Lancia Motor Club

At this years Betameeta Theo's purchase of a Momo edition Ypsilon sparked a long discussion about the sink hole values of Chrysler Deltas/Ypsilons since Fiat pulled the plug on the brand in the UK. Theo had got the car after what he considered a joke bid on ebay.

Since the death of my 1991 Polo winter hack at it's MOT in July I've been looking for a replacement, and really wanted a petrol Delta (the cheapest, plus I'm not a big diesel fan).

Anyway, despite that, I couldn't resist what I considered a total joke ebay bid of £2995 on a badly looked after and presented 2014 Ypsilon with 10k miles (also a Momo). ...I got it for £2798!

The bonnet is a mess and the front bumper is badly scratched on both sides. The stop/start doesn't work, and judging by the towing eye cover it has been towed at some point. (The interior, once cleaned is immaculate as commensurate with the mileage). But, this is nothing for a car that isn't due it's first MOT until next February. I got both keys and the V5 was filled in. It was serviced at 8800. It got me back from Essex with no problems on 3/4 of a tank (230 miles via Tim & Sarah's in Colchester).

Then, when I got home, and after well over an hour washing it, look what I found! A factory fitted LANCIA front grille. The central part of the badge had been simply covered over with that cheap Chrysler sticker, which pealed off fairly easily. The smaller sticker was just under the lip of the bonnet. Was the small sticker put there by the quality controller indicating that the wrong grille had been fitted?

So, in my book this is a bona fide Lancia. I'm ignoring the badge on the tailgate, if only they had mucked that up too.....

Well done Neil, it looks great, and at that money, you can't really go wrong, the grille badge I would suspect was a cost saving measure as more would no doubt be sold as Lancia, and it would be easier, and cheaper to go with the stick on badge for Chrysler versions, it would be interesting what other Chrysler badged cars have on their grilles.
As for the rear badge that should be easy to change, it's things like glass, seats and centre console that would be difficult.
Brian
8227 8)

The front grilles, or at least the chrome ones, have the winged Chrysler badge properly inlaid. I'm wondering if all the black grilles, which are not that common, have this bodge?

Does Theo's have a black grill with the Lancia badge?

Peter

We rebadged ours for about £200 new grill, rear window badge.  wheel centre badges, stick on badge for steering wheel. all off Ebay.  Grill needs professional fitting as electronics for air bags have to be deactivated and reactivated.

Looks much better Lancia.

Don

Does anyone know where I can get the correct Lancia tailgate badge?

When I enquired about Lancia badging when the Chrysler Lancias first came out the dealer said they would be able to order them, otherwise contact a Lancia Dealer in Holland, If Van dijk Schuten in Rotterdam are still Lancia Dealers they were very helpful when I bought my elefantino Rosso, and subsequently when I had an accident and the Fiat dealer who was carrying out the repair had trouble getting the parts, Van Dijk got them for me.

Brian
8227 8)

Thanks Brian, badge ordered from ebay.it.

Sorted! Just the airbag badge to cover up now.

The Ypsilon went through it's 1st MOT last week with no advisories. So it should you might say, but I was worried about it's apparent sojourn in a ditch or at least on a grass verge prior to my ownership. The tester was unable to find the source of the occasional rattle, pronouncing the exhaust and underside in good fettle.

I was in Brussels this week, and you see an Ypsilon on most streets. There were three in my friend's small works underground car park, one was parked next to his car, so I was able to check the accuracy of my rear badge placement, which is OK.

 

Hi
any comments on a twinair auto
 http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201704044027645?search-target=usedcars&advertising-location=at_cars&model=YPSILON&postcode=ts251rt&onesearchad=Used&onesearchad=Nearly%20New&onesearchad=New&sort=sponsored&make=CHRYSLER&radius=1501&page=1&advert-type=featured-listing&dealer-id=307034
Clarkey

The engine is the same as used in FIAT 500? If thats the case it did poorly in reviews, ie wasn't particularly economical and wasn't very refined.


P

Hmmm I think I borrowed a Fiat 500 with one in a bit Jekyl and Hyde what about the diesels I test drove a Fiat 500 diesel and even Matron commented on the racket from under the bonnet..it did quieten down when it was warmed up I wonder if Lancia tried a bit harder to hush them up I noticed the 1.2 S I had the other week was quiet with underbonnet soundproofing
Clarkey

The diesel Ypsilon wasn't made available in the UK. I can't see the twin air being any good at all with an auto box, but I may be wrong. The only twin air Ypsilon I know of is Barbara Longland's, and that destroyed it's clutch at very low mileage!

I got round to changing the oil and filter yesterday. Although in theory it had another 5 months or 10K miles to go, I obviously didn't know the quality of the oil used on the one previous service at an independent garage.

I had an almighty struggle to get the filter off with my strap wrench. The access is fairly tight, plus the filter is rather small. Even when I got it moving it took almost a half turn with the wrench before it became free. It makes me wonder if it was actually changed with the oil.

Anyway all done now with fully synthetic oil, so 18K or two years. Don't know if I will leave it quite that long....

After 18 months and 15000 miles of trouble free and very cheap motoring things caught up with me a bit at this years MOT via the dreaded shock absorber bushes and a broken front spring, the latter down to Bradford Councils speed hump obsession I suspect!

Also, the headlight alignment has been queried, as it seems to be in LHD configuration. I'd never noticed this, but after a drive last night I'm sure they are right. Another mystery, along with the Lancia front grille!? They've given me it as an advisory as they passed it last year. I suspect they are not adjustable?

My theory is that the car had an accident damaging the grille and lights. To save money the Polish/Baltic state seller bought the parts from Poland. People may think that I used to be an investigator.......

Neil ,I imported New an ypsilon in 1999 and even then there was controversy about if the headlights were centre dip, they weren't and all ypsilon since then have only been built in LHD form, I think the certificate of conformity States this, I always kept my lights on the lowest setting and never had a problem with dazzling oncoming traffic.
There was someone who for quite a large fee would take your headlamps apart and fit the innards of a end French car to overcome the problem
New Delta had the same problem, a friend cut slots in the side of the headlamp body and stuck beam benders on the inside of the headlamps
Brian
8227 8)