The story of Lancia’s most celebrated post-war sports car begins at the 1970 Torino Motor Show, where Carrozzeria Bertone stunned audiences with the radical Stratos Zero concept. Its dramatic wedge profile, futuristic front-hinged canopy and mid-mounted Fulvia engine were unlike anything then on the road. The striking prototype immediately caught the attention of Lancia director Ugo Gobbato and HF Squadra Corse chief Cesare Fiorio.
At the time, Lancia’s competition program centered on the Flavia and Fulvia, cars that Fiorio’s team had developed into formidable rally contenders. The Stratos presented an unprecedented opportunity: a clean-sheet, purpose-built rally machine that would also showcase the company’s bold design and technical innovation. With Gobbato’s approval, Nuccio Bertone, designer Marcello Gandini, and Lancia’s racing department collaborated to create the first Stratos HF prototype.
The Stratos made its formal competition debut at the 1972 Tour de Corse, and one month later Ferrari agreed to supply a production run of 2.4-liter Dino V6 engines. With the drivetrain secured, and two prototypes already completed, Lancia enlisted engineer Giampaolo Dallara to refine both rally and road-going configurations.
By late 1973, production preparations were under way, and Bertone delivered 500 monocoque chassis. On October 1, 1974, the model achieved FIA Group 4 Special GT homologation. What followed was a period of rally dominance: Over the next five years, the Stratos captured more than 80 international victories, including 14 World Championship events, cementing its reputation as one of the greatest competition cars of the era.
Just 492 examples of the groundbreaking Stratos were built, approximately half of which were delivered as road-legal HF Stradale versions.
This HF Stradale, chassis 001932, was completed by Bertone in 1975, finished in Celeste (Sky Blue) with Alcantara upholstery and Saval Sereno (Serene Blue) carpeting. Upon completion, it was delivered new to official Lancia concessionaire Antonio Capacci of Rome.
Original sales and warranty documents confirm that in December 1977, the Stratos was sold as a new car to renowned Italian collector Mario Righini, whose celebrated stable of historic automobiles is housed within the 15th-century Castello di Panzano at Castelfranco Emilia. Retained in his private collection until its recent acquisition by the consignor, the Lancia remained continuously registered in Modena as “MO 424620.”
Driven sparingly during Sig. Righini’s more than 45 years of ownership, the Stratos displays just 2,000 km at the time of cataloging, making it among the lowest-mileage, unrestored examples extant. The consignor reports that this car retains its original paint and interior, along with rarely seen factory-correct details such as inspection markings on the chassis, correct St. Gobain and Glaverbel glass, and original Cavis hoses. Its original toolkit, warranty book, Italian libretto, and 1977–78 delivery records accompany the sale. Significantly, the engine number and Scocca number are correct, per factory records.
Offered publicly for the first time, and preserved in extraordinary unrestored condition with exemplary documentation, this Stratos HF Stradale is a mesmerizing time capsule example of one of the most iconic, influential and successful purpose-built Italian sports cars of the 1970s. It is offered with confidence to collectors who prize absolute originality and forward-thinking design.
(Introductory description courtesy of Gooding Christie’s.)
