Lancia Scorpion

Lancia Scorpion
Lancia
aka	Monte Carlo (S1) Scorpion(S2)
Production	1975 - 1978 1980 - 1984
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The Lancia Monte Carlo / Scorpion was a mid-engined sports car sold in the 1970s. A low-power version, the Scorpion, was sold in the United States at the same time. Spider versions of the Montecarlo featured a unique roll-back manually operated targa style convertible top.

Based on the prototype Abarth 030, the car was known as the X1/8 (later the X1/20) while in development, and was intended to be a Fiat-branded 'big brother' to the Fiat X1/9. It had a similar mid-engined layout, with a larger engine and roomier interior.

The car was passed to Lancia, and was constructed by Pininfarina, the original design company, in Turin, Italy. Production lasted from 1975 through 1979 for the first series(S1), with a second version(S2) launched in 1980. Production of the Monte Carlo ended in 1981.

Lancia Scorpion

The American market Lancia Scorpion was sold in 1976 and 1977, and was modified to meet American emissions, lighting and crash test requirements. The car is so called because the name Monte Carlo was already used in America by Chevrolet.

The Scorpion differed from the Monte Carlo in a number of ways. It had a smaller engine (1756 cc) because the 1995 cc unit in the Monte Carlo did not pass U.S. emissions standards yet. Between the decrease in engine size and the addition of smog equipment, the Scorpion came with 81 HP (vs. 120 in the Montecarlo). The Scorpion had different bumpers to meet American crash tests. The Scorpion had semi pop-up headlights and the 1976s had solid rear buttresses (Monte Carlos had glass inserts except for very early models). All Scorpions featured the convertible top. Unlike the Monte Carlo, only one production run of Scorpions was made. A total of 1,801 were manufactured in 1976 and sold as model year 1976 and 1977(1396 and 405 respectively).

Issues

The Scorpion suffered from several different issues. Between the taller springs used to meet the US height requirements, a lack of caster, and bump steer.

The engine noise in the interior of the car was sometimes criticized. Harsh shifting is common and increases as the bushings wear (a common trait in mid-engined cars). The rear crossmember is a design flaw. The metal used was too thin is susceptible to corrosion and eventual failure, although stronger replacement crossmembers are available from after market companies. The S1 Monte Carlos and Scorpions suffered from overly boosted brakes, which caused the fronts to lock up easily in the wet. This was removed for the S2 Monte Carlos and can be easily bypassed in the early cars.

Rust is an issue for the Scorpion and Montecarlo. Unless kept in a dry environment active prevention is required to fend off rust. The firewall and wheel wells are common locations for rust. Rusted floor pans are a major cause of early Scorpion/Montecarlo demise.

Any car with the handling and rust problems solved, should be worth considerably more than a stock car. The exception to this is one in showroom stock condition, with very few miles (it is common to find one with <75,000 miles). There is an active Scorpion and Montecarlo community (see links).

Racing

The Monte Carlo was a successful turbocharged Group 5 racer, winning the 1980 Deutsche Rennsport Meisterschaft with Hans Heyer.

The Monte Carlo is also the basis for Lancia's successful Group B race car the Lancia 037. The 037 retains the center section from the Monte Carlo but little else. Its supercharged engine while still mid-ship is mounted longitudinally rather than transversely as it is in the Monte Carlo.

Trivia

• A Lancia Scorpion also appeared in Disney's Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo (1977) as Herbie's "girlfriend" Giselle.

External links

• Montecarlo Network
• Montecarlo.Org
• Lancia Motor Club (UK)
• Monte Hospital Large supplier of spare parts.
• Scorpion Yahoo Group
• Guy Croft Tuning