Lancia Scorpion

Total Production: 1,805
The Lancia Scorpion, sold in other parts of the world as the Lancia Montecarlo, was sold in the United States from 1975 through 1981. The Scorpion was the same vehicle as the Montecarlo, except it had a de-tuned engine. The car was based on the Abarth 030 Prototype, which would evolve into the X1/8 and later the X1/20. The design was penned by Pininfarina of Turin, Italy. The design had the engine mounted mid-ship with a rear-wheel drive layout. Two body styles were available, a two-door coupe and a convertible. The convertible, known as the Spyder, had a roll-back Targa-style top that was manually operated.

The name 'Montecarlo' was not used in the United States because Chevrolet had already laid claim to the name. It had a de-tuned engine and other modifications in order to comply with US government regulations and crash test requirements.

The Montecarlo had a 1995cc engine that produced 120 hp, while the Scorpion had a 1756cc unit with 80 horsepower.

There was one series of the Scorpion, while the Montecarlo had two, the S1, which lasted from 1975 through 1979, and the S2, which saw production from 1980 through 1981. 1396 Scorpions were sold in 1976 and 405 in 1977.

The Lancia Montecarlo was used successfully in racing, though it was given a turbocharged engine. In 1980, Hans Heyer won the Deutsche Rennsport Meisterschaft in Group 5 Competition.
By Daniel Vaughan | Jul 2007