The Lancia Stratos is one of the world’s most iconic motorsport machines. Its unique Bertone wedge was a clear sign that this unique car was purpose-built with performance in mind. Designed to contest in the rough and tumble world of rallying, the homologation special was something of a trailblazer for the extreme machines that followed it. Jay Leno takes a ride and rediscovers why the little Lancia is worshiped.
This immaculate Lancia Stratos HF is a wonderful example of the rally legend. It actually used to belonged to a friend of Jay’s who sadly died of leukaemia over the past year. According to Leno, John Campion made it big in America and eventually accumulated a series of prized Italian exotica. This 1975 Stratos was one of his most favoured – we can see why.
This car actually started life as the Stratos Zero concept, a bold move by the Bertone design house that built the model before turning up unannounced at Lancia HQ with it. The car was penned by Marcello Gandini who had previously been responsible for the Lamborghini Miura. According to reports at the time, the tiny sports car concept was cheered into the factory as it drove clean under the security barrier. Lancia bosses signed off on the project, and the rest is history.
The Lancia Stratos went on to clean up in the rally championship, winning the whole thing with titles in 1974, '75 and ’76. It even won the fabled Monte Carlo rally three times in a row in 1975, ’76 and 1977. Even after its noteworthy works career, privateer teams continued to enjoy great success with the Stratos.
Jay Leno again shows his true enthusiasm of cars by inspecting every small detail of this Lancia, obsessing over window latches and the car’s small scale. After some serious scrutiny, including a look underneath the car, Leno hits the streets in a blaze of engine noise. Relishing the Stratos’ short gearing and agility, he remarks how ‘this is one of those dates where in the first five minutes you’re in love.’
Check out the video and Jay Leno’s YouTube channel – a great place to feast on classic car content during lockdown.
Read more
Keyword: Watch Jay Leno fall in love with the Lancia Stratos