Short, stubby and simply unstoppable, the Lancia Stratos HF won a staggering 18 World Rally events and no fewer than three World Rally Championships. Its formidable performance can be attributed largely to Marcello Gandini, the design wunderkind who, working under the Bertone banner, single-handedly revolutionised the world of car design. The introduction of the Stratos in 1970 heralded the era of the ‘wedge’ and petrolheads simply had no idea what they were in for.

Arguably the very first thoroughbred rally car, no stone was left unturned by Lancia and Bertone’s designers and engineers in the quest for performance. The Stratos’ desperately short wheelbase (just2.18 metres) coupled with its 880kg weight meant it was positively nimble and direct. It took a skip-full of skill to master it, which explains why Sandro Munari ranks so highly in our list of great drivers.

For the heart of its new car, Lancia approached Ferrari, a company whose legend was forged around the power and reliability of its engines. A 2.4-litre six-cylinder ‘Dino’ engine was chosen and tucked transversely right behind the cabin. It produced a mighty 300HP in Corsa spec. And it sounded a rabid dog barking for its life. Crucially, the rallying rules of the time dictated that 500 road-specification cars were to be built in order to homologate a competition variant. In typically Italian fashion, Lancia didn’t manage to do that. It’s estimated that 492 Stratos HF Stradales left the marque’s Chivasso plant, of which this beautiful example from 1975 is one.

The production of this magnificent Stratos HF Stradale, chassis number 001656, was completed at Lancia’s Chivasso plant in December of 1975, finished in ‘Light Blue’ over ‘Blue’ seats and ‘Sereno’ carpets.

Lancia sold this Stratos to Belgium, though Italy is where it spent the majority of its life – from 1989 until 2015, when it was acquired by a collector in New York. At this time it was sent to the Baldi twins in Turin for a major service and a cosmetic exterior and interior overhaul. Chassis no. 001656 was acquired by its current New Orleans-based owner in September of 2023.

In spite of its rally roots, versatility is the Lancia Stratos’ trump card in today’s world. Among the most famous 1970s sports cars of them all, the Stratos is a go-anywhere, do-anything car – from concours competitions and historic road rallies to showing up modern supercars and your local cars-and-coffee meet.

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