As road-going homologation specials go, the Lancia 037 Stradale is just that: special. Lancia built just 207 of these pretty and purposeful Pininfarina-designed coupés in order to enter its full-fat Group B rally version into the 1982 World Rally Championship.
It was a true thoroughbred, honed by Lancia’s racing department in collaboration with Abarth and Pininfarina in order to do one thing: win rallies. And win rallies the Lancia 037 did.
Thanks to head engineer Aurelio Lampredi’s novel use of supercharging, which largely eliminated the lag suffered by its turbocharged rivals, along with its lightweight clamshell body design that drastically reduced servicing time and a squadron of hot-shoed drivers, the 037 fulfilled its destiny, winning the World Rally Championship in 1983. It was the final rear-wheel-drive car in history to do so.
Unlike most of its road-going homologation rivals, the 037 Stradale was not constructed so haphazardly. In fact, its black cord interior is a wonderful place to sit, blurring the lines between theatre and refinement. Electric window switches and air-conditioning vents can be found alongside a supercharger boosts pressure gauge and a bank of blown fuse indicators.
From a driving point of view, everything that made the rally version such a formidable machine – the agile chassis, pin-sharp steering, bump-soaking suspension and punchy supercharged engine – is carried over yet in a more approachable and tractable package. These cars are an absolute joy to drive.
Chassis number 080
The Lancia 037 Stradale we’re offering here is chassis number 080 and has three trump cards up its sleeve. Firstly, it was delivered new to Italy, where it has remained ever since. Secondly, it’s covered a mere 12,100 documented kilometres. And thirdly, it’s had just owners from new, the first of whom kept it from 1983 to 2022.
Its original owner went by the name of Alberto Mutton. Mutton lived in Orsago in the Italian province of Treviso. He ordered his new 037 via the Venice Lancia concessionaire Vempa S.p.A. and, having taken delivery in May of 1983, subsequently registered it on the Treviso number ‘TV 561005’.
Mutton retained this Lancia for 39 years since, covering only 11,750 kilometres during that time. Today, the odometer only reads 12,100 kilometres, so it’s fair to say chassis number 080 has always enjoyed a sheltered life. Its condition is certainly commensurate with this statement. Perhaps nowhere is this more obvious than the wonderfully 1980s interior. Surrounded all around by factory glass bearing all the correct Saint Gobain etchings, the interior is in fantastic condition.
The dash and door pulls are covered in the rare original neoprene material, the corduroy seats are plush and have not faded at all indicating the car has been kept indoors away from direct sunlight. Perhaps best of all, the navigator lamp is still in its slot in the passenger footwell. And what’s more, it works!
At the rear, we were pleasantly surprised to find the rubber grommets for attaching the optional rear wing still present and correct – often we’ve found they’re removed and the holes are filled in. The spare wheel is present and the original jack and toolkit are present where they should be – points which certainly can’t be said for many of these Lancias.
If this car’s condition is excellent, the way it drives is superb. We can confirm that the supercharged engine is smooth and pulls confidently, and the suspension does an impeccable job of soaking up bumps and grazes in the road – more so than most other examples we’ve driven.
Now this beautifully maintained and beguilingly original Lancia 037 Stradale is awaiting a new custodian who will write its next chapter, discover all of its charms and, perhaps more importantly, maintain and preserve it in its current condition for future generations.
