My Beta Coupe in a movie?

[Charley]

I took my Beta to a car show yesterday and was sitting there watching this guy who seemed to be very interested in my Beta Coupe.After looking the car over and taking a bunch of pictures,he asked if the car was mine.He then asked if I would be interested in renting my car for a major motion picture. He told me that he was looking for Italian cars of that vintage.I gave him my mailing and phone information.He told me the film was "Transformers 2" and that filming was to be in Bethlehem,Pa. and Philadelphia,Pa. He told me the area around city hall in Phila. would be used as Italy in the film.He seemed to be legitamate.He gave me two business cards,one for his auto repair shop,and one for the "movie car" service.He told me he would submit my car to the movie studio and if they ok things he would contact me. Whadyah think? 8)

[1,6 HF]

Just make sure it's not really for a remake of Thelma and Louise. Seriously, though, make sure that the film insurance will fully cover your car (and I mean fully, as Additional Named Insured on an Acord Certificate), and make sure you get a decent day rate. You might try to get in touch with these guys: http://www.hollywoodpicturecars.com/ to see what sort of rates & insurance you ought to be getting.

BTW, I grew up in Philly, and I have no idea how the area around City Hall could possibly pass for Italy.

[Charley]

Just make sure it's not really for a remake of Thelma and Louise. Seriously, though, make sure that the film insurance will fully cover your car (and I mean fully, as Additional Named Insured on an Acord Certificate), and make sure you get a decent day rate. You might try to get in touch with these guys: http://www.hollywoodpicturecars.com/ to see what sort of rates & insurance you ought to be getting.

BTW, I grew up in Philly, and I have no idea how the area around City Hall could possibly pass for Italy.


Thanks Ed,I will make sure the car is FULLY protected before I let ANYONE use it (or turn it into a robot).I thought the same thing about using Philadelphia for "Italy".But who knows with the stuff they can do with computers and digital manipulation,maybe they can disguise the area.I looked for information on imdb.com and the movie IS going to have some filming done in Phila. And I see the executive producer is Steven Spielberg,so the movie must have a huge budget...Still I wonder why wouldn't they just film "Italy" in Italy? I don't know,but I'm pretty sure the guy who approached me was legit.I talked to the owner of a Ferrari 356 at the show,and he told me the guy asked if he was interested also.No other Italian cars were present at the show. We will see....I WILL BE CAUTIOUS! ':

[davidb]

Run don't walk from that guy. Here's another website, friend of
mine. < www.cars4films.com > Notice no prices?
I can't feature anything short of a Scorpion, fully restored like
D.J.s, being in a movie. That due to the Scorpion's styling.
Now one of the homologated production 037s, being a "legal"
street car? That would be my preference for a movie.

[Charley]

Run don't walk from that guy. Here's another website, friend of
mine. < www.cars4films.com > Notice no prices?
I can't feature anything short of a Scorpion, fully restored like
D.J.s, being in a movie. That due to the Scorpion's styling.
Now one of the homologated production 037s, being a "legal"
street car? That would be my preference for a movie.
JEEZ! I know my car ain't perfect,but maybe they don't want an 037 or a perfect car? I would imagine in 1975,Beta Coupes were relatively common in Italy. :rolleyes:

[1,6 HF]

I can't feature anything short of a Scorpion, fully restored like D.J.s, being in a movie.

David,

With all due respect, that's a staggeringly bizarre statement.

First, Charley's Beta is way more than nice enough for filming; you don't need (or want) a Pebble Beach winner as a film car.

Second, it'd be a very strange version of '70s Italy that featured a string of Scorpions parked along the streets and forming the background traffic.

Third, I never realized that Beta Coupes fell into the category of "short of a Scorpion". I think you may have watched Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo too many times...

[davidb]

Hey no offense intended. Never seen Charley's car.

[Jim Keller]

Have any opinion you want, but Scorpions are the cars that fall way short of Lancia quality, from my driving and owning all but an HPE's, I have found Coupes, Zags and HPE's are far superior to the quality you find in Scorpions, (although they have their quality issues as well), much more civil, well built cars, especially wqhen it comes to fit, finish and solid feel of about everything, the Scorpions after all are truely just rebadged Fiats built to Fiat quality standards, not Lancia standards. It was supposed to be sold as a Fiat X1/20 beside the 1/9 as the big brother, but by time Fiat had them ready to produce, the had finished aquiring Lancia and decided to badge them as Lancias to get more money out of them, and that's the truth!

[Jim Keller]

Oh, and if they want another Beta Coupe or an onsite tech, give em my number! LOL

[Charley]

Oh, and if they want another Beta Coupe or an onsite tech, give em my number! LOL

Sure Jim, I will give them your number.Two Beta Coupes in the same movie would certainly qualify the film for an Oscar for best visuals ! ;)

[DJ]

Sounds like nice bookends for a nice red Scorpion... ;)

As welling as making a subtle red, white, and blue display...

[Jim Keller]

BINGO! DJ!
That's how we get in! very strong selling point! LOL

Heck, for a modest fee, I just might be willin to let em destroy mine! LOL

I know a lot of folks around here that would be happy to have their Italian cars in the movie too if the cars wouldn't be destroyed and they fixed anything they broke or damaged, Fiats, Lancias, Alfas and one actual European version Ferrari 308 I know of about 5 miles from me

[Will]

Have any opinion you want, but Scorpions are the cars that fall way short of Lancia quality, from my driving and owning all but an HPE's, I have found Coupes, Zags and HPE's are far superior to the quality you find in Scorpions, (although they have their quality issues as well), much more civil, well built cars, especially wqhen it comes to fit, finish and solid feel of about everything, the Scorpions after all are truely just rebadged Fiats built to Fiat quality standards, not Lancia standards. It was supposed to be sold as a Fiat X1/20 beside the 1/9 as the big brother, but by time Fiat had them ready to produce, the had finished aquiring Lancia and decided to badge them as Lancias to get more money out of them, and that's the truth!

Ha ha, that's the biggest load of BS ever, Jim! :)

For example, the car you single out and shit on for being a "FIAT" is THE ONLY ONE NOT BUILT BY FIAT EMPLOYEES IN A FIAT OWNED FACTORY!!

You need to stop buying $500 Scorpions, Jim. :) Shut the door in a GOOD Scorpion and it's very "solid". OK, I'll admit the engine lid is a little flimsy, but you gotta save some weight somewhere. The chassis is adequately stiff though And when we signal a turn, the entire steering column doesn't disintegrate in our hand like on Zagatos and Coupes! (and HPE's too I suspect). I would mention more but then you will bring up the Scorpion crossmember, so maybe I'll take it easy on you today.

Besides, I feel sorry for ya because your drive wheels are at the wrong end of the car. Oh, so's your engine :)

[davidb]

Gez & I'm branded as Mr. confrontational. Just kidding Will. I
agree w/each of you to a point.

[Charley]

Ok you guys,enough already! :red face: We all have great cars with their own "personalities" and issues.The fact is we all must enjoy the odd challenges that come with owning these cars.The reward of owning a Lancia IMHO,is the prestige of just owning and driving one.And who knows,maybe the film makers will just decide to use a bunch of Fiat 500's and 128 Sedans for the movie,the American public for the most part wouldn't even know a Lancia was from Italy.

[DJ]

the American public for the most part wouldn't even know a Lancia was from Italy.

Probably true for a Beta. But a Scorpion... :D

Honestly though, Charley, I think it's an awesome opportunity and would be a great thing for our community. Keep us posted.

[Jim Keller]

Uh, Will, I've never had a $500 Scorpion, my first one I got a steal on but sold it for $3K "less" the drive train and mostly in primer, second one was a $10K car when I sold it for $5500 in distress at Christmas time, it was almost a percfect example of the Scorpion

No load of BS. it really was originally intended to be sold as a Fiat X1/20, that is true.

When I am speaking of quality, I am talking overall stock and unmodified show room condition. Yours does not qualify, about the only thing stock on yours is the shell! LOL, I love the Scoprions as much if not more than a Coupe or Zag, but with two kids, I am forced to have the Coupe or Zag first, Scorpion second. I just noticed a lot more flimsy stuff when it comes to the Scorpion over a Zag or Coupe, especially body panels and trim. The body panel fit isn't nearly as good as a Coupe or Zag nor are they nearly as solid, like when you close the door, no tinny sounds from a Zag or Coupe door. No front body panels flying off at speed etc....(;-)
That cracked sub-frame stuff is way over blown, that has to be one of the easiest things to fix permenantly things on a Scorpion. A lot of people have screwed them selfs out of a nice Scorpion worring about some little crack that's pretty easily reinforced and welded up to never crack again. My silver one had a crack, so my buddy John fixed it better than new, my gold one was fine, no one had driven it like a Mustang! I think dumping the clutch like your at the drag strip is what causes that more than anything else! another one of those avoidable "self inflicted" problems, LOL

Yes, FWD does suck over rear, like when it's pushing off the side of the curve instead of going where ya want! LOL, BTDT, I'll surely grant ya that, but for comfort in cruising and touring, I'll take the Coupe/Zag over the Scorp, for having fun and showing off, I'll take the Scorp. Coupes and Zags tend to blend in with back ground traffic, ya can't do that in a Scorpion! the only thing that I hated was people telling me how sweet a Delorean I had, the num nuts anyway! it wasn't like I took the badges off, they were there for all to read! LOL

[Will]

Uh, Will, I've never had a $500 Scorpion, my first one I got a steal on but sold it for $3K "less" the drive train and mostly in primer, second one was a $10K car when I sold it for $5500 in distress at Christmas time, it was almost a percfect example of the Scorpion

I was just busting your chops, Jim- although the tinniness of the doors in Scorpions I've seen are alignment issues, once the door gets out of whack it doesn't close right at all. Once, mine did not sound "right" and it was my first clue something was wrong- the latch pin had loosened.



No load of BS. it really was originally intended to be sold as a Fiat X1/20, that is true.
[\QUOTE]

Well, originally....and we are really splitting hairs here... the car was designated the X-1/8. It actually predates the X-1/9.(*)

Fiat's internal project "X" codes start with the Fiat 128 (X-1/1) Anyway, the Monte/Scorpion was really designed a lot earlier than it was built, around 1970. Then came the X-1/9, designed in.....'72 I think by Bertone (*), produced in MY '74.

When FIAT decided to build the (X-1/8 ) they were in a quandry since the X-/9 already had a project number, so their whole numbering was out of sequence. So they jumped ahead to X-1/20 (at least that's the way I heard it, and the later projects leave a good "space" of integers between the numbers.)

(*)= It's unclear to me exactly how the X-1/9 derived from the Autobianchi/FIAT/Lancia A112, you could argue the A112 was really the precursor to the X-1/9, tha A112 is designated X-1/2. At any rate, the Scorpion/Monte wass developed before the Abarth "X-1/9 Prototipo".


[QUOTE]

When I am speaking of quality, I am talking overall stock and unmodified show room condition. Yours does not qualify, about the only thing stock on yours is the shell!



Only because the OEM parts were so cra....... hmm, I see your point :)



No front body panels flying off at speed etc....(;-)


Oh yeah BTDT. :)



That cracked sub-frame stuff is way over blown, that has to be one of the easiest things to fix permenantly things on a Scorpion. A lot of people have screwed them selfs out of a nice Scorpion worring about some little crack that's pretty easily reinforced and welded up to never crack again. My silver one had a crack, so my buddy John fixed it better than new, my gold one was fine, no one had driven it like a Mustang! I think dumping the clutch like your at the drag strip is what causes that more than anything else! another one of those avoidable "self inflicted" problems, LOL



I think it's dumping it on the downshift that does it- that, and tired engine mounts. However, it's the first thing I'd fix on a new Scorpion and you owe your friend a beer, that's a tough bit to weld because the metal is so thin and cra.... hmmm...

OK, you are right :) They are not so solid. Although, that crossmsmber did not exist in the original V6 design and the rest of the monococque is pretty tough. Granted, it IS a sports car so it is not built like 1972 Lincoln Continental, most sports cars aren't except that little tank they call a 911.

[Jim Keller]

Ha ha, I owe John much more than a beer, (even though he says he owes me right now for the help on the Daytona Coupe), but I still feel bad about the time I got him 1st degree burns on his right hand and arm a few years back welding up a Mustang floor pan that had split from a fat PO flopping into it and driving the seat rail thru the floor, I didn't get all the rust proofing off the bottom like I should have and when it flamed up, he instinctly patted it with his hand to put out the tiny flame instead of grabbing the dripping wet towel beside him we had previously prepard for just such an occasion, Doh!, burning melting tar based rust proofing with tiny flames will instantly remove layers of skin, just for those who don't know......he never got hurt doing my Scorpions, or any Beta or Fiat we have done over the last 10 years! so he still likes those a lot! but he doesn't want me to bring in anymore Mustangs fo floor repairs! LOL I attached a couple pictures of the Coupe and some of his other cars, like the RX3, Lotus and the VW chopped top truck in progress, not great ones, but at least you can see why he owes me some help on the Coupe and put a face on him (;-)

I am pretty sure your right on your internal info on the X numbers and all, I seem to remember reading about that somewhere myself. So far as the original Scorpion number, didn't know that, I just remember the part about the X1/20 and found those markings on the backside of the gauge pod to back that rumor up! LOL

So far as the quality issues, they can all be overcome with a little work and minor modifications! <grin>

[Will]

WOW that dude has some seriously nice cars, the DC and the Seven aren't originals, are they? Very nice! Except for that Dub, it looks like the bastard child of a Peterbilt and a FIAT 500 or Tata Nano.

I'm Googling X1/8, looks like Mike Panell has a history page that lists quite a few things I didn't know either, along with exact dates:
http://www.lanciamontecarlo.net/monte_history.html

[Charley]

Yep,I'm in!! :)
I was contacted Tuesday by "Philly Picture Cars" and they confirmed that my car was accepted for the Transformers 2 movie.Filming will be on June 19th and 20th in Old Town Philadelphia. They just finished some of the filming in Bethlehem,Pa. at the old Bethlehem Steel plant,(supposed to be a plant in Japan or China) and now the rest of the Pa. location filming is to be in Phila.
http://www.mcall.com/news/local/all-transformerphotos0604,0,4126781.photogallery
http://www.mcall.com/news/local/all-b1_4movie-r.6442480jun04,0,6522538.story
Old Town Philadelphia is going to be used as either 70's Italy or France in the film,so I'm told.The movie car guy doesn't have all the details about the movie's story because it's still a "big secret" .
I will continue to add updates and information as I receive it.

[1,6 HF]

Damn. Now I'm actually going to have to watch it when it comes out.

Seriously, congratulations. I hope you get some decent dough for it. (Maybe I'll wait for it to get to cable...)

[Charley]

Damn. Now I'm actually going to have to watch it when it comes out.

Seriously, congratulations. I hope you get some decent dough for it. (Maybe I'll wait for it to get to cable...)

Thanks Ed,
And I guess I'll have to rent the first Transformers film and find out what that's about now,because I've been told that this sequel is a continuance of the first film.As for the money,it's really not that great for the car alone ( it just barely covers my lost time from work).I'm just happy to be involved and have my car immortalized in a movie.Although if I am used in the film to drive the car (as they often do I'm told),then I will get paid as an extra.Free food on the location though.He warned me of a long two days,possibly twelve hours each day,plus on top of that it takes about two and a half hours to drive one way to Phila. (if the traffic's good),I will certainly be exhausted after two days of that. :p

[DJ]

Man, that's REALLY great, Charley. Lucia is jealous.

Please keep us posted on all the details.

I recently saw the first movie and it was OK. Good special effects and a lot of funny parts.

[1,6 HF]

Charley,
Don't worry about renting the first film so that you'll understand what's going on--it won't help. Movies aren't necessarily shot in run sequence; it's a little bit here, then a little bit from an hour earlier in the film later. Long days are not unusual (bring something to read; you'll probably be sitting around doing nothing a lot of the time). And you're right; if the car is moving in a shot, you'll probably be the one driving--it's cheaper and easier to pay you the extra rate than to have a driver deal with it. And craft services.

But it should be fun--definitely some stories to tell. And it could be much, much worse. It could be Philly in August...

[SubGothius]

...looks like Mike Panell has a history page that lists quite a few things I didn't know either, along with exact dates:
http://www.lanciamontecarlo.net/monte_history.html
Interesting to note there how the original prototypes had a two-tone over/under paint scheme, rather than the wide lower-side stripe of the production models. I nearly bought a Scorp once that was white with a fully matte-black lower half, white noseband/corners and the later glass buttresses. It certainly looked pretty sharp IMHO and all combined to make the car appear leaner and longer, rather than the short'n'stubby look you get with solid buttresses and the dark noseband, moreso without any side stripe at all.

Those early sketches are interesting, note the evolution of the sharknose and the dipped beltline at the front window (copied on the current Pontiac G6, has anyone noticed?). What's that second-to-last one, a Reliant Scimitar SS1? :rolleyes: That last sketch however looks nice even as a fully modern car (a hint of Kappa coupe and Bertone's Lancia Kayak concept in the greenhouse, there), could even serve as inspiration for a "nuovo Montecarlo"... 8)

[Jim Keller]

Cool! woulda never seen the movie before, but now, I guess I'll have to watch it! along with my other local Fiat buddies! LOL

Congrats!

[Charley]

Thanks to everyone for their support.I have that same feeling of excitement and nervous anticipation as I did when I was a kid going off to Boy Scout camp for a few days.I will keep you posted ! Thanks . :D

[1,6 HF]

Thanks to everyone for their support.I have that same feeling of excitement and nervous anticipation as I did when I was a kid going off to Boy Scout camp for a few days.I will keep you posted ! Thanks . :D

the same motto applies--be prepared