Lancia Beta Forum

I have a steering column switch cluster I bought sight unseen (my fault as I told the seller not to bother sending photos).
It was supposed to be from an early Spider but there are subtle significant differences between it and any Beta switch cluster I've seen.
Unfortunately, I'm currently unable to upload a photo so I'm hoping someone can identify it from its' description.
The stalks are brown as are the end "knobs" but they are of a similar round style to the facelift ones and where the spider/coupe has the light stalk on the RHS, this one has the three speed wiper switch there instead, with the indicator and light stalks being on the LHS with the indicator stalk closer to the steering wheel.
The only identifying characters I can see are the following letter/number combination as moulded on the front of the cluster at the indicator stalk

IMOS   SAE
19 21449   QB87

Anyone?

if the stalks are reversed it is either from a left hand drive Beta/ Gamma or from a later vehicle (I think they stopped adapting controls for RHD on newer designs) such as early delta/prisma etc the fact that it has late style  'knobs' that are brown suggests to me it wasn't from a Beta. maybe someone more expert can comment further?

Early gamma had lights and indicators
on the right and wipers on left.
there were some brown ones on later
cars but I think they're the same.

Only if rhd of course LHD would be reversed

I challenge your statement mr rossocorsa!

I'm of the knowledge that regardless of whether a car is built for right
of left hand drive, the functions of the column switchgear remain located in the same place.

I believe that this applies to any manufacturer.

Bring out your shed-loads of evidence Sir!!

Whatever. Can't be bothered tbh

Take your knowledge and run it through an English to Italian translator and your find it comes our as rubbish....

Trust us on this - the early Betas did indeed have reversed switchgear for right a left hand versions.

See here Ebay Linky (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LANCIA-BETA-2000-DEVIOLUCI-DEVIOGUIDA-TURN-LIGHT-COLUMN-SWITCH-/321707900385?hash=item4ae748fde1). (NB this picture is upside down - look at the wiper graphic and the horn contact ). Compare that to a RHD one.

Why? God knows but there's a reason Lancia were so good at loosing money

I think most manufacturers did this until the mid eighties, then gave up to save money. Hence we all have the indicator switch on the 'wrong' side for RHD cars now on our modern cars, but we've got used to it.

Sorry......you are definitely incorrect!

I have just taken delivery of a brand new column switch for my 1985 Coupé VX - from Italy. Stupidly, it didn't cross my mind, the whole LHD/RHD thing.

I can corfirm - without doubt - the stalks are the "wrong" way round for me, as it is for a LHD vehicle. :-[

It is clear that i'm wrong in my assumptions, thanks to all who've put me right.
It'll be valuable info when I eventually find my perfect purchase.

Sorry rossocorsa.

Nigel

No worries, just remember there's lots of sad cases on here that know far too much about betas!

Will it still fit? If so it will just be like all new cars and you won't have to think about which side is the indicator?

Corrected for you :)

From what I remember that sounds like the set up that used to be on my old 1300 Delta TBH. The stalks were the same as the VX but reversed. Oh, and they were brown. :)

Sorry......you are definitely incorrect!

I have just taken delivery of a brand new column switch for my 1985 Coupé VX - from Italy. Stupidly, it didn't cross my mind, the whole LHD/RHD thing.

I can corfirm - without doubt - the stalks are the "wrong" way round for me, as it is for a LHD vehicle. :-[
[/quote]

Will it still fit? If so it will just be like all new cars and you won't have to think about which side is the indicator?
[/quote]


No.......unfortunately not! I thought it would fit, just that I would have to put up with the stalks on the opposite side.

The actual steering columns are different - depending on left or right hand drive. Where the column switch attaches to the steering column itself, the flange is offset to centre. So, on a LHD vehicle, the flange is offset in the opposite direction, if you see what I mean.......

Anyway - I had a spare steering column, so I hacksawed the flange off, twiddled it round and welded it on again.

Bit too Heath Robinson for me, though......so I ended up cannibalising the new switch and used it to rebuild my original! :)