When someone raises the subject of mid-engined Italian sports cars, many people will immediately think of classics that emerged from the Ferrari factory. However, Lancia produced the Montecarlo during the 1970s, with the American Scorpion version offered in 1976 and 1977. This first-year example needs love, but with the seller already refurbishing some of its mechanical components, it could be an affordable way for someone to slip behind the wheel of an Italian classic.
Lancia released the first series of its Montecarlo model in 1975, with the car remaining in production until 1978. It wished to introduce the badge to the American market, but trademark issues led it to adopt the Scorpion name in 1976 and 1977. It didn’t sell in significant numbers, with only 1,801 cars finding buyers before production ended. This first-year Scorpion is a survivor that the first owner ordered in Blue Metallic. It presents quite nicely at first glance. The paint retains a pleasant shine, and there are no glaring flaws on the exterior surfaces. The soft-top is present, but its condition is pretty ordinary. It might be serviceable, but sourcing a replacement to prevent moisture from finding its way inside would be wise. The trim is in good order, and the glass is clear. I have so far avoided the “R” word, but I guess the time has come to cover that topic. Lancias from this era enjoyed a reputation for developing rust problems, which has claimed many of these cars that were otherwise quite healthy. This Scorpion hasn’t avoided those issues, but they are said to be limited to an area under the driver’s seat. It is possible that moisture found its way to that location via the leaking top, but it may also have started underneath. An in-person inspection would be wise to ensure it hasn’t deteriorated beyond the point of no return.
The Scorpion might be a mid-engine Italian sports car, but nobody will mistake its performance for the neck-snapping acceleration provided by many Ferrari models from this era. The engine bay houses a twin-cam 1,756cc four that sends 81hp and 89 ft/lbs of torque to the road via a five-speed manual transaxle. The Scorpion tips the scales at a relatively light 2,370 lbs, but with such a modest amount of power on tap, the ¼-mile journey will take a leisurely 19.2 seconds. It might not be fast, but there is plenty of positive news for potential buyers. The seller recently splashed plenty of cash, replacing the front brake caliper, tires, radiator hoses, and the shift link bushing. The Lancia runs and drives, suggesting it is a turnkey proposition for its new owner.
I am quite impressed with this Scorpion’s interior because it has avoided the dash cracks and crumbling plastic that often plague these classics. The seats wear aftermarket slipcovers, so what hides beneath is a mystery. However, the visible vinyl looks pretty good, the gauges are clear, and there is no significant wheel wear. There are functional issues for the buyer to tackle, including freeing both of its seats, since they don’t move. The horn and wipers don’t work, and with the wiring for both disconnected at the column, it suggests there might be deeper electrical gremlins requiring investigation.
The seller listed this 1976 Lancia Scorpion here on Facebook Marketplace in Camano Island, Washington. I said it was affordable, and $3,500 is extremely cheap for any mid-engined Italian classic that runs and drives. It needs love, and recent sales results suggest it will never be a mega-bucks classic. However, with only 1,396 cars finding buyers in 1976, we don’t see these classics every day. That is why this Lancia deserves a new home with someone who will appreciate all that it offers.
I own one, 1976 that is almost in showroom condition. These cars have a heritage that spells championships status. For at least 6 years they were the World Champions in the rally class bettering Audi, etc. Very tough, well-engineered autos that deserve a much better recognition factor. The rally versions easily sell for over $75,000 in Europe and have been collector status for many years. The Monte Carlo is the Scorpion but with much better-looking bumpers; integrated not USA tack on. The four cylinder engine, Lambretta, is Fiat based; can be very fast with the dual Weber carb. set up, cams, etc. . The exhaust note is glorious! A mid-engine exotic for dirt cheap pricing ….probably sold by the time I finish this.
Very little of these cars were used in the WRC-winning Lancia Rally 037, basically just the central passenger cell and that’s it; the powertrain and everything in front and behind the bulkheads were completely different, custom fabs purpose-built for rallying.
That said, this Fiat twincam engine designed by Aurleio Lampredi (same guy who’d designed a V12 and other engines for Ferrari), although heavily smog-nerfed down to about 85 hp in stock form here, does respond very well to performance builds — start with higher-compression pistons, then add a dual-Weber intake manifold, a pair of Weber 40 DCNFs, and a hotter intake cam (stock exhaust cam is fine for street driving) and you’ll reach about double the stock power.
The rest of the running gear under the skin was largely shared in common with the X1/9, so parts and upgrades for all that are reasonably cheap and easy to get and install.
These are also notable for being the very first car Pininfarina ever developed to be mass-produced entirely in-house at their own facilities, using powertrains and running gear components shipped from Lancia and Fiat, whereas previously they’d only ever manufactured bare bodyshells. See my comments on prior Scorpion listings here for fuller details about the rather fascinating development history for these cars.
These “ cars” don’t have that status. The company has that status.
$3500 must be the new $750. A rusty Italian car with electrical gremlins. What’s not to like?
I never saw one of these before and I have to say I really like it visually! Not to sound like “that guy” but yeah, that mill has to go and those rims too. How about an easy as pie good old built up 350, 4 speed swap in..super fun project if it isn’t a rust bucket.
Forget the SBC, Drop in a supercharged 1.8 from a Miata.
Honda K20. Also, I once saw one online that someone swapped a Busso 3.0 24v into, I bet that one is fun.
Or, you know, any of a number of interesting variations on the stock engine. Stock output from this one (in ROW-spec) is already similar to the Miata engine, and there’s a factory-supercharged version of this one; Fiat’s Roots-type blower may not be state of the art, but I bet the factory manifolds, etc. would provide a good starting point for bolting on any number of modern boost solutions.
Or how about a modern Fiat MultiAir engine, if you want something less vintage?
I’ve seen pictures of Alfa V6 swaps, but I also know someone who gave up on one, because the packaging is a lot harder than it looks.
If you want an engine swap, why not a turbocharged intercooled Ecotec 2.0 (LNF) from a Chevy HHR SS or Cobalt SS (2008-2010). Produces 260 bhp / 260 lb ft torque with the 5 speed trans. Light weight (aluminum block and head, and it should be a relatively easy fit.
Shelbydude, if your name means anything, why are you promoting C(S)hitrolet trash, when the 2.3 Ecoboost has 350hp and 320lb/ft torque?
Weight, availability and price. It has been my experience that 10-20 year old models are more commonly available in the junk yards. And I don’t have any reason to believe that the boost on that Ecotec can’t be turned up a notch or two.
I always thought of these as an upscale Fiat X1/9. Too bad Lancia never found success in the U.S.; they made some distinctive, cleverly-engineered sports cars that today can be found for peanuts.
Correct! It was supposed to be the bigger sibling of X1-9, also to be able to accommodate a regular suitcase, because the X1-9 requires a smaller suitcase. Yet some people say that this was done (no wedge shape) so that the 2 liter Scorpion will not compare visually with the Ferrari 308 cutting sales from the more expensive Gruppo car.
These used a similar powertrain/packaging approach as the X1/9 — take a mass-market FWD transverse powertrain and mount it in a mid-rear engine configuration — but in this case they used the larger DOHC powertrain from the Lancia Beta, rather than the X1/9’s smaller SOHC powertrain from the Fiat 128.
As such, for any sort of powertrain swap, there really isn’t room for anything other than another FWD transverse donor. The bravest swaps I’ve seen done are an Alfa Busso V6 swapped from an Alfa 164, and even the Ferrari-derived V8 from a Lancia Thema 8.32, though even these required some pretty major re-engineering and and custom fabrication for the rear structure and suspension.
I once saw a Busso swapped one for sale online. Great idea. But a Honda K20 (VTEC, yo) would be very practical and kick up the performance significantly.
This model is on my shopping list. The motor was detuned for America, but as SubGothius notes – and he’s far more expert than I – can be put to rights with performance equipment. I far prefer these with the glazed sail panels; before…. well, I am not sure what year – they were solid. The car is really good looking in person – photos do not do it justice.
One other note, the brakes from the factory were overly boosted. I think that can be changed too.
These had solid buttresses for the first year only, 1975, then from ’76-on they changed to these glazed-in flying buttresses to improve blind-spot visibility and help visually lengthen the car’s appearance somewhat.
And yes, the first series of these (’75-78) had boosted brakes in the front only, a baffling decision considering how little weight is in front, causing a tendency to lock up in the wet and other compromised-traction conditions. The Monte Hospital sells a simple kit to bypass the booster, among many other model-specific parts.
sold
Give “Barn Finds” a round for finding this steal! The seller could have gotten much more with proper use of other avenues of sale than Facebook; the buyer won big if handled in a marketable way to restoration.
Keep it up Barn Finds!
I love pre-Fiat Lancias. I’ve owned six, four of which actually ran. The rally cars built after Fiat bought the company are, of course, fabulous.
Everything else is, imo, Fix It Again Tony rusty junk.
A good start
Hi Michelle,
My Lancia is nearing competition with the dual Weber’s, cams, dual value springs, etc. A superb example with 23, xxx original miles….zero rust, convert. top, etc………..With my collection nearly over by two cars, may be likely time to sell.Let me know.