Lancia Beta Forum

Hi all,

Just introducing myself here. I have owned a pretty solid 1980 Beta Spyder 2000 since May 2019 and worked on stuff in the engine bay, hood and lots of bit and pieces sorted so far (I used Mark's website to get a new bonnet liner but also flung my net all over the place with varying degrees of success). I'm planning on re-furbing the brakes and suspension this year too, and hopefully look at the bodywork where there is a little surface rust around the door rubbers and one or two other places (I'm hoping it won't need a full respray but we'll see). I've been using this site for the deep knowledge of the members, hints and inspiration (thanks!) but never got around to registering before. The photos were taken last year after I had a new rear hood fitted, but it has since been adjusted to make it a tighter fit to the frame. Day to day the main problems I have been facing are starting the car on cold, wet days (although it is kept in the garage) and in fact I have Sorn'd it until April when it becomes tax exempt – I've taken the battery out and am storing in the house. Hopefully it'll start first time when it's back in and not so cold!

I have a query which I'll post in the Electrical section about an unconnected plug I noticed after removing the battery (should it be unconnected?), so hopefully one of you will be able to answer this for me! I am by no means a mechanic and I've taken on this project as a hobby and want to see it thorough to the finished article and enjoy it for what it is.

All the best,

Andrew

Hi Andrew

Welcome and looks like a tidy Spider.

Peter

I am always happy to see a tidy Beta Spyder!

Welcome

Eric

Welcome aboard Andrew.

Plenty of advice on here for all levels of mechanical competence - and I should know!

Mark

Hi Peter, Eric and Mark,

Thanks for the welcome and looking forward to gaining some useful advice on here. As mentioned I'll start with that electrical query which hopefully some bright spark will be able to answer!

Andrew

Have you posted that question in Electrical yet . .. . .? Intrigued

Pun intended?...

Hi John,

Yep, doing it after this reply!

Hi Peter, of course! Hoping an expert can help me out…

Hi Andrew - nice Spyder, same year as mine. Good luck with getting it into good shape.
Cheers Chris

Thanks Chris,
Sorry, not been on the forum for a while – I am improving things slowly and trying to get to the bottom of a few issues, but it all takes time!
Hope yours is in good shape too. Looks good in silver.
Cheers,
Andrew

Looking very tidy. Nice 👍

Guess this has been covered before,but have to say never come across it / noticed it
When was the fuel filler flap dispensed with on the beta and replaced with just the filler cap higher up on the wing
In the numerous incarnations of the spyder I have owned including a 1981 X reg I have never come across it
Searching the internet I have found pictures of a few but not many

I just noticed that as well - my car is the same year as Andrews but mine has a filler flap.

Nobody seems to have answered your question on when the filler cap moved. I think that was at the first facelift in late 1978. There were quite a few subtle body modifications to the Beta. The coupe and HPE got a squarer corner to the edge of the roof above the rain gutters and the joint between the front valence and wings changed from being bolted on a flange at the back to an overlapping joint with exposed bolt heads.

Hi Frank

If you look at the number of post 78 Spiders (first facelift), you will find plenty (almost all) with fuel flaps, certainly the X plate cars I have seen have them.

Peter

I think the filler was moved on Facelift 2 with the introduction of the ie etc. I suspect this car has had a new rear wing fitted, or even been re-shelled.

My S2FL Spider (build date October 1979) certainly still had the fuel flap. I don't recall seeing any Spiders without it.

Having never noticed it before and somewhat intrigued by what I saw I trawled the internet for pictures and have found only 3 spyders with the flapless fuel fillers high up on the rear quarter the cars concerned being a 79,80 and 81 registered cars,(plenty of coupes and HPE "Flapless")
Given that I have found only 3 and split over 3 years I am inclined to concur with Neils comment that they are probably the result of a repair or reshelling job,which in itself begs the question. What was used during the repair?The most likely donor part is a coupes rear quarter wing but if I remember correctly the coupes rear quarter is a different shape to the spyders rear quarter.
Still Baffled ????????
 ???

Did the HPE ever have a fuel filler flap?

Hi Guy

Not as far as I know.

Peter