The Lancia 037 Stradale

As road-going homologation specials go, the Lancia 037 Stradale is just that: special. Lancia built just 207 of these pretty and purposeful Pininfarina-designed coupés in order to enter its full-fat Group B rally version into the 1982 World Rally Championship.

It was a true thoroughbred, honed by Lancia’s racing department in collaboration with Abarth and Pininfarina in order to do one thing: win rallies. And win rallies the Lancia 037 did. Thanks to head engineer Aurelio Lampredi’s novel use of supercharging, which largely eliminated the lag suffered by its turbocharged rivals, along with its lightweight clamshell body design that drastically reduced servicing time and a squadron of hot-shoed drivers, the 037 fulfilled its destiny, winning the World Rally Championship in 1983. It was the final rear-wheel-drive car in history to do so.

Unlike most of its road-going homologation rivals, the 037 Stradale was not constructed so haphazardly. In fact, its black cord interior is a wonderful place to sit, blurring the lines between theatre and refinement. Electric window switches and air-conditioning vents can be found alongside a supercharger boosts pressure gauge and a bank of blown fuse indicators. From a driving point of view, everything that made the rally version such a formidable machine – the agile chassis, pin-sharp steering, bump-soaking suspension and punchy supercharged engine – is carried over yet in a more approachable and tractable package. These cars are an absolute joy to drive.

This Lancia 037 Stradale

As its matching chassis stamping and hand-painted body numbers attest, this Lancia 037 Stradale is number 061, which left the Turin factory in 1982. Throughout the course of its 39-year life, the car has resided in Belgium, France and, for the last 12 years, Spain.

We were able to find a fantastic new owner for 061 in February of this year. Prior to delivery, we sent the car to the renowned Baldi twins in Turin, the foremost rally Lancia specialists in the world, for a comprehensive service, which included the following works. The braking system was overhauled, with a caliper rebuild and new pads fitted. The engine was fully serviced, with the replacement of all fluids and the fitment of a new supercharger belt. The Weber carburetor was also removed and rebuilt, as was the steering rack. Finally, new spark plug leads and wheel arch rubber liners were fitted. Prior to having it photographed, we also had the car professionally detailed.

The proverbial cherry on the cake is the autograph of the Lancia Works legend Markku Alén hand-signed on the 037’s angular nose and on the passenger side of the dashboard. A sound example of what we’ve long considered to be the most exciting road-going Group B homologation special, chassis 061 is now in the hands of its new owner, who we know will use and enjoy it as it was intended to be.

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