The Beta Montecarlo is a vehicle that still looks modern 50 years after its market launch. Our 1978 model impresses with its harmonious styling: a light blue metallic paint finish combined with a dark red interior and beige seats - a colour scheme that perfectly matches the Mediterranean backdrop of Monte Carlo. The name “Montecarlo’” was deliberately chosen as a tribute to the sophisticated city on the Côte d'Azur, which is synonymous with luxury, motorsport, and elegance. The legendary Monte Carlo Rally in particular was of great importance to Lancia as the brand was able to achieve numerous victories there. The name was intended to convey exclusivity and sporting success in equal measure.

When the Lancia Beta Montecarlo was launched in September 1975, it was an innovative but often overlooked sports car. For the first time, Pininfarina had developed both the chassis and the exterior design of a production vehicle for Lancia. The sleek, wedge-shaped design with an all-black plastic front was ahead of its time. The technical concept was even more advanced: a mid-engine layout with modern independent suspension for agile and sporty handling. The Montecarlo was originally planned as a Fiat model, but Fiat ultimately decided to market it under the Lancia brand. There was already a mid-engined sports car in the Lancia programme at the time: the Stratos, which won one rally after another. The success of the Beta Montecarlo failed to materialise and its production was discontinued in 1978 due to insufficient sales figures.

In the early 1980s, however, the Fiat Group needed a new basic vehicle for rallying and so the Montecarlo returned as Series 2 with optimised technology and revised details. A total of around 7,800 units were produced as coupés and spiders and as the basis for the successful Lancia 037 and Beta Montecarlo Turbo racing cars.

Due to a lack of rust prevention, only a few examples are still in good condition today. This makes it all the more important to look for a flawless vehicle when buying - like this model, which is one of the last of the first series. It spent its entire life in the Netherlands before we imported it to Switzerland in 2017. The vehicle is in completely original condition and has always been well maintained. After the purchase, all necessary work was carried out, so that today it presents itself in first-class condition.

The Beta Montecarlo's engine was originally based on a rather inconspicuous four-cylinder engine from the Fiat 132 but was converted into an adequate sports engine under the hand of Aurelio Lampredi - the legendary engineer known for his Ferrari twelve-cylinder engines. The engine was enlarged to two litres with two overhead camshafts and produced 88 kW (120 hp). Thanks to its low weight of around one tonne, the Montecarlo provided a respectable driving performance: 0-100 km/h in 9.3 seconds and a top speed of 190 km/h.

Today, there is not much left of the once great Lancia brand. Perhaps it will soon experience a renaissance as a luxury brand for electric cars. Until then, we can look back at iconic models such as the Beta Montecarlo, which once enriched the automotive world. The Montecarlo symbolises the spirit of innovation that Lancia once embodied - a vehicle that was torn between great ambitions and the realities of the market. And yet today it is still an underrated, affordable design icon with an unmistakable character.