This is the sort of thing that happens when productivity ceases in the office and we end up getting lost in the Girardo & Co. Archive. On this occasion we were wondering what Lancia’s ultimate rear-wheel-drive rally car, the 037 Rally Evo 2, would look like wearing the psychedelic liveries of the Works road-racing Beta Montecarlo Turbo Group 5s, which competed at Le Mans, Daytona and in the Giro d’Italia.

If ever there was a job for Davide Virdis, the supremely talented automotive media designer, who specialises in turning ideas in the brain into digitally rendered reality.  The resulting set of images of an 037 in three colour combinations (blue and white, red and white, and red and black) were, as we expected, spectacular. We then asked our followers on social media to choose their favourite. That was way back in 2022. Hold that thought.

Fast-forward to early 2025.  When so many of our followers voiced their love and opinion about which fictional Lancia 037 colour scheme worked best, we couldn’t resist running a bit further with the idea. Towards reality, that is. The result is, we’re sure you’ll agree, even better in the metal than it was on the screen. We’ll pop some of Gabriele Natalini’s fabulous photos of the car below for your perusal. You’re very welcome…

Photos: Gabriele Natalini / Davide Virdis / The Girardo & Co. Archive