The Lancia Stratos HF - homologation Group 4 World Rally Car
The Lancia Stratos a rear mid-engined sports car DESIGNED for RALLYING, made by Italian car manufacturer Lancia. It was a HIGHLY successful RALLY CAR, winning the World Rally Championship in 1974, 1975 and 1976; and race car winning 1974 Targa Florio, 5 times the Tour de France Automobile and 3 editions of Giro d'Italia automobilistico.
Lancia undertook extensive testing with the Stratos and raced the car in several racing events where Group 5 prototypes were allowed during the 1972 and 1973 seasons.
Production of the 500 cars required for homologation in Group 4 commenced in 1973 and the Stratos was homologated for the 1974 World Rally Championship season.
The Ferrari Dino V6 engine was phased out in 1974, but 500 engines - among the last examples built - were delivered to Lancia.
Production ended in 1975, when it was thought that only 492 were made (for the 1976 season, the Group 4 production requirement was reduced to 400 in 24 months.
The manufacturer of the car was Bertone in Turin, with final assembly by Lancia at the Chivasso plant.
Powered by the Dino 2.4 L V6 engine that was also fitted to the rallying versions, but in a lower state of tune, it resulted in a power output of 190 PS; 188 bhp (140 kW) at 7,000 rpm and 226 N⋅m; 166 lbf⋅ft (23 kg⋅m) at 4,000 rpm of torque, giving the road car a 0-100 km/h (62 mph) time of 6.8 seconds, and a top speed of 232 km/h (144 mph).
The car was sold as the Lancia Stratos HF Stradale.
The Stratos weighed between 900 and 950 kilograms, depending on configuration.
Power output was around 275 hp (205 kW) for the original 12 valve version and a Massive 320 hp (239 kW) for the 24 valve version.
Beginning with the 1978 season the 24 valve heads were banned from group 4 competition by a change to the FIA rules (which would have required additional production of 24-valve cars for re-homologation).
Even with this perceived power deficit the Stratos was the car to beat in competition and when it did not suffer an accident or premature transmission failure (of the latter there were many) it had great chances to win races.
The car won the 1974, 1975 and 1976 championship titles in the hands of Sandro Munari and Björn Waldegård, and might have gone on to win more had not internal politics within the Fiat group placed
rallying responsibility on the Fiat 131 Abarths.
As well as victories on the 1975, 1976 and 1977 Monte Carlo Rally, all courtesy of Munari, the Stratos won the event with the private Chardonnet Team as late as 1979.
Manufacturer Lancia
Production: 1973-1978 ( ca. 492 produced )
Assembly Italy: Turin
Designer Marcello Gandini at Bertone[1]
Body and chassis
Class Sports car
RALLY CAR
Body style 2-door coupé
Layout Transverse mid-engine, rear-wheel drive
Chassis Steel space-frame structure with integral roll-cage. Fiberglass body
POWERTRAIN
Engine 2,418 cc (148 cu in) Dino V6[2]
Power output Stradale: 190 hp (140 kW)[3]
Transmission 5-speed manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase 2,180 mm (85.8 in)
Length 3,710 mm (146.1 in)
Width 1,750 mm (68.9 in)
Height 1,110 mm (43.7 in)
Curb weight Stradale: 980 kg (2,161 lb)
Group 4: 880 kg (1,940 lb)
Chronology
Predecessor Lancia Fulvia HF
Successor Lancia Rally 037
.