Lancia Montecarlo

Vehicle Overview

Pininfarina continued with its project called Fiat X1/8 that called for a mid-engined sports car with a 3-litre V6 motor. The X1/8 project was to be Pininfarina’s first ever car to be wholly developed and built in house rather than basing on existing production car. Initial design work was done by 1969, and a final design was completed in 1971 by Paolo Martin. During to the first oil crisis in the 1970s, the project was renamed “X1/20”, and the motor was changed to a 2-litre four-cylinder version. The first X1/20 prototype was Fiat Abarth SE 030 for racing in 1974. After the racing season of 1974, Fiat terminated its Abarth SE 030 programme.

The X1/20 project was given to Lancia who wanted a premium alternative to Fiat X1/9 and somewhat a halo car. For a premium level of equipment, Lancia chose the two-litre twin-cam four-cylinder motor from the Fiat 124 Sport Coupé, MacPherson suspension, five-speed gearbox, and disc brakes both front and rear. As the resulting Montecarlo shared very few components with the other Beta models, Pininfarina was chosen to build the car in its entirety. The Montecarlo was available as a fixed head “Coupé” and as an open-roof “Spider” with a large folding canvas roof between solid A and B pillars.