Lancia Beta Forum

General Category => Members Cars => Topic started by: VXdeMayo on August 22, 2025, 11:55:59 AM

Title: Lulu is back on the road after a long sulk!
Post by: VXdeMayo on August 22, 2025, 11:55:59 AM

Hello dear friends. Big news (for us) is “Lulu “ our Lancia HPE VX is working at last.

She started sulking in early 2012. She was a no show at Betametta 40.

She was still sulking in 2017 at Betameeta 45.

By Betameeta 50 she patently refused once again and it was becoming a joke noir.

However, prompted by dear Claud and Catherine (our French Lancia friends) Claud gifted me a replacement starter barrel and key (a possible problem) and I badgered Mark @ BETABOYZ to take in and have a look.

So in spring last year she went off to the “Lancia convalescence home for the electrically befuddled” and Mark got to work on recommissioning her.

I helped out spannering when I could and a few electrical horrors were found. Notably a burnt out and bodged rear to the fuse box. Suitably replaced and checked , new barrel fitted and tons of other stuff done she runs!

Starting a love affair with her once again.

She drives lovely. But still has a trace of Lancia mercurial weirdness.

I’ll forgive her that. She is 42.

The bodywork needs some improving over time as she has a few nibbles but that’s for later.

MANY THANKS TO CLAUD FOR GIVING ME A SHOVE, AND MARK FOR HIS FINE WORK @ BETABOYZ.🤗

Title: Re: Lulu is back on the road after a long sulk!
Post by: peteracs on August 22, 2025, 02:01:36 PM

Hi

That is a long time to wait, congratulations....  impressed you did not do what most would have done and moved it on!

Peter

Title: Re: Lulu is back on the road after a long sulk!
Post by: TonyLanciaBeta (Tony Harrison) on August 22, 2025, 07:41:15 PM

Congratulations Chas, Lulu is looking fabulous  ;D
Beta55 will be the next big Beta get together, hope to see you both before then (y)

Title: Re: Lulu is back on the road after a long sulk!
Post by: VXdeMayo on August 22, 2025, 07:46:44 PM

Certainly will Tony. I think I bought a near complete interior off yourself way back. Most of it ended up in Lulu. 🤗

Title: Re: Lulu is back on the road after a long sulk!
Post by: TonyLanciaBeta (Tony Harrison) on August 22, 2025, 07:55:24 PM

Wow that was a while ago, glad it's been of good use  ;D

Title: Re: Lulu is back on the road after a long sulk!
Post by: HFStuart on August 27, 2025, 12:50:10 PM

Great to see her back on the road. Glad to hear it's not just my Spider that is taking it's time  - 10 years and counting in my case and I too have an HPE VX to do when I've finished the Spider.

Title: Re: Lulu is back on the road after a long sulk!
Post by: Ferrit on January 24, 2026, 09:43:43 PM

I stumbled upon  your engine rebuild thread today on Revtothelimit, all good reading

Title: Re: Lulu is back on the road after a long sulk!
Post by: VXdeMayo on January 24, 2026, 09:45:28 PM

Not sure that was me Mark?

Title: Re: Lulu is back on the road after a long sulk!
Post by: Ferrit on January 24, 2026, 10:22:38 PM

sorry my mistake.  Found it now  Mangocrazy's engine blog