Lancia Stratos I gallery (1973–1978)
A legendary mid-engine rally supercar crafted by Bertone specifically to dominate the World Rally Championship.
The Lancia Stratos HF is an iconic sports car purpose-built from the ground up to conquer Group 4 rallying. Styled by Marcello Gandini at Bertone, the Stratos evolved from the radical Stratos Zero concept car into a compact, wedge-shaped mid-engine coupe. The vehicle was engineered around a rigid central steel monocoque with tubular subframes at both ends, clothed in lightweight fiberglass body panels. At its heart sat a transversely mounted 2.4-litre Ferrari Dino V6 engine producing 190 hp in road-going Stradale specification, while full racing versions delivered well over 280–320 hp. Power was transferred to the rear wheels via a 5-speed manual gearbox with a limited-slip differential. The ultra-short 2,180 mm wheelbase and dramatic wraparound windshield granted incredible agility and lightning-fast cornering reflexes. To meet Group 4 homologation rules, 492 road cars were manufactured between 1973 and 1978. The Stratos became one of the most successful rally machines of all time, securing three consecutive World Rally Championship manufacturers' titles in 1974, 1975, and 1976, and remains a milestone in motorsport engineering.
