This 1976 Lancia Scorpion is a rarely seen offering that features the European-style nose with the fixed, glass headlights as opposed to the traditional flip-up units. It also has what appears to be the European-market bumpers, which are painted to match unlike the ugly black U.S.-market appendages. Throw in the flat-face aftermarket wheels and you have a very slick-looking mid-engined machine that hasn’t run in quite some time. The Lancia is offered up here on craigslist for $9,000, and will come with a spare transaxle along with some interior trim and other pieces.
Thanks to Barn Finds reader Matt H. for the find. The Scorpion is another one of those potentially great European cars that was heavily neutered by the time it arrived in the states. Of course, even the concept that was intended for global markets was set back a bit by an engine swap that saw the 3.2L Fiat V6 tossed in favor of the twin-cam four cylinder “Lampredi” engine in response to the oil crisis. This was a bad enough set back, but then the U.S. cars were further dialed back due to heavy-handed emissions equipment that saw the already meager 120 b.h.p. further dropped to just 81 b.h.p.
The other downside of the federalized model was the targa-style configuration: this was the only option offered, as overseas markets had their choice of a targa or a fixed-roof coupe. What did stay the same was the mid-engine design and racy styling, with U.S. models losing the Monte Carlo nameplate from overseas after Chevrolet reminded everyone they were territorial about how the Monte Carlo name was used. Given that the Lancia actually won the 1975 Monte Carlo rally, you could argue the name was more fitting of a sweet-handling coupe versus a big-body boulevard cruiser, but that’s ancient history at this point. The Scorpion’s interior remains in decent shape despite the years off the road.
This is a great-looking car, improved handily with the European-spec styling cues. The Scorpion has never risen to a level of being considered a truly collectible car, but good ones are hard to find and this example presents strong evidence that you can make them into very attractive machines regardless of the power output. Still, my feeling is that the price is outpacing the market a bit given the Scorpion is a non-runner and parts aren’t exactly in abundance. It will need a new battery and brake master cylinder before it goes anywhere, so hook up a trailer if you intend on bringing it home.
It’s always been collectible bit not desirable. Lancias ,until the seventies when they became severely underpowered, were a formidable sports car. I still respect their attempts.
Aye, Beta Montecarlo. I still have a brochure somewhere, I think.
This reminds me of a wormy little twerp I knew twenty years ago who had a Lancia Montecarlo he was trying to sell for $8,950 Euros when they were worth about half that much. His was literally parked in a garage in Monaco, occupying a spot that would have been worth at least $800 a month in rent, but he was an entitled sort of cretin who wasn’t paying the bills. He hung onto the car until the market caught up with his price, at which point he took a victory lap over the people who had been telling him to take the market price five years earlier. Mind you if he’d sold the car for five grand and rented the garage for 48 months at $800 a month, he’d have made $43,500 plus interest, but he got his price! His Montecarlo was at least as nice as this car was when it was freshly updated and repainted in the ’90s. This car’s best shot is the dollar imploding before the Euro does.
I like Lancias, but, the front end on this looks like it was being done at 4:58:59 on a Friday by someone just waiting for the weekend.
Not a horrible looking car, but between rust and mechanical issues Lancia didn’t fare well in the states
Located in Vancouver, WA
it’s no Stratos, but i like it better than the Beta for sure…….
The Scorpion (Montecarlo) is a beta
the beta is front wheel drive, while the scorpion is mid engine rear wheel drive??
Another Eurospec clue is no side marker lights.
The unopenable huge front door “vent” windows is finally explained in this model
by the cheap-way-out method of mounting side mirrors & the easiest way to make them adjustable – from the inside. Here, styling takes a back seat.
Yet, oddly, so many other non asian imports(including Ferrari!) also have huge dummy unopenable vent windows, but none take advantage of them to mount mirrors, like this car.
I don’t get it.
Oddly, the domestic vers of this car moved the mirror down & properly mounted it to the door SHEET METAL
https://bringatrailer.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/1976_lancia_scorpion_1598338791610736d884f6124Lancia-Scorpion-109.jpg
but the huge useless “vent” windows remain.
In both cars, you get less ventilation in the car – just what one needs if the car has no a/c.
I’ve been involve in sports car racing most of my life. When this car was new, a friend bought one to replace his wrecked Fiat X19. I drove his Lancia, in the San Bernardino Mountains, one whole afternoon. It almost made me want to switch from my BMWs. After check with friends in the foreign car part business, I decided to stick with BMWs, that knew how to work on and could buy every part. I was sad to see Lancia leave the U.S. market.
Lancia Scorpions are hoot to drive.