In November 1970, Bertone unveiled the original Stratos at the Turin Show, and the Marcello Gandini-designed Stratos was met with great excitement.
In November 1971, the second prototype car was presented to Lancia, which was replaced with an entirely new design featuring a midship layout, and the development goal was to win the WRC title.
The following year, while still a prototype, it took part in various rallies and preparations for mass production progressed, with production of the Stratos starting in October 1973.
The mass-produced car's body is a steel monocoque in the center, with front and rear cowls made of FRP, and the cowls can be opened wide to improve maintenance. The engine is a V6 5-degree 6-cylinder DOHC engine developed for the Ferrari Dino 246GT. The Stratos engine, developed for road racing, has been modified to emphasize low-speed torque, producing a maximum output of 190ps/7,000rpm and a torque of 23.0kg/4,000rpm.
The suspension is double wishbone at the front and MacPherson strut coil at the rear, and is designed to allow a wide range of adjustment even for a production car.
The interior of the Stratos was developed as a rally car, so it is equipped with minimal equipment and, like the exterior, is not spacious, but the opinions of Sandro Munari, the 180cm tall works driver, have been incorporated to the maximum extent possible.
500 mass-produced cars were produced, and they obtained Group 4 homologation in October 1974. The Stratos continued to be popular, and an additional 500 were produced.
The Stratos made its debut at the 5th round of the WRC, the San Remo Rally, in 1974, and won the manufacturers' title that season. Its strength continued into 1975 and 1976, when it began to participate fully, achieving the remarkable feat of winning the manufacturers' title three years in a row. Developed as the world's first purpose-built machine, the Stratos is a supercar that remains popular as a rally car representative of the 1970s.
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Length: 3,710mm
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Width: 1,750mm
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Wheelbase: 2,180mm
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Track (F/R): 1,430/1,460mm
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Engine type: Water-cooled 65° V6 DOHC
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Bore x stroke: φ92.5 x 60.0mm
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Total displacement: 2,418cc
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Compression ratio: 9.0:1
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Maximum power: 190ps/7,000rpm
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Maximum speed: 230km/h
- Vehicle weight: 980kg