1974 Lancia Stratos Coupe

Carrozzeria Bertone unveiled the new Stratos Zero Concept at the Torino Motor Show in 1970, with its wedge-shaped figure easily slicing into the hearts of onlookers. The new styling direction was both futuristic and bold, with front-hinged doors, a small footprint, and aggressive bodylines. Mounted mid-ship was a powerplant sourced from the Fulvia. The prototype attracted the attention of Lancia director Ugo Gobbato and HF Squadra Corse head Cesare Florio. The limited-production 'homologation special' that followed, the Lancia Stratos, became historically significant for being the first car from a major manufacturer conceived specifically for rallying.

The Stratos of 1972 retained the 'wedge' styling of its forbearer, but the Fuliva powerplant was replaced by a Ferrari Dino 2.4-liter V6 engine housed in a steel monocoque body tub clad in glassfibre coachwork. The suspension was fully adjustable via an independent setup with double wishbones and coil springs. Disc brakes at all four corners provided the stopping power.

The road-going (Stradale) version produced 190 horsepower and had a top speed of 140 mph (225 km/h). The Workw Group 4 (Stratos HF) version was considerably more powerful and its specification was enhanced throughout, propelling it to its initial major victory in the 1974 Targa Florio, followed by a dominant string of victories in international rallying, winning the World Rally Championship of Makes in 1975 and 1976. Works pilot Bernard Darniche triumphed twice in the world's premier drivers' competition - the European Rally Championship - in 1976 and 1977, and the Stratos helped Markku Alen to the inaugural World Drivers' Championship in 1978.

To homologate the Stratos for racing, Bertone supplied 500 monocoque chassis and eventually, Lancia would construct 492 examples, with the majority being sold to private customers as road-going Stradale variants. It was homologated for FIA's Group 4 Special GT Category in October 1974.

This particular Lancia is the 44th of 492 factory-built examples and was completed by Bertone on July 1, 1974. It wore Rosso Arancio (Red Orange) livery with 'Havana' Alcantara upholstery and red carpeting. The car was originally delivered to Torino and into the care of its first owner, Giuseppe Capra, who drove it nearly 20,000 km before selling it in 1980. The Stratos' second owner, Massimo Lotti, registered the car in Rome and added an additional 50,000 km over the course of the next four years. It was placed into long-term static storage around 1984. In 2017, it was extracted from its resting spot and sold to its current caretaker who exported it from Italy for the first time. It was brought to the United States, where it received a thorough detailing and mechanical servicing, including rebuilding the suspension and braking systems. Late in 2017, the Lancia was sold to a private East Coast collector, who loaned it to the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles for the popular exhibition, Supercars: A Century of Spectacle and Speed. It Lancia has since been re-acquired by its current caretaker.

It is believed that the car retains its matching-numbers engine, gearbox, and Bertone body panels, which are stamped with the original scocca number, 214.

By Daniel Vaughan | Mar 2023