Beta Berlina hatchback - rally support car

[GerardJPC]

Spotted on Facebook, this appears to be a Berlina that has a hatchback.  I wonder why not use an HPE - the wheelbase is the same as that of a Berlina and you could remove the rear seats and load up.   Perhaps a higher roofline and longer roof is the explanation.

[squiglyzigly]

It’s the Berlina they should of made IMO.
And I wish my Berlina was a hatchback so I wouldn’t keep craving a HPE for my everyday car.
Whilst I sometimes think of converting my car, I can’t come to terms with cutting about a good car (and rare).
Just feels wrong.

[peteracs]

Hi

I suspect this was a timing thing. Although the photo is of a later Stratos which means probably after the HPE was launched, there were not that many HPE 1st series and by t hat time the team Lancia would be well established, so the support cars would have been well into there stride and setup backup when the HPE was not available?

The interior size would also be larger which helped.

Interesting to see the hatchback and yes it should have been like that from the start.

Peter

[GerardJPC]

Good points re the timing.  The attitude of major manufacturers to hatchbacks in the 70s was odd.  Rover's decision to give the SD1 a hatchback was considered a bit out there at the time.  Meanwhile, the decision not to put a hatchback on the Princess was arguably an error.  Ditto for Gamma and Beta Berlinas?

HPEs meanwhile are fab - really very roomy inside, and great looking outside.

[rossocorsa]

They did use HPE once available but these cars were used before it was, remember there was a 3 year gap between berlina and HPE launches

[Sandro]

HPEs meanwhile are fab - really very roomy inside, and great looking outside.
[/quote]


you can put that in 48point type Gerard, when I left the UK in mine, not only had the best looking car in the street left
but it had swallowed up the contents of two small rooms.  

Versatility has rarely looked as beautiful in my humble opinion.  
..which is why they've always fascinated me.  
 

[squiglyzigly]

Being that the Berlina in the photo appears to be a series 1, how odd they didn’t actually make the series 2 with a hatchback. Series 2 Berlina and HPE must of been evolving side by side on the drawing boards?
Or maybe that’s the point, they didn’t want two Beta’s with such similar designs layouts.

[GerardJPC]

Look at these pervs all loaded up for a dirty weekend away.

[Sandro]

A Great Shot Gerard, They've got better rear-view vision than I had when mine was fully laden but they seem to have it all including a generator?


A.

[squiglyzigly]

And a series 2 with glass lift back and coupe lights.
Another variant that never made it but maybe should of?

[Nigel]

That's the one-of Felber.