One private owner from new - Very original example, with comprehensive history file Introduced at the March 1975 Geneva Salon, the Lancia Beta HPE was more of a ‘lifestyle estate’ than a serious load lugger.

Indebted to the existing Coupe and Berlina variants for its visage and wheelbase respectively, the newcomer was powered by a choice of 1600cc, 1800cc and (later) 2000cc ‘twin-cam’ engines.

Sharing the same all-round independent suspension, four-wheel disc brakes, rack and pinion steering and five-speed manual transmission as its siblings, the High Performance Estate was praised by the contemporary press for its performance, handling and roadholding being labelled ‘a driver’s car’.

Known simply as the Lancia HPE from 1979 onwards, the stylish three-door remained in production until 1984.

Sadly, Lancia’s well-documented rust issues mean that survivors are a rare sight on today’s roads, especially in RHD guise.

This super early Lancia 1600 HPE was registered new in 1976 to its fi...