This Lancia Stratos HF is certainly one of only a few that was raced on monitor in the US in interval, with entries within the 24 Hours of Daytona, 12 Hours of Sebring, 6 Hours of Watkins Glen, in addition to at Talladega, Street America, and Street Atlanta.
The Stratos was probably the most well-known racing vehicles of its time, it received the World Rally Championship in 1974, 1975, and 1976, in addition to the 1974 Targa Florio and the 1975, 1976, 1977, and 1979 Monte Carlo Rally.
Quick Details – A Lancia Stratos HF “Street Racer”
- The Lancia Stratos was designed by Marcello Gandini at Bertone, it was unveiled in 1971 on the Turin Motor Present. It might go on to grow to be probably the most well-known examples of “wedge” styling in automotive historical past.
- The manufacturing Stratos was primarily based on the design of the Stratos Zero idea automobile that was first proven to the world on the 1970 Turin Motor Present. It might later characteristic within the 1988 Michael Jackson movie “Moonwalker.”
- The Stratos is alleged to have been the primary automobile ever developed from a clean slate for World Rally Championship competitors. It’s an uncompromising design with a large windscreen and low nostril giving wonderful ahead visibility, a mid-mounted Ferrari Dino V6, and razor-sharp dealing with.
- The automobile you see right here was purchased by Oklahoma privateer Anatoly Arutunoff, he ready it for track-based racing (somewhat than rally) and competed in a number of the most vital occasions in North America within the Nineteen Seventies and into the Eighties.
Shopping for The Stratos
When Oklahoma entrepreneur and dealership proprietor Anatoly Arutunoff first noticed the Lancia Stratos HF he started devising a plan to purchase one and take it racing. Whereas the Stratos would grow to be most well-known for its rallying exploits, Arutunoff wished to tackle the Porsches within the below 2.5 liter class on the asphalt circuits of North America.
The Stratos is remembered right now as probably the most memorable “wedge” designs of the Nineteen Seventies, it was penned by the nice Marcello Gandini at Bertone.
“I believed it was a neat-looking automobile,” Arutunoff recalled in a current dialog. “It regarded prefer it had a risk of beating the Porsches within the under-2.5 liter class.”
Lancia was lower than smitten by this concept, and regardless of what Arutunoff describes as “manufacturing facility un-support” for his plan, he went forward with it and purchased this Stratos from the manufacturing facility showroom in Italy in late 1976.
Remarkably he drove the automobile from Turin in Northern Italy to the port of Cherbourg in Western France the place he crossed the English Channel by automobile ferry. As soon as in England he loaded the automobile onto the Queen Elizabeth 2 for cargo to the US.
The automobile arrived a while later in Boston, Arutunoff then drove the automobile by the bitter winter circumstances of the north jap United States heading west till he reached his dwelling in Tulsa – a distance of 1,564 miles.
Making ready The Stratos
As soon as the automobile had lined its prolonged intercontinental jaunt from Italy to Oklahoma the modifications may start.
The Lancia Stratos HF is powered by the two.4 liter Ferrari Dino V6, an engine that was developed by Ferrari however manufactured by Fiat and utilized in each the Ferrari Dino and Fiat Dinos.
The “basket deal with” spoiler atop the automobile needed to be eliminated to fulfill IMSA aero rules nonetheless after contacting Lancia in regards to the potential implications of this they have been informed it was a purely beauty characteristic.
Wider basketweave wheels have been added with equally extensive rubber, this necessitated winder fenders to maintain them lined, most noticeable on the rear of the automobile. A decrease chin spoiler was additionally added, and the inside was stripped of every little thing not important for racing.
As soon as preparations have been full the automobile was affectionately nicknamed “The Duck” resulting from its vivid yellow livery.
Racing The Stratos
The Stratos was raced extensively from 1977 onwards with entries right into a slew of main North American races. Its first race was the 24 Hours of Daytona in 1977, making it the primary and solely Stratos to ever contest the occasion.
Later entries would come with appearances at Sebring, Watkins Glen, and returns to Daytona, plus races at Street America, Street Atlanta, and the legendary Talladega. Indianapolis 500 winner Danny Sullivan served as co-driver on this automobile at Daytona and Sebring in 1979.
The inside of the automobile has been largely stripped out for weight saving, a driver’s seat stays in fact together with the dashboard, and the automobile has a roll cage for security.
The Lancia’s closing race in interval was on the Budweiser Grand Prix of Miami in February 1984.
Shopping for The Stratos
Since its competitors life got here to an finish the automobile has been stored in largely authentic, “as raced” situation. It was acquired by its present proprietor in 1986 and so they notice that it might require recommissioning earlier than any racing is tried.
The automobile can be a really welcome entrant at a variety of classic races worldwide because of its in depth use in main races in interval.
It’s accompanied by a analysis file and a number of elements, together with a set of OEM wheels, wiring harness, exhaust elements, and gas tanks eliminated throughout the Lancia’s racecar conversion, in addition to physique panels and panel molds.
In case you’d wish to learn extra about this automobile or register to bid you possibly can go to the itemizing right here on RM Sotheby’s. It’s resulting from roll throughout the public sale block with them in August in Monterey, California.
Photos courtesy of RM Sotheby’s
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