Some cars, even classic ones, are just more special than the others – and in the case of the Lancia 037 Stradale you know that this is true just by looking at it.
Just 207 examples of the Italian homologation special were made, all finished in red, and none of them was available new in the U.S. market as it didn’t meet federal standards.
Jay Leno gets to spend some time with a rather pristine Stradale, giving us the chance to take a closer look at the iconic rally car.
The chassis features massive tube subframes that come straight from the Group B version, while the bodywork is made out of Kevlar-reinforced fiberglass (carbon fiber use was still limited back then). The suspension is fully independent on all four corners with double wishbones and dual shocks at the rear.
Power comes from a supercharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder that drives the rear wheels via a five-speed manual gearbox. The official power output is 205 HP, though this car’s owner claims that the actual output is closer to 265 HP.
Yet, despite all of its motorsport credentials, the 037 Stradale proves to be an engaging road car that allows the driver to truly enjoy it. Having a supercharger means that you don’t have to deal with ‘80s turbo lag, while the flywheel is nice and light and the gearbox is precise, making the driver feel confident in driving it hard and not treat it like something fragile.