The Phenomenal Lancia Stratos
Thursday July 24, 2008
In the early seventies, Ferrari, Lancia and Bertone teamed up to create one of the greatest rally cars ever, the Lancia Stratos. The head of Lancia's competition division, Cesare Fiorio, was the driving force behind this project. Bertone had sown the seeds for the project in the Bertone Stratos concept car of 1970. This was an impossibly flat wedge-shaped body, just 846 mm high, housing a mid-mounted Lancia Fulvia V4 engine of 1584 cc capacity, with a driving position requiring the pilot to be lying almost flat on his back, and a lift-up windscreen through which entrance and egress were to be made. It caused a sensation at the 1970 Turin Motor Show. A year later, Bertone presented another Stratos styling exercise, this time badged as a Lancia. The Lancia Stratos HF concept was much closer in shape to the final product, which was to be running as a rally prototype a further year later.
Lancia's rallying ambitions were completely satisfied by the Stratos. It dominated international rallying for more than five years, and when it was retired by the decision makers at Fiat and Lancia, it was still at the pinnacle of the sport. The Stratos won three World Rally Championships, had victories on the Monte Carlo Rally and in the Targa Florio, and numerous others. Notable campaigners of the Stratos included Sandro Munari, Markku Alen and Bjorn Waldegaard.
The road-going Lancia Stratos came into being due to the homologation requirements at the time, which stipulated that at least 500 examples be produced in order to be eligible for certain competitions. Production of the road-going Lancia Stratos began in 1974. The engine was sourced from Ferrari, which was by that time under the Fiat Group umbrella alongside Lancia. The transverse mid-mounted 65 degree V6 had already found use in the Ferrari Dino 246 GT and the Fiat Dino Coupé and Spider. As utilised in the Lancia Stratos road car, it featured 3 Weber twin choke carburettors, and a relatively low compression ratio of 9.0. From its 2419 cc swept capacity it produced 190 PS (139 kW) at 7000 rpm and 225 Nm (166 ftlb) of torque at 4000 rpm. This power was transmitted to the rear wheels via a Ferrari five speed gearbox, running a 3.824 final drive ratio. 205/70 tyres were fitted front and rear, mounted on 7.5 x 14 inch rims. Overall kerb weight was just 980 kg, distributed 46%/54% front/rear. This relatively light weight and short gearing made for a rapid device, with the 0-60 mph (96 km/h) sprint taking just 6.0 seconds, the standing quarter mile being dispatched in 13.5 seconds, and an overall top speed of 230 km/h.
The body was a short, stubby wedge, just 3710 mm long, 1750 mm wide, and with a 2180 mm wheelbase. Extremely low, it measured just 1110 mm high. The other-worldly looks were enhanced by the use of a radically curved windscreen, which formed a bubble-like enclosure around the cockpit; heavy rear louvres; bright firecracker red, lime green or Dayglo orange paintwork, and gold-painted 5 spoke Campagnolo wheels. The dramatic shape and wild colours gave the Stratos a visual impact to rival Bertone's other seventies extravaganza, the Lamborghini Countach.
Lancia's rallying ambitions were completely satisfied by the Stratos. It dominated international rallying for more than five years, and when it was retired by the decision makers at Fiat and Lancia, it was still at the pinnacle of the sport. The Stratos won three World Rally Championships, had victories on the Monte Carlo Rally and in the Targa Florio, and numerous others. Notable campaigners of the Stratos included Sandro Munari, Markku Alen and Bjorn Waldegaard.
The road-going Lancia Stratos came into being due to the homologation requirements at the time, which stipulated that at least 500 examples be produced in order to be eligible for certain competitions. Production of the road-going Lancia Stratos began in 1974. The engine was sourced from Ferrari, which was by that time under the Fiat Group umbrella alongside Lancia. The transverse mid-mounted 65 degree V6 had already found use in the Ferrari Dino 246 GT and the Fiat Dino Coupé and Spider. As utilised in the Lancia Stratos road car, it featured 3 Weber twin choke carburettors, and a relatively low compression ratio of 9.0. From its 2419 cc swept capacity it produced 190 PS (139 kW) at 7000 rpm and 225 Nm (166 ftlb) of torque at 4000 rpm. This power was transmitted to the rear wheels via a Ferrari five speed gearbox, running a 3.824 final drive ratio. 205/70 tyres were fitted front and rear, mounted on 7.5 x 14 inch rims. Overall kerb weight was just 980 kg, distributed 46%/54% front/rear. This relatively light weight and short gearing made for a rapid device, with the 0-60 mph (96 km/h) sprint taking just 6.0 seconds, the standing quarter mile being dispatched in 13.5 seconds, and an overall top speed of 230 km/h.
The body was a short, stubby wedge, just 3710 mm long, 1750 mm wide, and with a 2180 mm wheelbase. Extremely low, it measured just 1110 mm high. The other-worldly looks were enhanced by the use of a radically curved windscreen, which formed a bubble-like enclosure around the cockpit; heavy rear louvres; bright firecracker red, lime green or Dayglo orange paintwork, and gold-painted 5 spoke Campagnolo wheels. The dramatic shape and wild colours gave the Stratos a visual impact to rival Bertone's other seventies extravaganza, the Lamborghini Countach.
