Re: Citroen leads to Beta then 164

["Mark Battley" <m.battley@domain.elided>]

>In some mid 70s issues of the English periodical, Autocar,  there is a
>discussion of the super quick development of the initial Lancia Beta
>sedans.  It seemed to surprise most that Fiat could buy the old Lancia
>firm in 1969 and introduce the Lancia Beta sedan in 1972, using
>essentially all different (Fiat)  componets.  Well, there was also
>discussion of a proposed Fiat-Citroen merger that was to come off in
>the late 1960s,  yet some key political players opposed such a merger.
> One result of the merger was the Fiat 128, whereas Fiat supplied a
>new engine design with Citroen taking over the new transaxle and front
>suspension work.  Fiat did indeed adopt this transaxle which was
>modified further for use in the upcoming Beta series.  I think Peugeot
>swallowed up Citroen in about 1975.  So, thanks to some engineering
>excellence from Citroen,  Alfa ended up with a tranny that doesn't 
>rip up second gear syncros too badly.  Perhaps Ed at Caribou can throw
>in some more details  on this issue.

I first came across this connection when I was chasing gearbox bearings for
a Lancia HPE 2000. Two of the bearings were very hard to find, apparently
being used only in the Beta box and a related Citroen box. Of course it was
one of these bearings that had collapsed..... the rest of the bearings were
very common. Took me months of searching the world (this was prior to the
web!) before I finally located a set of bearings somewhere at a dealer in
Australia. I can't remember which Citroen it was though.. anybody know? Are
these bearings available these days?

Is there any relationship between the Beta box and that in the
Croma/Thema/164? The more recent box does have a much better change.

Mark Battley
Auckland, New Zealand.

1973 Alfa Romeo 2000 GT Veloce
1989 Fiat Croma

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