Lancia Beta

Authors

Description

In 1909, Lancia returned to the four-cylinder engine, this time set in a single block (one of the young firm's many new ideas). Cylinder capacity was 3120cc, and it produced 34 bhp at 1500 rpm. The engine included a crankshaft-driven oil pump in place of the then-traditional gravity feed.

The new engine was fitted to the "20 HP", later renamed the Beta. The car was 3996mm long, with a 2932mm wheelbase, though a 2750mm wheelbase Corsa chassis was available for racing. The chassis weighed 780 kg, and the standard car had a top speed of over 90 km/hr. In all, 150 Betas were produced

 

Maintainer: Andrew Cliffe
 Last update: 1st April 2001