Lancia Montecarlo Turbo
The Lancia Montecarlo (known as the Scorpion in North America) is one of those rare cars whose racing derivative so completely overshadowed the road version that the production car is often forgotten. Yet the road-going Montecarlo was a charming, capable mid-engined sports car in its own right, designed by Pininfarina and built at their facility.
Originally conceived as the Fiat X1/20 — intended to sit above the X1/9 in Fiat's lineup — the project was transferred to Lancia when Fiat decided it would overlap with the 124 Spider. Pininfarina's design was clean and purposeful, with a low nose, flying-buttress rear pillars, and a targa-style removable roof panel. The mid-engine layout, with the powerplant mounted transversely behind the cabin, gave the car excellent balance and nimble handling.
The engine was the Fiat/Lancia twin-cam 2.0-liter four-cylinder, producing 120 horsepower in standard form. While not overwhelmingly powerful, it was well-matched to the car's light weight of just 980 kg. The five-speed gearbox and well-sorted independent suspension at all four corners made the Montecarlo genuinely entertaining on twisting roads.
The car's most notorious feature was its braking system. The first series (1975-1978) suffered from a servo that was too powerful for the light car, causing the front brakes to lock unpredictably. This led to the car being withdrawn from the US market and a production hiatus. The second series (1980-1981) returned with a revised, unservoed braking system that solved the problem.
But it was in Group 5 racing that the Montecarlo achieved legendary status. The Lancia Montecarlo Turbo racing car, developed by Abarth, used a supercharged and later turbocharged version of the engine producing up to 490 horsepower. It dominated the World Championship for Makes in 1979, 1980, and 1981, winning the manufacturers' title three consecutive years. The racing program led directly to the development of the Lancia LC1 and LC2 Group C prototypes.
Today, the road-going Montecarlo is an affordable and engaging mid-engined classic that offers a taste of the Italian sports car experience without the price premium of a Ferrari or Lamborghini.
Series 2 cars are preferred for their improved brakes, though Series 1 cars can be retrofitted. Check structural areas for rust — sills, floor pans, and rear subframe mounts are vulnerable. The 2.0-liter twin-cam is well-proven and parts are shared with many Fiat/Lancia models. Ensure the mid-engine cooling system is functioning properly — overheating can cause head gasket failure. Targa roof seals should be inspected for leaks. Avoid US-spec Scorpions unless you plan to engine-swap.
Production occurred in two series: Series 1 (1975-1978) with approximately 4,023 units, then a production break while brake issues were resolved, followed by Series 2 (1980-1981) with approximately 3,572 units. North American Scorpion models had a detuned 1.8-liter engine with 81 hp to meet emissions standards. Pininfarina manufactured all bodies and performed final assembly.