One to Buy: ex-Marcello Del Guerra 68,000km 1975 Lancia Stratos HF Stradale
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As rallying morphed towards generally shorter, flat out special stages, the cars required to win at the top level became increasingly specialised. However, despite the massive prestige afforded to manufacturers who won the world’s best known events, by the early 1970s none had commissioned a rally car from scratch.
That all changed in late 1971 when Lancia unveiled its radical Stratos HF Stradale.
Created to exploit Group 4 regulations that required a minimum production run of 500 units, the Stratos caused a sensation and, even today, remains arguably rallying’s most iconic machine.
With its mid-engined layout, Ferrari power and sensational Wedge-shaped body, the Stratos dominated the World and European Rally Championships with a hat-trick of consecutive titles in both series during the mid-to-late 1970s. In addition, the Stratos also won 1974’s Targa Florio, the Tour de France on five occasions and the Giro d’Italia in 1974 and 1976.
Set to go under the hammer at RM Sotheby’s Woodcote Park auction in Epsom, Surrey, on July 8th is one of the most original examples of a Stratos HF Stradale to hit the market in recent times: chassis 829AR0 001843.
Completed during January 1975 wearing the combination of Stratos Red paint, black skai, avana alcantara and Saval red carpet, six months later chassis ‘001843’ was sold through a Lancia agent in Pistoia, Tuscany, to local buyer, Marcello Del Guerra.
As evidenced by the accompanying (and rarely seen) original warranty booklet, Sig. Del Guerra was fastidious in his approach to maintenance, repeatedly returning the Stratos to a licensed marque agent for servicing.
In November 1985, chassis ‘001843’ was sold to Fiammetta Spamponi who, a few months later, passed the car onto another Pistoia-based owner with whom it remained until 2014.
Having since resided in the United Kingdom with a further two custodians, chassis ’001843’ has continued to be be faithfully preserved. In addition to an array of period documentation, this incredibly authentic 68,000km Stratos retains its original engine, chassis and body panels, the latter of which still wear mostly original paint.
