Author Topic: Oh dear Stellantis!  (Read 66 times)

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Offline HFStuart

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Oh dear Stellantis!
« on: April 16, 2026, 01:35:59 PM »
Taken from their heritage page

"In the early 1970s, the Lancia Beta was the first model to be launched after the brand had come under the aegis of Fiat. Designed at the Fiat Centro Stile, the hatchback made its debut at the November 1972 Turin Motor Show"

I promise you the 'hatchback' did not debut in 1972 - or indeed ever to the general public!

https://www.stellantisheritage.com/en-uk/heritage/stories/lancia-beta-hpe

Offline Nigel

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Re: Oh dear Stellantis!
« Reply #1 on: April 16, 2026, 10:03:47 PM »
Stuart,
Yes, the dates are a bit weird, but they are referring to the HPE not
the Berlina, which, as we know, had a factory hatch variant but only for
support use on events.
I've not seen any evidence that any survived.

Maybe the script was lost in translation?

Nigel
1984 2.0 Carb HPE [ex Aus] Grigio Finanza.
2007 Mazda 6 2.3 [current daily, highly recommended]
The past:
1980 2.0 HPE White in South Africa [hope it survives!]
1976 1.6 Coupe Lancia Blu [PFG 76R] [probably deceased]
oh,and an Uno Turbo 1997 also in SA [stolen,never recovered]

Offline HFStuart

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Re: Oh dear Stellantis!
« Reply #2 on: April 17, 2026, 12:18:14 PM »
You give them too much credit Nigel - they talk about the launch of the HPE in 1975 separately a little further down!