I bought the Pininfarina coupe in southern California in '95.  Back in Italy, it's known as Lancia Beta Monte Carlo.  Mine's in a bad shape w/ the factory shock absorbers & its twin-cam engine busted.  I drove 100 miles to Orange County to have it fixed.

After an extensive overhauled, $250 Fiat Spider softer shocks fitted at the front and Koni gas shocks at the rear, it's lowered by 2" & ground clearance to 5".

Pulled over at a gas station.  The height of the trash bin easily dwarfed my canvas top.  The softop came w/ a pair of rubber straps worth 400 bucks.  Sold off the used ones to my fellow Lancia afficianados for $100 each.

Replaced the stock manifold w/ a $350 free-flow header bought from a shop in upstate New Yor k.  This coupe wasn't street legal in California.

Drove to upstate New York in '96 across Arizona, Texas, Georgia, and turned north to New York.  The journey was supposed to take me a week & 2,500 miles but my carb blew near a small town before New Orleans.

Waited 2 days to ship a Weber from Texas.  Was cash-strapped but a friendly local Frenchie offered me his cabin in the bayou.  God blessed him.  Luck beholds when I found an Italian mechanic (of all places!) to replace the carb.  The guy at Chrysler couldn't tell.

Classic and Sportscar magazine, May 1990 issue.  To read the article, right click on the image & scroll down to Open Link in New Tab. 

1981 Lancia Beta Monte Carlo Series II in KL.  The original color was dark blue.  Still retain many OEM exterior parts except for the missing nose emblem.   All wheel caps are gone.  The side mirror is a painted after-market.  I always prefer the Series II over my Scorpion as those fixed square lamps match the bumper.  The door panels were upholstered too plainly.  Should've done the interior in red leather & carpet instead. 

The trunk requires vacuuming.  After-market cold air intake, K&N filter.  What's with the blue, red & yellow?  Phew, bad color combo.   Many mechanics claimed to know the vehicle.  Once, a Jaguar guy stood at the nose of the coupe waiting for me to pop the hood.  I told him it's mid-engine so he walked to the rear to lift the trunk straight up with both hands!  Sorry bud, the trunk went up sideway.

This 1956 Maserati 300s Series II will be mine soon.  It's currently undergoing a complete restoration.  More photos to come.