One to Buy: 44,000km Blu 1976 Lancia Stratos HF Stradale
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While some later cars went on to even more prolonged periods of domination, the Lancia Stratos remains unchallenged as the most extraordinary design ever conceived for rally use.
Penned by Marcello Gandini who was head stylist at Bertone, the Stratos was genuinely unlike anything to have previously taken to the special stages.
Despite looking like a fragile concept that had had sprung straight off Gandini’s drawing board, the Stratos boasted a remarkable robustness as evidenced by its trio of World Manufacturer’s Championships delivered between 1974 and ‘76.
Had it not been for parent company Fiat’s decision to replace the Stratos with something that bore a closer resemblance to the kind of car that normal customers could buy off the showroom floor (in this case the Fiat Abarth 131 Rally), the Stratos would likely have dominated for years to come.
Now, the Stratos looks great in any of the colours originally offered, but our favourite combination here at Supercar Nostalgia is rarely seen Blu with tan alcantara seat inlays and blue carpet as seen on chassis 001611 which will be going under the hammer at Bonhams’ sale in Paris on February 2nd.
Delivered new in 1976 to Dr. Rudolf Wiespointner of Wels, Austria, who retained it until 1999, chassis 001611 was then sold to a second Austrian owner before departing to France in 2012. This third and most recent custodian had the car completely repainted, paying particular attention to panel fit which is probably better than new.
Chassis 001611 heads to auction with a little over 44,000km on the odometer.
