What's better than watching homologation specials and unorthodox classics kick up dirt on a forest rally stage?
Kicking off the group is a 1985 Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.3 16V in a retro-inspired Grundig racing livery. If there was an award for classiest rally car, this pristine example would surely win. Though it’s been appropriately modified and aesthetically equipped for rallying purposes, the highly sought-after sedan has kept its classic bones intact. The interior plaid door paneling remains in addition to the relatively stock bodywork. It’s also important to note that this photo was taken right after it ran the rally stage.
As a touring car series legend, the 190E was known for its superb chassis dynamics, dog-leg gearbox, and Cosworth-developed inline-four. With a log-booked cage and rally-adjusted suspension, it excelled at powering the rear through loose corners. And, boy, did it sound good as it lapped the dirt-packed loop, unleashing a number of horses below 200. A metallic rasp echoed through the forest along with the sound of ricocheting rocks against the undercarriage.
The safety features of the car maintain the period-correct nature of the historic vehicle. The roll cage tubing is sleek and polished, the original dash remained intact with a modern single unit instrument display installed, and the temperature controls were left in. Even the Sparco bucket seats were customized with a door card matching plaid! The painted steel wheels are a strong and more economical option for the driver and crew alike, though it does add unsprung weight to a comparatively large chassis. Seeing a 190E is always a cool experience, but seeing one ripping down a stage rally was a once-in-a-lifetime treat.
The Lotus Esprit conjures visions of 20th-century defining design, racing heritage, and the two people who made Lotus: Colin Chapman and Colin Dare. Typically, the Lotus name doesn’t equate with rallying, unless you are talking about the Talbot Sunbeam or rally-spec Exige. In the wonderful automotive world we live in today, however, just about everything you can think of exists. For example, a 1972 Lotus Esprit S1 rally car.
This pre-production car is a rally-stage regular at Goodwood and is extensively modified. The rear overhang of the car has been chopped and the spaceframe chassis was modified as a result. Most of the bodywork, like the louver hood and rear bumper, is aftermarket as are the mechanics. This car was originally driven by Cypriot racer Dimi Mavgropolis and is now owned by Terry Maynard.
The unorthodox rally car is driven through a Hewland DG300 gearbox and powered by a swapped 3.9-liter Rover V8. The paint is chipped and faded, the interior looks worn, and the car was dirty the whole weekend—just like it should be.
In stark contrast to the Lotus, a Saab 99 is exactly the kind of car to dominate historic conceptions of rally. Driven by Stig Blomqvist, the pair won two World Rally Championship races in Sweden, in 1977 and 1979, respectively. One year later, Saab ceased competitive motorsports and continued its focus on building passenger cars, but the 99 left a lasting mark on rally history. Powered by a 2.0-liter, turbocharged inline-four borrowed from Triumph, the 99 EMS and Turbo models had a growl that set them apart from other four-cylinder engines of that era.
The 99 was a technological boom for the Swedish company, featuring four-stroke engines and turbocharging. Saab can’t claim turbocharging as a technology it pioneered, but it certainly helped bring the induction system to mass market. The turbocharged versions of the 99 were potent and have become desirable drivers’ cars. The 99 was sold for over 15 years, with sales starting in 1968 and ending in 1984, and went through four-engine types and multiple redesigns before becoming the 900.
This example features an understated but fitting paint scheme in addition to period-correct European parts manufacturer decals. The wheels are Saab OEM wheels with some knobby gravel tires fitted. Modest lighting modifications and hood pins make up the rest of the exterior modifications. With the appropriate roll cage and Sabelt seats fitted, the owner decided to keep this model as a subtle testament to a defining era of rally history.
Steeped in rally pedigree, Audi’s reputation largely stemmed from its Group B dominating Quattro coupe. The boxy yet timeless design is an icon of car culture, but it is not the only car Audi has rallied. Falling in line with the Mercedes 190E, Audi raced the 200 sedan with Walter Röhrl behind the wheel. Due to evolving homologation standards, the 200 was picked over the Quattro coupe, and it made its debut at the Monte-Carlo Rally in 1987. It went on to race in Kenya Safari Rally later that year before withdrawing from rally entirely in 1988. Röhrl and Audi did go on to race the 200 Quattro in the Trans-Am road racing series.
The 200 wasn’t as mechanically exciting as the Quattro, but it still retains some unique features as compared to today’s offerings. Powered by a 10-valve, turbocharged inline-five, the rally car cranked out 238 horsepower and around 240 lb-ft of torque. Weighing in at just over 3000 lbs, it wasn’t the fastest nor the lightest of the group, but that didn’t stop Röhrl from securing third in Monte-Carlo Rally and second at the Kenya Safari Rally. The car was driven through a six-speed gearbox and power was fed to the wheels through Audi’s Quattro all-wheel-drive system.
As nostalgia goes, this Audi 200 livery is a testament to 1980s branding: HB international cigarettes and retro-Michelin Man included. The bodywork on the rally-spec is largely stock but the lighting has been modified front and rear. Classic Recaro seats make up the notable bits of the cabin. This specific model appears to have been maintained from its original delivery and is found at Goodwood and other historical car events with some regularity.
Keyword: 4 Nostalgic Rally Cars at the Goodwood Festival of Speed