Guide: One-Off Wide Boy - a Historical & Technical Appraisal of the Lancia Beta Coupe Zagato HFZ
Background
Lancia introduced the Beta Coupe at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 1973. A handsome front wheel drive 2+2 Coupe, it was styled in-house at Lancia’s Turin design studio and was powered by the same Aurelio Lampredi dual overhead camshaft inline four cylinder engine used by the rest of the Beta range.
In Group 4 rally trim, the Beta Coupe supported the Stratos and helped deliver World Championships Lancia’s way in 1974 and 1975.
With over 122,000 sold between 1974 and 1984, the Beta Coupe was also a commercial success.
For 1981, the model was given a minor facelift. One of the first such cars was delivered to Zagato and transformed into a wide-arched, be-spoilered styling concept: the HFZ.
Zagato were already familiar with the Beta; although Pininfarina had been commissioned to design the Beta Spyder, Zagato got the contract to build them.
Chassis / Engine / Gearbox
The Beta Coupe featured a steel monocoque chassis with MacPherson strut suspension, anti-roll bars at either end and disc brakes all round.
The four cylinder engine was positioned transversely and, along with the five-speed gearbox, mounted on a subframe that bolted to the underside of the body.
Lancia’s normal Tipo 828B4/7 engine from the 2.0 iE (introduced for 1980) came with Bosch L-Jetronic fuel-injection and an eight-valve light alloy cylinder head. It displaced 1995cc thanks to a bore and stroke of 84mm and 90mm respectively.
With compression set at 8.9:1, peak output was 122bhp at 5500rpm and 129lb-ft at 2800rpm.
Weight / Performance
The standard Beta Coupe weighed 1100kg, had a 120mph top speed and 0-62mph time of 9.1 seconds.
HFZ
Group 3 spec. competition Betas used 1890cc engines with 175bhp. Group 4 iterations used 16 valve heads and pushed out over 200bhp. Either of these uprated motors would have made the HFZ a tantalising proposition. However, underneath the HFZ’s cut-away rear valance, the presence of a pea-shooter exhaust suggested it probably had an off-the-shelf power unit.
Cosmetically, Zagato turned an already good-looking car into what could have been the most handsome small Coupe from a mainstream manufacturer.
Lightweight fully integrated fibreglass additions included new single-piece bumpers with wraparound spoilers, brawny wheelarch extensions and deep side skirts.
To replace the standard rubber rear spoiler, a twin pylon wing was mounted on the bootlid.
Front lighting was standard. The rear fog lights were deleted from the tail fascia.
Zagato painted the HFZ a two-tone red over black livery. Matching black discs covered the wider than standard 14-inch diameter wheels.
The HFZ’s interior appeared totally standard. Seats were grey fabric with orange and brown check pattern centres.
Hard-wearing soft-touch black plastic was used for the dash, centre console and door caps. Grey fabric was also used to upholster each lower side panel. Electric front windows were fitted as standard.
Unfortunately, the HFZ never made it beyond the concept stage and, after the 1981 prototype, no further examples were built.
Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: Lancia - https://www.lancia.com
