Return of Lancia Stratos?

[pimento]

Apparently they're open to the possibility of a run of about 25 cars, so.. get your chequebooks out gentlemen!

[Ferrer]

OK, props for an owner that wants something that won't only be able to run on glass. But off road and dirt roads still aren't the same thing.

Well...

I still maintain it wasn't built for off-roading, though.

[pimento]

With that shape it's a good candidate for an amphibious car.. just gotta put a nice smooth undertray on there.

[wwgkd]

Well...

I still maintain it wasn't built for off-roading, though.

Haha. All right, I may have to concede that bit.

Still, as you say it wasn't built for it. I once saw a second to last gen T-Bird crossing a creek about that deep and 10 feet wide by getting a run at it and skipping across. Doesn't mean it was designed to do that.

[cargirl1990]

This car made my day!!!

[Matra et Alpine]

Well it's not more an off-road car than an A110 or a 911 are, isn't it?

Former winning the Morrocan Rally, the latter the DAKAR.
You don't get much more "off road" than those to win

THough I agree, compared to the strength of the Escorts and the to follow Integrales, Quattros and 205s

hey, let's not be too slective on pics.
Even Escorts struggle on those wide running water fords

These are from when rallies WERE real and men drove them hard and long

[wwgkd]

Former winning the Morrocan Rally, the latter the DAKAR.
You don't get much more "off road" than those to win

THough I agree, compared to the strength of the Escorts and the to follow Integrales, Quattros and 205s

hey, let's not be too slective on pics.
Even Escorts struggle on those wide running water fords

These are from when rallies WERE real and men drove them hard and long

1. Those cars are still very different from their street versions with a lot of midifications aimed at offroading.

2. Those rallies are still fairly tame as offroading goes. They're really more about going fast over mild terrain than getting over really tough terrain.

[Ferrer]

1. Those cars are still very different from their street versions with a lot of midifications aimed at offroading.

2. Those rallies are still fairly tame as offroading goes. They're really more about going fast over mild terrain than getting over really tough terrain.

These days the cars weren't that different from the ir road going counterparts. At least not as different as today.

And don't dismiss the value of stamina, endurance and just general toughness in proper rallying. And over to you now, Matra...

[Brix]

Former winning the Morrocan Rally, the latter the DAKAR.
You don't get much more "off road" than those to win

Wasn't it the 959 which won Dakar?

[Matra et Alpine]

911 carrera 4x4s were 1st and 2nd in '84.
But I consider 959 a 911 just as much as a 996 or 997 etc etc
It's the silly shape and engine position dna.

wwqkd, I think I said already that I wasn't referring off-road to the likes of Baja or Icelandic ash climbing or coudl argue the Dakar

Proper rallies in proper cars
In the 70s rally cars were pretty much standard with additional plating at suspension mounting points welded on and for live rear axles additional links. Soft/hard, long/short springs to alter suspension height and compliance. That and skid sump/diff guards and off you go ! To a reasonable inspection our Mk1 Escort was a Boreham works shell -- all welded at home

[wwgkd]

These days the cars weren't that different from the ir road going counterparts. At least not as different as today.

And don't dismiss the value of stamina, endurance and just general toughness in proper rallying. And over to you now, Matra...

No argument there. You'll notice my lazy butt is sitting on the couch eating a pizza watching it on TV.

911 carrera 4x4s were 1st and 2nd in '84.
But I consider 959 a 911 just as much as a 996 or 997 etc etc
It's the silly shape and engine position dna.

wwqkd, I think I said already that I wasn't referring off-road to the likes of Baja or Icelandic ash climbing or coudl argue the Dakar

Proper rallies in proper cars
In the 70s rally cars were pretty much standard with additional plating at suspension mounting points welded on and for live rear axles additional links. Soft/hard, long/short springs to alter suspension height and compliance. That and skid sump/diff guards and off you go ! To a reasonable inspection our Mk1 Escort was a Boreham works shell -- all welded at home

Ahh. I read the "it doesn't get more offroad than that" and had forgotten the earlier bits.

That's how proper rally cars should be built, IMO. These days it seems like nothing but the name resembles the actual car. Still even with those simple mods you can make a pretty big difference in the cars abilities.

[Matra et Alpine]

That's how proper rally cars should be built, IMO.

^^^^ SOME of us lamented GroupB for the same reasons.

and then we saw ( and HEARD ) them in the flesh

[Ferrer]

Late 70's was the best rallying era.

Group B is overrated.

[Matra et Alpine]

wtf?
Integrale, 6R4, RS200, 205T16, RX7 (!)
never "overrated" Well over-powered tho'

[Ferrer]

wtf?
Integrale, 6R4, RS200, 205T16, RX7 (!)
never "overrated" Well over-powered tho'

That's a Group A car.

Overrated in the sense of evryone considering it the best era ever. When it isn't.