Lancia Beta 1400 Berlina
The Beta Berlina began Lancia's post-Fiat era with a roomy fastback body, transverse twin-cam engine, five speeds, independent suspension and four-wheel discs.
1973 first-series Lancia Beta Berlina · Charles01 · Public domain
Research pending
A matching completed auction sale has not been verified for this exact year, body, trim, engine, transmission and market.
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More than a set of wheels.
Lancia presented project Y1 as the Beta at the 1972 Turin motor show. Three transverse twin-cam engines were announced, including the entry 1400. Contemporary reporting said customer deliveries would not begin before January, so 1972 is the reveal year rather than proof of ordinary 1972 retail availability.
Look a little closer.
The engine sat sideways and leaned rearward about 20 degrees to help package five people and a large luggage space.
Photos show an example of the model or generation. The pictured vehicle’s year, equipment, or modifications can differ from the specification described here.
Packaging a roomy Lancia
A transverse engine and front drive freed more of the car's length for people and luggage. Tilting the engine rearward helped it fit beneath the nose, showing how mechanical layout shapes the cabin before the final silhouette is drawn.
Source: l'Unità, 6 November 1972 ↗Old Lancia ambition, new corporate reality
The Beta followed Fiat's takeover yet retained an ambitious specification: twin cams, five speeds, independent suspension and four discs. Shared corporate resources were used to pursue a recognisably Lancia-like technical package.
Source: l'Unità, 6 November 1972 ↗Where these facts come from
- l'Unità, 6 November 1972
- Quattroruote — 50 years since the Lancia Beta
- Lancia Club — Beta 50th anniversary technical history
- Lancia Icons
Selected facts checked for this edition. Some source pages link to broader model families. Last reviewed October 4, 2026.