History of the 1976 - 1984 Lancia Beta
Lancia Beta HPE, 1975-84
Lancia completed its quartet of sporting Beta models at the 1975 Geneva Salon where it revealed its Coupe-derived High Performance Estate, more commonly known as the HPE, and later modified to High Performance Executive towards the end of its nine-year lifespan, when the Beta model name was dropped due to tarnished corrosion image associations.
Clearly inspired by the pioneering 1968 Reliant Scimitar GTEand subsequent Volvo P1800 ES, the Beta HPE continued the European sportingshooting break tradition with a stretched Coupe front-wheel-drive platform, carry-over doors and front panels, plus shared mechanicals, ranging from 1.6 to 1.8 and 2-litres DOHC engines, with fuel injection (plus a revised grille) added for the Series 3 models in 1981, with the uncommon but desirable supercharged 133 bhp 2.0 VX Volumex being introduced shortly before the HPE’s demise in 1984, after around 72,000 units being built (including a handful made by SEAT in Barcelona in the late 1970s).
Aft of the B-pillars, the HPE featured unique shooting break bodywork, with a large opening hatch tailgate and upright tail lamps, an extended boot, plus dual split 50/50 fold down rear seats to make this handsome three-door derivative the most practical of all Lancia Beta models, ideal for transporting golf clubs or dogs.
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