LANCIA Beta 1909-1909 Photos, engines & full specs

It was still the motoring industry's pioneering age, and Lancia already revealed a second model in its range, the Beta.

Vincenzo Lancia founded the brand in November 1906 and launched its first model, the 12HP-Alpha, in 1907, a vehicle that the brand produced for a year until 1908. The company founder had the idea to name its vehicles from the Greek alphabet. Obviously, the second model was the Beta.

In those pioneering ages, it was common to deliver a car to a customer in chassis-form, with the engine, transmission, steering wheel, dash panel, and driver's seat. After delivery, the car was taken into a coachbuilder specialty shop that completed the body at the customer's request. Lancia offered a bodywork himself, with large front fenders arched over the wheels and covered the rear ones with another pair, to keep the driver passengers clean. The Beta was fitted with acetylene headlamps. A canvas-roof was available as well.

As part of the official bodywork, the passenger area was fitted with a bench in the front and another one for the rear occupants. An interesting option to help the driver was the double accelerator command. It was either by the gas-pedal or by a lever, which could hold a constant gas angle. It was like prehistoric cruise control.

The inline-four engine fitted under the hood offered 20 hp, which was about eight more than its predecessor. To send the power to the rear wheels, the carmaker chose a chain-type transmission.