One to Buy: unrestored 22,000km 1976 Lancia Stratos HF Stradale
/
Even though the Group B era of 1982 to ‘86 spawned a variety of extreme vehicles, arguably the most radical machine ever to take to the special stages arrived during the early 1970s when Lancia created the incredible Stratos.
With its mid-mounted Ferrari V6 engine and out-of-this-world Bertone styling, the Stratos caused a sensation in a sport previously dominated by comparatively humdrum machinery originally designed for mass markey consumption.
By contrast, just 400 examples of the Stratos were built and the extraordinary wedge-shaped machine went on to secure a hat-trick of World Rally Championship titles in 1974, ‘75 and ‘76. Elsewhere, the Stratos also won the 1974 Targa Florio outright, the Tour de France on five occasions and the Giro d’Italia in 1974 and ‘76.
Currently residing at the DK Engineering showroom in Hertfordshire is one of the finest Stratos HF Stradales to exist.
Having covered a little under 22,000km from new, this four owner car is presented in superb original condition and is rightly regarded as a reference example for the model.
Painted in what is commonly regarded as the best colour for a Startos road car (Azzurro HF), it was also equipped with the two-piece matt black aero kit that comprised a large rear spoiler and basket handle cockpit aerofoil homologated in late 1974.
