A Detailed Look Back At The Iconic Lancia Stratos

The Lancia Stratos is a true rallying legend and is simply one of the coolest cars ever made.

The Lancia Stratos is one of the coolest, most outrageous-looking cars ever built. This lightweight, mid–engined sports car looks like nothing else on the road, and with a Ferrari engine tucked behind the seats, it's not exactly slow. Also, neither is it the kind of car you'd expect to see thundering along a rally stage, but that's exactly what it did, and with great success.

The Lancia Stratos is a true icon in the automotive world, a car that stands out from the pack and, despite the replicas, something we may never see the like of again.

Related: A Detailed Look Back At The Lancia Delta HF Integrale

First produced in 1973, there were less than 500 units of the Stratos ever built. Fellow Italians, Ferrari, provided Lancia with the 2.4-liter V6 motor (from the Dino) for the Stratos. These 12-valve motors sucked air in through Weber carburetors, and put out 190 hp and 166 lb-ft of torque, resulting in a top speed of 144 mph and a 0 to 60 mph time of 6.8 seconds. Later, some of the Dino V6s came with 24-valve heads, freeing up more power to bring the total to 280 hp, although there have been claims that it's actually as high as 320 hp. Complete with a five-speed manual transmission and limited-slip differential, the driving experience was direct and brilliantly raw.

The Stratos was born as a rally car and converted for the road, and it shows. The chassis consisted of an impressive steel space-frame design with a complete roll cage and the body was completely made of fiberglass. Fiberglass is a lot cheaper and easier to repair than aluminum, and therefore more suitable to a rally setting. To underline the nature and intent of the Stratos, the primary gauges mounted behind the steering wheel indicated engine temperature and pressure (crucial for motorsport), with the speedometer and tachometer shunted off to the side. The suspension was advanced, befitting of the type of car that this is and, weighing in at under 2,200 lbs, the Lancia Stratos was definitely quick enough to put a smile on your face.

If Lancia knows one thing, it's how to win rally championships. They won the International Championship for Manufacturers (which preceded the World Rally Championship) in 1972 with the Lancia Fulvia. They cleaned up World Rally Championships with the Delta Integrale and the 037. The Stratos was the direct replacement for the Fulvia and carried the mantle very well indeed. It took home the WRC title three consecutive times from 1974 to 1976, in a period of total domination from the Italian marque. It continued to win events for a number of years thereafter.

Fiat owned Lancia at the time, and unfortunately they pulled their support for the Stratos rally program. Fiat wanted to focus on their own 131 Abarth rally car which went on to be quite successful. As a result, Lancia had to pivot. They built The Stratos Turbo (complete with 520 hp on tap) to compete in Group 5 circuit racing. They achieved some success but nothing compared to their rallying days.

Nothing Looks As Cool As The Wild Lancia Stratos

With such stunning performance and racing triumphs, it's only fitting that the Lancia Stratos looks as good as it does. Its wedge shape and tiny cockpit are instantly recognizable. Having worked with Pininfarina on previous cars, Lancia turned to another famed Italian design house in Bertone. They are responsible for both the Lamborghini Miura and Countach, so it comes as no surprise that the Stratos is a good-looking car.

The nose slants down towards the road, giving a purposeful and aggressive yet sleek appearance. Pop-up headlights hide either side of the vented hood and above a large, black grille. The wheel arches scream 'rally car'. The front ones are so blistered that they extend upwards out of the hood of the car, as well as sticking way out to the side. The rear arches are more subtly integrated into the body lines. Both offer lots of ground clearance, hinting at the rallying exploits of the Stratos. Tucked under the arches are small–diameter gold wheels with plenty of rubber. Behind the tiny cockpit, you'll find a roof spoiler and a super cool louvered rear window. The aero finishes off with a large duckbill spoiler. The gorgeous, round taillights and a flash of flame from the exhaust are all you'll probably manage to catch a glimpse of as a Lancia Stratos blasts through a rally stage. It truly is a special-looking machine.

Related: The Only Way Lancia Can Make A Real Comeback In 2024

With such low numbers ever making it to the road, it's natural that people have tried to replicate or pay homage to the Lancia Stratos. They range from relatively-convincing kit cars to the very impressive New Stratos by Pininfarina. The latter was powered by a Ferrari F430 motor, producing 532 hp and limited to just 25 units. It's a fantastic car in its own right, but there is no real comparison to the original. The Lancia Stratos was a rallying monster with a striking design and a double helping of Italian flamboyance. It was a proper driver's car. If you ever see a Stratos in the wild, be sure to take a photo because you may never see one again!

Sources: Lancia, FCA Heritage

Liam McGinley is a true petrolhead. He has always been fascinated with cars and motorcycles. He has technical knowledge from his mechanical engineering background and hands-on experience from his time as a mechanic. Now he is combining these skills with his love for writing while spending his spare time turning spanners whenever he gets the chance.