The Lancia Beta Zagato was a quasi-convertible version of the Beta coupe along the lines of the Baur Targa-ized BMWs from the same era. The Zagato (or Spyder) is a very affordable way to get into an Italian car designed by Pininfarina and produced in limited
quantity. Plus it is a Lancia! Find this 1981 Lancia Beta Zagato offered for $4,300 in Tacoma, WA via craigslist. Tip from Gianni. 
The Zagato may have been a convertiblized version of the standard coupe but it still featured a fixed B pillar and structurally stiffening boxed roof. This will help keep the car together when the floors rust into oblivion, but that looks a long way off in this meticulously maintained Northwest car.
Mounted in front of the passenger compartment is a 2.0 liter all alloy inline-4 that puts 108 horsepower and 114 ft-lbs of torque into the front wheels via a 5-speed manual gearbox. Lancia (like Saab) had used front wheel drive for years to win rally races before the advent of economy cars and all-wheel-drive...so you can give this thing a pass for driving the wrong wheels.
The Beta Zagato features a remove-able targa top plus a folding soft top in the back. A DT tipper once called it all the style of a Toyota Celica Sunchaser with the reliability of a Lada Riva. This doesn't make it any less desirable in this crappy car lover's opinion.
See a better way to get your Italian groove on without selling your vintage stamp collection? tips@dailyturismo.com
To buy something like this viz a Fiat 124 Spider or Coupe, or hell even a 124 or 131 sedan, you'd have to have a unique set of priorities.
ReplyDeleteI bought it. I already have a 1981 Lancia Beta, and it is a fabulous car. Lancia at that time was Fiat's upscale brand. I think that the Beta was basically a Fiat 131 with deluxe features and a prettier face.
ReplyDeleteThe crowd goes wild!! It looks like a really nice car for the price. Let us know how it goes..maybe a reader ride feature?
Delete-Vince
The great thing about DT and BaT is that followers watch Craigslist. I don't understand why these sellers don't list on eBay where people like me could find them, but they don't. Lots of good stuff on DT and BaT that never shows up on eBay.
Delete