The Lancia Rally 037 is one of the classic sports car designs that simply does not age. Straightforward, purposeful and impeccable through frivolous aggressive qualities, the 037 represents the connection between form and function. This is not surprising, given the road-go 037 Stradale was built for approval purposes, and is truly a competition rally car.
It is for these reasons that this particular prototype of 037 is up for auction in Milan next June RM Sotheby’s, looks so crunchy. If you’ve never seen this test car before, it’s a great turning point on the road to Lancia’s first Group B hero – not to mention a far from the Lancia you could do. Destroy by turning the steering wheel at the wrong time.
You can find hints here and there of the final shape of the 037, but certain indications show that not everything is quite as it should be. The headlights of the prototype are the first and most striking narrative. The outdoor lamps sink into the buffer in an awkward way. They push the direction indicators down to the lip of the splitter, which itself is much less pronounced than it would eventually appear on the car.
The square, flatter recesses for the front wheel arches are another peculiarity that will not reach the finish line, and the bodywork will not tear under the A-pillar either. The rear quarter panels are particularly odd and flame round compared to those on the production car.
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Behind, things get particularly strange. Here are some curious details. The rear lights of a Ferrari 308 appear to be raised, and the labels “Abarth” and “SE 037” are printed just below the giant rear wing. Abarth has indeed steered the development of the 037, despite the car carrying Lancia badges and deliveries, which eventually leaves The presence of red painted metal obscuring the engine under the plexiglass cover is another peculiarity for this mule.
In all, Lancia has built about 220 examples of the 037, including road-go and race incarnations. This example – chassis # 001 – rolled out at Dallara’s factory in September 1980 according to a Bonhams light from 2016, the last time it was auctioned.
Lancia announced the 037 program in December 1981 and the approval of cars in 1982 is in production. In 1983, Lancia won the 037 with the manufacturing trophy of the World Racing Championships. To this day, it is the last rear-wheel drive rally car to claim. A WRC title.
Chassis # 001 was restored in 2014. Hagerty note that the car did not sell the last time it fell under the hammer, and thereafter it would sell for between $ 380,000 and $ 470,000. The car is reportedly still owned by Sergio Limone, the 037 chief engineer who also oversaw the development of some of Lancia’s other rally cars, as well as Alfa Romeo’s smart touring engine and GT programs throughout the 90s.
