Is a coupé FL or a coupé FL2 ?

[emilio]

How to recognize (on a picture) if it is about a Coupé S3 (FL) or S4 (FL2) ?

Thank you
Emilio

[Will]

Best bet for identifying an FL2 from a picture is to look for the body mould on the side. It also has the later style grill and round petrol filler cap, rather than the flap door type.
Actually, your question is really a trick question- there are two very different FL2's.
A very rare (200 or so) FL2's were produced for the Swiss market, a look to Brian Long's excellent book details these as having molded bumpers and valances, arches and skirts,a special spoiler, tinded glass and special wheels. Brian also attributes the styling to a "Rayton Fissore".
No picture of these "special" FL2's are shown.
-Will

[rossocorsa]

first series

rounded roof edges- slim bumpers- low bonnet- 4xround headlamps- chrome rear vents- early dashboard- honeycomb chrome grille- single piece rear valance/panel

second series

rounded roof edges- slim bumpers- raised bonnet on 2 litre cars (others retain low bonnet) -rectangular headlamps on 2 litre cars (others still 4x round)- grille in black with horizontal chrome bars 2 litre cars only-1600 retains honeycomb grille- single piece rear valance/panel- early dash

second series FL

all with raised bonnet- slim bumpers- grille in black with horizontal chrome bars- squared off roof edges- 4x round headlamps -second style dash- rear panel and valance two separate parts(seam behind bumper)

second series FL2

thicker heavier looking bumpers- 'modern' style grille with shield motif- black window trim- squared off roof edges- two piece rear valance/panel (seam behind bumper)-4xround headlamps -all with raised bonnet- second style dash- front and rear spoiler on volumex- rear spoiler also fitted to some other versions (not same as vx item)-bulge in bonnet on vx-fuel filler set higher on wing and there is no flap-rubbing strips to sides

early 1300 coupés (series two) are different again using a bench rear seat and a completely different all black grille, they were also badged as 'Lancia 1300 Coupé' no mention of BETA this was intended to allow them to replace the fulvia (I think). series 2 FL 1300's are largely the same as the bigger engined models

THIS IS ONLY WHAT I KNOW ABOUT EUROPEAN SPEC CARS! cars for the USA and Australia may well differ


I THINK this is right (it is a bit confusing!) you might also want to look in my photo albums http://www.lancisti.net/forum/modules.php?set_albumName=album55&op=modload&name=gallery&file=index&include=view_album.php

[rossocorsa]

http://www.lancisti.net/albums/album55/fissore.thumb.jpg this is the fissore special edition , anyone ever seen one in the metal? do any still exist???

[rossocorsa]

probably best to get a real expert to check it first!!! it is all SO confusing!

[chrisc]

Any larger pictures on that special edition? looks really good!

[rossocorsa]

I have a brochure on it, you could get a coupé or an HPE but ,as far as I can tell,it was for the Swiss market only, if I can find the brochure I can upload more scans (the pic was already on my computer) but I have a lot of Lancia brochures (several hundred at a guess) so can only do it when I find the time to look for it (they are not in any 'logical' order!)

[emilio]

Hello,
thank you for your answers. Now, if you agree, I propose to you to make some practical works. So please what do you think of these three models ?

First one :
http://www.lumia.net/lancia/coupe

Second and third one :
http://www.viva-lancia.com/forsale/beta2.htm
and search :
Lancia Beta Coupe 1.3 1981
Lancia Beta Coupe 2000

Fun isn't it? (IMHO)

Emilio

[rossocorsa]

I'm not sure what you meant by your post if you are thinking of buying a beta though I would sat that you need to go for a 2 litre car (or maybe an 1800 if you can find one) the 1600 and 1300 are too gutless for enthusiastic use

[Hamish]

I would sat that you need to go for a 2 litre car (or maybe an 1800 if you can find one) the 1600 and 1300 are too gutless for enthusiastic use

I think Emilio means to buy a Beta, and although I'd agree the 1300 does feel a little 'lost' in modern traffic the 1600 is no slouch and revs its proverbial n*ts off :!: :lol: Having said that, there's no doubt in my mind that the 2 litre cars and the VX models are the ones to have :wink: Although a rally spec 1800 is tempting :twisted:

[rossocorsa]

yes 1600 turbine smooth easily revs to 7000 , 2000 much more torquey but a bit gruff with it and not so keen to rev especially with carbs, injection is probably the best all round engine but the vx is the nicest to drive, however many say that the 1800 (never imported to the uk in coupé form) is the best of both worlds more torque but also quite smooth and revvy

[Hamish]

many say that the 1800 (never imported to the uk in coupé form) is the best of both worlds more torque but also quite smooth and revvy

I've made contact with a guy in Inverness who has an Allora Stratos replica currently fitted with an 1800 :roll: I've been promised a run in it and am keen to see what the engine's like, it's the only Beta engine that was available in UK that I haven't experienced. He's looking at converting (ultimately) to an Alfa V6 but it'll be interesting to see what it can do with the 1800 - although it won't be representative of the Beta 1800 as the Stratos weighs in about a third of a HPE or Sedan.
I've suggested a later 2 litre might be better but - like us all :wink: - budgets are tight. It'll be getting a set of twin DCNF fourties and some new cams fairly soon so it really should fly :!:

[emilio]

Hello,
I'm sorry for this misunderstanding.

My question is :

For each example, is the car a FL or a FL2 :

First one :
http://www.lumia.net/lancia/coupe

(this one is a 1600)

Second and third one :
http://www.viva-lancia.com/forsale/beta2.htm
and search :
Lancia Beta Coupe 1.3 1981
Lancia Beta Coupe 2000

Tnak you again,
Emilio

[Otto-valvole-per-tutte]

It'll be getting a set of twin DCNF fourties and some new cams fairly soon so it really should fly :!:

Hamish, what cams are you going to use?

:roll:

Cheers, Pieter

[Hamish]

Hamish, what cams are you going to use?
Cheers, Pieter

Pieter,
The Stratos replica isn't mine, but initially it could be a Montecarlo or Beta Injection inlet with standard exhaust :| or possibly and more desirably (depending on budget :!:) a Guy Croft GC3a inlet :twisted: again with standard exhaust cam.
The car is going to be used in local rally events and preparing it to this standard will - I imagine - use up a lot of budget so the engine has to be made quick with whats available :mrgreen:

[rossocorsa]

the 1600 is FL2 notice the grille and the fact that there are holes to mount the side rubbing strips

the 1300 is a FL but some one has fitted a FL2 grille notice the early bumpers plus no rubbing strips also they never made rhd 1300 FL2's

the beige 2000 car is a FL note lights (would be rectangular on a 2000 series 2 pre-FL)

[emilio]

Hello rossocorsa,
3 good answers ;-)

1/ The first one is a FL2 but note the FL seats (and, maybe, with a strange bodyshell serial number, but this is another story). This one is my car.

2/ Yes I think so too (and the turns of windows are not black)

3/ So this car can't to be a 1982 car but please note that this one have rubbing strips as a FL2
Note : the advertisement indicates a sun roof but in the photograph the car does not have any :-)))

Bravissimo. The next time that you come to Nice I offer you a drink :-)

[rossocorsa]

the answer to the year is that following the rust scandal in the Uk betas were very difficult to sell new that meant cars stood in fields unregistered for a long time. I had a series two berlina that was registered in 1981 but was built in 1979!!!!! so the car might have been 'new' in 1982 but was probably actually built in 1979. in the UK they had so many of these cars that they had to smarten them up with stripes and new paint and sell them as the 'hifi' special edition, it is evident that these 'hifi' cars must have been in poor condition before they were first sold as they are almost non-existant today