Lancia Montecarlo car range and history 

Vehicle technical details
Manufacturer:	Lancia
Production:	1975 to 1981
Class:	Sports car
Designer:	Paolo Martin (Pininfarina)
Total production:	7595
Assembly plants:	Pininfarina plant,Grugliasco Turin
Maximum speed:	180 km/h
Body and chassis
Body styles:	coupé,targa
Doors:	2-door
Chassis/body:	Steel
Suspension:	independent  suspension
Engine and Powertrain
Drive:	rear-wheel-drive
Engine Type:	Lampredi four-cylinder inline
Displacement:	1.8-2.0 L
Engine location:	Transverse rear mid-engine
Engine power:	120 HP
Transmission:	5-speed manual
Fuel system:	petrol carburetor
Weights and Dimensions
Wheelbase:	2,300 mm
Length:	3,813 mm
Width:	1,696 mm
Height:	1,190 mm
Weight:	970–1,040 kg

Lancia Montecarlo first made In 1975, on a Pininfarina design , the Beta Montecarlo was launched , named on the American markets as "Scorpion", due to the presence of a homonymous Chevrolet model .It had a central engine berlinetta as the Type 137, easily "ready" for the races a track version was derived called the Beta Montecarlo Turbo.

Lancia Montecarlo History.

As with the other Beta , the Montecarlo , available both as closed body coupé and with folding canvas roof called the "spider", shared with the other Beta models was only the engine: a 4-cylinder twin - cylinder of 1995 cm³ of 120 HP.

In fact, the Montecarlo derives from a collaboration between Fiat and Pininfarina , intended for the construction of a sports car from which race cars can be easily derived, through the Abarth sports department .

The first prototypes were presented in 1970 with the name of Fiat X1 / 8 , while the definitive one, arrived in 1974 with the initials X1 / 20 .In 1974, two Abarth SE030s , or two X1 / 20s with a 285 HP V6 engine of Fiat 130 origin and some aerodynamic modifications, were entered in the Giro Automobilistico d'Italia .

The intent was to show the sporty vocation of the model, whose debut was expected at the 1974 Geneva Motor Show .

A series of second thoughts, not least that of making a future prepared version of the new 131 sedan, led to the freezing of the project, which was resumed the following year, when, always at the Geneva Motor Show, the X1 / 20 debuted with the Lancia brand and Beta Montecarlo denomination .

The differences with the rest of the Beta range were remarkable: the traction was rear , the central engine (mounted in front of the rear wheels), the independent wheel suspension ( MacPherson in front of the triangular swinging arms behind).

Due to the oil crisis in place at launch, despite the potential of the frame, it was equipped with the same 4-cylinder 2-liter, 119 hp other Beta .

On 6 May 1979 , the 6 Hours of Silverstone the Monte Carlo made its debut in the International Championship Silhouette ( Group 5 ). Strengthened by exasperated aerodynamics, weighing only 750 kg (300 less than the standard version) and a 370 HP turbocharged 1425 cm³ engine , he challenged the dominating Porsche 935 and Ford Capri Zakspeed , winning a few races. The following year, with an engine upgraded to 400 HP and drivers of the caliber of Eddie Cheever , Riccardo Patrese , Walter Röhrl and Michele Alboretoat the wheel, he won the Group 5 International Marche Championship , a title also confirmed in 1981.

Montecarlo 2nd series

In 1979 the second generation of the series model also appeared, produced from 1980 to 1981. The main changes concerned the 2 rear fins (on which 2 glasses appeared to improve visibility when maneuvering), the front mask redesigned according to the Lancia styles of the time, the oversized rims and some interior details. The engine gained 1 HP (for a total of 120 HP), while the denomination simply became Montecarlo (without Beta anymore ). Both series were offered in Coupé and Spider versions, the latter featuring a unique roll-back manually operated targa style convertible top ,a three spoke Momo steering wheel in place of the old two spoke one. The Spider was sold in the United States as the Lancia Scorpion during 1976 and 1977.

The Montecarlo came out of production in 1982, with the multi-victorious Lancia Rally 037 launched in that year. Total production numbers come to 7,798 units, with production spanning from 1974 until 1982 with an interruption in 1979. 3,558 first series and 817 second series targas were built; 2,080 first series and 1,123 second series coupés. There were also 220 competition models built (Lancia 037).

In September 1975, the two-seat mid - engine -Coupé Beta Montecarlo came with a designed by Pininfarina body on the market, which was also produced as a Targa with roll roof. The origins of Montecarlo go back to the prototype Abarth 030 Pininfarina, the Fiat X1 / 9 and later the Fiat X 1/20.

The Montecarlo was only available with the 88 kW (120 hp) twin camshaft two-liter Lampredi engine . It was the first car whose body structure, including exterior design, was developed by Pininfarina and manufactured on factory tapes on behalf of Lancia.

For the American market there was under the name Scorpion because of there insufficiently satisfied emission levels, a special variant with modified (round) folding headlights and only 65 kW (88 hp). Also the supporting role in the movie The great Beetle in the Rally Monte Carlo from 1977 on the side of the famous VW Beetle Herbie could give the only 3.81 m short Lancia in the US no sales success.

In May 1978, the production of the Beta Montecarlo was terminated first.

In the early eighties, the Fiat Group needed a new vehicle for use in rallying, since the usability of the Fiat 131 in this sport had come to its end. Since the emerging regulations of the Group B prescribed the derivation of the competition vehicle from a production model from current production and in the group only a model was present from which a rally vehicle was reasonably derivable, the production of the Montecarlo was resumed.
In March 1980, a revised version (S2) of the Montecarlo (also 88 kW) appeared in Europe, the first by the modified radiator grille - which was designed in analogy to the modified beta in the fall of 1979 - and additional windows in the C-pillars is different. These windows were previously introduced in the UK in the first series to meet the local licensing requirements for all-round visibility. The model was now called only Lancia Montecarlo, the term beta accounted for. Also received the series 2 now the wheel design of the remaining beta models with 14 "instead of 13" large rims (albeit with increased offset and oval recesses for the wheel bolts, instead of the usual beta at the round recesses).
The vehicles of the first series had a very unusual brake system with a vacuum servo right behind the front passenger seat, which was integrated over very complex and long hydraulic lines and supplied only the front brakes. This caused a frequent overbraking of the front axle on wet or slippery roads, which was very unfavorable for driving safety. In addition, the servo tended by its mounting position to strong corrosion, in many vehicles, he then went down and the brakes completely blocked. That is why even at the time of Series 1 of this brake servo was often shut down or expanded. That's why the second series did not use this brake booster. Instead, there was a mechanical amplifier that acted on both brake circuits with leverage.

Significant models have been derived from the Lancia Beta Montecarlo for motorsport and especially for rallying . These were the Lancia Turbo, which had according to the FIA ​​Group 5 rules only the silhouette of the production car, and for Lancia won the World Championships in 1980 and 1981. For rally missions the Lancia Rally 037 was derived. The 037 shared with the production vehicle, however, only a few details and had, inter alia, in the front and rear part of a lattice frame, which was attached to the standard passenger compartment of the Montecarlo.In June 1981, production finally ran out after just under 7,600 units. 

The variants Berlina (sedan), Coupe, HPE, Spider (as Lancia Zagato) and Montecarlo (the latter under the name Lancia Scorpion) were exported from autumn 1975 to mid-1982 in the United States. In seven years, 17,965 copies were sold.