Lancia Beta Forum

General Category => New members => Topic started by: NoEsUnDatsun on September 18, 2015, 10:32:03 PM

Title: 76 Beta from Canada & its 10000km trip to Mexico and back.
Post by: NoEsUnDatsun on September 18, 2015, 10:32:03 PM
Hi everyone. I'm from Alberta, Canada and I own a 1976 Lancia Beta Coupe 1800 North America Spec. I purchased it in August 2015 for $600CAD (~$450usd). It had 2 flats, wasn't running and hadn't been road registered since 2000. The body was rusting in a few places and bits of the interior were disassembled. All it needed to run was a fuel pump, carburetor rebuild, new fuel lines, and some new gas. I also removed the North America-Spec bumper because it was hideous and heavy. Over winter I went through every part of the car and serviced or replaced everything that needed to be.

This summer I took it on a 10000km road trip from Edmonton to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico and back again. The headgasket went a few days after I arrived in Cabo San Lucas but the repair was made possible thanks to the internet and FedEx. I had the repair done at a family garage for $200US and it was back on the road in a week. I wasn't particularly bothered by an extra week in Cabo San Lucas on an open ended vacation. Baja California is a great place to drive a Beta. The roads are narrow, curvy, scenic, and have very light traffic. I did not encounter a single traffic Jam in any part of Mexico.

Happy to share info about my car or Mexico.

(http://i.imgur.com/7LjDQbt.jpg)
August 2014. 94,000miles.
(http://i.imgur.com/FeOVIeA.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/NdM7yG0.jpg)
Winter
(http://i.imgur.com/SeN8yin.jpg)
Some of the roads may be flooded in Baja
(http://i.imgur.com/GGgcbfB.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/PSnWYuN.jpg)
Not a Bad spot to break down
(http://i.imgur.com/tuJB51V.jpg)
San Javier
(http://i.imgur.com/cIYfcb6.jpg)
Flipped bug on the way to Coco's Corner.
(http://i.imgur.com/yRBw8Ur.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/W4c6TQh.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/G10NkMN.jpg)
Camping in Moab

Here is a link to a high-res imgur alblum:

http://imgur.com/a/kXzw9 (http://imgur.com/a/kXzw9)

My Youtube video of one of the Roads in Baja:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FR4tEw5l9HQ (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FR4tEw5l9HQ)
Title: Re: 76 Beta from Canada & its 10000km trip to Mexico and back.
Post by: HFStuart on September 18, 2015, 11:32:02 PM
I'm lost for words! That's a pretty amazing first post!

I have a suspicion that (with your permission) some of those pics may well go on the photo wall at the NEC show.

Welcome !
Title: Re: 76 Beta from Canada & its 10000km trip to Mexico and back.
Post by: simplydelboy on September 19, 2015, 11:58:17 AM
A legend already!
Title: Re: 76 Beta from Canada & its 10000km trip to Mexico and back.
Post by: RichB on December 01, 2015, 07:59:52 PM
A bit like top gear, but for real. Respect.
Title: Re: 76 Beta from Canada & its 10000km trip to Mexico and back.
Post by: lukasdeopalenica on December 02, 2015, 07:38:54 AM
Just fabulous beta adventure! I am really jealous :)
great pictures. Thanks for sharing.
Title: Re: 76 Beta from Canada & its 10000km trip to Mexico and back.
Post by: frankxhv773t on December 02, 2015, 10:59:06 PM
Are you tempted by the recently unearthed 2000 Sedan that has just come up on ebay.uk? Reputedly it just needs a wash and a change of belts and it would be ready for an epic trip from St Johns, Newfoundland to Wales, Alaska! What could possibly go wrong?
Title: Re: 76 Beta from Canada & its 10000km trip to Mexico and back.
Post by: NoEsUnDatsun on December 03, 2015, 02:14:16 AM
Not really. I was planning on driving the Lancia down to Mexico again and getting it restored by the shop who helped me with the headgasket. He quoted me between $5000 and $7000. A similar restoration here would cost $100,000.