I WOULD BE THE FIRST TO ADMIT THAT THE PHRASE “POSSIBLY THE BEST IN THE U.K.” IS OPEN TO DEBATE. WHAT I WOULDN’T DISPUTE IN THIS CASE IS THE DESCRIPTION “ THE BEST CARED FOR AND MAINTAINED EXAMPLE ANYWHERE”. READ ON !

THIS 1979 BETA HPE 2000 WAS IN THE HANDS OF IT’S FIRST OWNER FOR OVER 20 YEARS AND IT IS TESTAMENT TO HIS METICULOUS AND FASTIDIOUS CARE THAT THE CAR SURVIVES IN THE NEAR PERFECT CONDITION THAT IT IS.

NOT ONLY HAS IT BEEN SERVICED 38 TIMES (BY ONLY 2 DIFFERENT GARAGES) , RUST-PROOFED 5 TIMES AND NEVER HAD ANY UNDERBODY WELDING BUT IT WAS DRIVEN EXTENSIVELY FOR IT’S FIRST 20 YEARS BEFORE LEADING A SHELTERED, GARAGED LIFE IN THE LAST FEW.

MAINTENANCE HISTORY

I HAVE NEVER, IN MANY YEARS IN THE RETAIL MOTOR TRADE, COME ACROSS A CAR WITH AS COMPREHENSIVE A SERVICE RECORD AS THIS!

SUPPLIED NEW BY J.D. ROSS LTD. OF ETCHINGHILL, NEAR FOLKESTONE (“SPECIALISTS IN GRAND TOURING CARS”) TO A MR. E.J. HODDE OF HERNE BAY, THE ORIGINAL PURCHASE INVOICE SHOWS THAT WITH A FEW EXTRAS IT COST £ 5,975 . IT WAS LOOKED AFTER BY THIS DEALER WHILST UNDER WARRANTY AND SERVICED AT 5,980, 9,904, 12,417 AND 18,055 MILES.

UPON THEIR CLOSURE ALL FURTHER SERVICE, REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE WORK WAS CARRIED OUT BY MALCOLM WAITE LTD (LANCIA AGENTS, THEN SUBSEQUENTLY FORD) OF SANDWICH, KENT. TO THAT END THE CAR WAS SERVICED AT:

23,658

27,090

30,751

35,578

40,928

49,018

55,621

61,689

66,311

72,664

78,449

84,297

90,092

96,365

101,968

108,561

117,478

122,953

128,499

135,685

141,865

153,602

160,070

166,005

175,261

180,307

181,794

183,526

185,357

186,916

188,553

THE ENGINE HAD A TOP OVERHAUL WITH ALL NEW VALVES AT 72,999 MILES.

A FULL ENGINE REBUILD COSTING £1,837 (20 YEARS AGO!) WAS CARRIED OUT AT110,640 MILES.

CLEARLY, MANY OTHER ITEMS WERE REPLACED OVER THIS PERIOD, ALL OF WHICH IS FULLY DETAILED IN THE HISTORY FILE, INCLUDING SEVERAL CAMBELT CHANGES ETC.

THE TOTAL COST OF ALL THIS MAINTENANCE COMES TO IN EXCESS OF £21,000 AND MOST OF THIS WAS OF COURSE AT 1980’S/ 1990’S MONEY!

RUST-PROOFING

AS EVERYBODY KNOWS, AND TAKES GREAT PAINS TO POINT OUT, LANCIA BETAS HAD A CHRONIC REPUTATION FOR RUST, LEADING IN NO SMALL PART TO LANCIA’S DEMISE IN THE U.K.

WHAT THE KNOW-ALLS DON’T REALISE IS THAT GIVEN THE CORRECT RUST-PROOFING TREATMENT, THE BETA CAN SURVIVE AS WELL AS ANY OTHER CAR, WHETHER IT BE GERMAN, JAPANESE OR ANY OTHER COUNTRY.

THIS EXAMPLE HAS NEVER HAD ANY UNDERBODY WELDING (AND DOESN’T REQUIRE ANY) AND THE BODYWORK IS AKIN TO A 3 YEAR OLD CAR (NOT 29 YEARS OLD)!

THE FIRST (DINITROL) RUST TREATMENT WAS CARRIED OUT BY SPECIALISTS IN AMSTERDAM ON THE 12^TH OF JUNE 1979 (THE CAR WAS A MONTH OLD)

VARIOUS CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN THE OWNER AND LANCIA GB LED TO FIRST AND SECOND STAGE PROTECTOL TREATMENTS BEING CARRIED OUT IN MAY AND JUNE OF 1981

MUCH LATER ON THE CAR WAS CAVITY INJECTED IN 1996 AND AGAIN IN 1999.

BODYWORK/PAINTWORK CONDITION

ALL I CAN SAY IS NEAR PERFECT IN ALL RESPECTS. THE AMOUNT OF MARKS/BLEMISHES ON THIS 29 YEAR OLD CAR WOULD BARELY COVER A FINGER NAIL!!!

WHEELS/TYRES

THE ORIGINAL ALLOY WHEELS HAVE BEEN  PROFESSIONALLY REFURBISHED.

THE TYRES ARE SUPERB PIRELLI P2000’S.

UNDER-BONNET

I AM AFRAID THAT THIS ASPECT OF THE CAR WOULD LOSE MANY POINTS AT A CONCOURS! DUE TO THE OLD STYLE METHOD OF RUST-PROOFING, ALL UNDER-BONNET PAINTED AREAS WERE COATED IN BLACK RUST-PROOFING FLUID. THE UPSIDE – NO RUST ; THE DOWNSIDE – LESS THAN ATTRACTIVE APPEARANCE.

BODYWORK REPAIRS OVER THE YEARS

AN EXTENSIVE, AND HIGH QUALITY RESPRAY WAS CARRIED OUT BY MALCOLM WAITE LTD. IN FEB. 1995 COSTING, THEN, £3002! A NEW TAILGATE (AT £352.80 !!) WAS FITTED AT THE SAME TIME.

THE BONNET WAS REPLACED AT AN EARLER DATE.

NO SUBSEQUENT BODYWORK WAS DEEMED NECESSARY AND STILL ISN’T.

A TINY AMOUNT OF CORROSION BUBBLE ON THE SUNROOF PANEL AND N/S/R WHEELARCH IS ALL THAT IS PREVENTING ME FROM SAYING IT IS PERFECT; THESE TWO AREAS WOULD BARELY COVER A SQUARE HALF INCH!

INTERIOR

PALE GREY FLECKED CLOTH WITH LOTS OF BLACK SEVENTIES PLASTIC AND MANY DIALS. IT IS ABSOLUTELY IMMACULATE WITH EVERYTHING FUNCTIONING CORRECTLY

ACCESSORIES

THERE IS A MANUAL CHOKE CONVERSION.

THE TOOLKIT IS COMPLETE AND UNUSED.

THERE IS A GENUINE RUBBER GRILLE MUFF.

THERE WAS A TOWBAR FOR TOWING HIS SMALL CARAVAN. THIS WAS UGLY AND I HAVE REMOVED IT.

THERE WAS 2 UNGAINLY REAR FOGLAMPS . AGAIN I HAVE REMOVED THEM.

MECHANICS

THE CAR STARTS, RUNS AND DRIVES WITHOUT FAULT. IT KEEPS IT’S COOL IN HEAVY TRAFFIC SITUATIONS DUE TO THE ELECTRIC FAN WORKING CORRECTLY.

IT, I AM CONFIDENT, COULD BE DRIVEN ANY DISTANCE WITH NO FEARS WHATSOEVER.

IT IS ROAD TAXED UNTIL AUGUST.

ALL GAUGES READ CORRECTLY.

OWNERSHIP

FIRST OWNER REGISTERED UNTIL 2005.

SECOND OWNER (LONG STANDING LANCIA MOTOR CLUB MEMBER AND EX-OFFICIAL) FROM 2005 UNTIL 2008 (AND UNDER 1,000 MILES).

I HAVE USED THE CAR MYSELF FOR SEVERAL HUNDRED PLEASURABLE MILES IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS.

CONTACT

VIEWING IS ENCOURAGED AND HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. YOU CAN CONTACT ME, ROGER, ON 07716 064889.

THE CAR IS LOCATED NEAR CAMBRIDGE AND THE WINNING BIDDER CAN BE COLLECTED FROM ANY NEARBY STATION (CAMBRIDGE OR HUNTINGDON) OR FROM NEARBY STANSTED AIRPORT.

TRULY A UNIQUE CAR THAT IS NOT ADVERTISED ELSEWHERE!