter the paper-trail goes cold until 1990 when the car (with it's second keeper) is living in Lancashire. During the last 6 months of this year. a full bodywork restoration is recorded undertaken by Briarswood Engineering Limited of Lathom with receipts for over £3000. This included upper body. under body. engine bay and storage compartment with new n/s and o/s door skins. rear wings. bumpers and sidelights from Scorpion Reproductions of St. Agnes. A year later. gear bushes were replaced (another weakness) and over the next 5 years. other work was completed including a full stainless steel exhaust system. rebuilt air-conditioning system and general servicing. By 2002. the car (with 63. 00 miles recorded) is now residing in Chesterfield and over the next 12 months underwent some extensive mechanical work with parts supplied by The Monte Hospital in Linton. A replacement cylinder head suggests a top-end rebuild with all-new ignition parts. head gasket. cam. rocker and inlet manifold gaskets as well as full braking system overhaul with new stainless steel hoses. Tarox pads and pedal rubber. In 2006. The Monte Hospital also supplied new gear link bottom bushes and rear suspension arm bushes (mileage 68. 00). Over the past 12 months. the car has been fully serviced and fettled with new spark plugs. V and timing belts. brakes cleaned and overhauled as appropriate. new head-lights fitted and replacement horn.

Today this rare survivor looks absolutely stunning with virtually unblemished Black coach-work and excellent original Grey cloth trim. Wheels are genuinely unmarked. On the road. the car feels taught with the free-revving twin-cam providing the perfect amount of power. encouraging spirited driving and of course. that exhaust note! The “B” roads of Wiltshire offer the ideal testing ground and I can personally guarantee that it will put a grin on even the longest of faces.

The car comes with an extensive history file including MOT Certificates from 1993 onwards and full restoration paperwork. Workshop Manual and Technical Data. Guy Croft's book of “Tuning the Lancia Twin Cam” and a current MOT Certificate to March 2014.

A stunning little coupe with great provenance. Rare too.  

Viewings are welcome. Please call 01985 841104 0r 07968 005037.

Cash please upon collection within 3 days of the sale concluding.

For lots more interesting cars. please see www. cranborneclassics. com  

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