1983 Lancia Rally 037

The Lancia Rally 037 was developed in the early 1980s as a response to the competitive environment of Group B rallying, which encouraged manufacturers to develop highly specialized, high-performance rally cars with minimal homologation requirements. It was designed as the successor to the Lancia Stratos, which had dominated the WRC in the late 1970s, but with a more modern approach to chassis and aerodynamics. The project was carried out in collaboration with Abarth and Pininfarina, combining Lancia’s rallying expertise with advanced engineering and aerodynamic refinement. The chassis was derived from the Lancia Beta Montecarlo but underwent extensive modifications to optimize weight distribution, rigidity, and adaptability to various rally conditions. It featured a lightweight tubular spaceframe reinforced with composite materials such as fiberglass and Kevlar to improve structural integrity while minimizing overall weight. The mid-engine layout ensured better balance, crucial for high-speed cornering on both tarmac and gravel surfaces. The powerplant was a supercharged 2.0-liter inline-four engine developed by Abarth, using a Volumex Roots-type supercharger. Unlike turbocharged competitors such as the Audi Quattro, which suffered from turbo lag, the Lancia 037’s supercharger provided immediate throttle response and a more linear power delivery. In its initial competition form, the engine produced around 280 horsepower, though later evolutions reached over 310 horsepower as the team refined the engine mapping, intake, and exhaust systems. Power was transmitted exclusively to the rear wheels via a five-speed manual gearbox, a characteristic that distinguished it from its emerging all-wheel-drive rivals. While this configuration limited traction on loose surfaces, it provided advantages in weight savings and predictable handling. The suspension system used a sophisticated double wishbone setup at both the front and rear, with adjustable coil springs and dampers designed to cope with the extreme demands of rally competition. The Lancia Rally 037 made its World Rally Championship debut in the 1982 season, but its most notable achievement came in 1983 when it secured the Manufacturers’ Championship for Lancia. Despite the rise of all-wheel-drive technology, it managed to outperform the Audi Quattro in key events, thanks to its superior handling dynamics, lower weight, and highly responsive supercharged engine. The 037 was particularly dominant on tarmac rallies, where traction was less of a disadvantage and its precise steering and balanced chassis provided significant advantages. Throughout its competitive career, it was driven by some of the most renowned rally drivers of the era, including Walter Röhrl, Markku Alén, and Henri Toivonen. Röhrl’s performance in the 1983 season was instrumental in securing the title, demonstrating the car’s potential against increasingly advanced competition. Although the transition to all-wheel-drive technology soon rendered the 037 less competitive, it remained in use for several seasons, with Lancia developing incremental updates to maintain its competitiveness. By 1985, it was largely replaced by the more advanced Lancia Delta S4, which combined both a supercharger and a turbocharger in a twin-charged setup to address power delivery issues. Despite its relatively short-lived dominance, the Lancia Rally 037 had a lasting impact on rally car design and development. Its engineering principles influenced subsequent rally cars, particularly in terms of weight distribution, chassis rigidity, and the benefits of supercharging in motorsport applications. The Lancia Rally 037 is regarded as an iconic example of Group B rally engineering, its historical significance is marked not only by its success in the 1983 WRC season but also by its distinction as the last rear-wheel-drive car to win a World Rally Championship title, marking the end of an era in rallying history.

The 1983 Lancia Rally 037 "Evoluzione 2" represented the final evolution of the model, introduced to maintain competitiveness against the increasingly dominant all-wheel-drive rivals. The most significant upgrade was the increase in engine displacement from 1,995 cc to 2,111 cc, along with revised internals and tuning that pushed output beyond 325 horsepower. The supercharger system was further refined to enhance mid-range torque, improving drivability on mixed surfaces. To accommodate the additional power and improve stability, the suspension was upgraded with reinforced components and revised geometry. Weight reduction efforts continued, with additional use of composite materials and lighter body panels. Aerodynamic modifications included a larger rear wing and subtle refinements to the bodywork to optimize airflow. Despite these improvements, the 037 Evoluzione 2 struggled to match the pace of the four-wheel-driven Audi Quattro and Peugeot 205 T16. Nonetheless, the Evoluzione 2 remains a significant step in the development of rally cars, marking the peak of rear-wheel-drive performance before the complete transition to all-wheel-drive dominance in Group B rallying.

The Lancia Rally 037 Evoluzione 2, chassis no. ZFA151AR000000416, was built in 1983 and began its top-tier racing career in the World Rally Championship as an official Fiat Group car. The car remained under Fiat ownership from November 2, 1983, to October 27, 1992. It made its debut in January 1984 at the Monte Carlo Rally, competing in Martini Racing livery and finishing eighth overall. It was driven by the legendary Finnish duo Markku Alén and Ilkka Kivimäki, who later secured first place at the Tour de Corse in May and second place at the 1000 Lakes Rally in August. The car concluded the season at the Rally Autodromo di Monza for the "Trofeo Ufficiali di Gara Automobile Club Milano", driven by another legendary rally team: Giorgio Pianta and Sergio Cresto. Times changed quickly, and in 1985, while still under Fiat’s aegis, the car left the official Squadra Corse and was entrusted to Jolly Club. It adopted the “Tre Gazzelle – West” livery. The historic Jolly Team, which worked closely with Lancia, often had different sponsors from the official Martini Racing team. Among them were Tre Gazzelle, an Italian coffee brand, and West, a cigarette brand, which were combined in this sponsorship. The 1985 season brought further success with drivers Mauro Pregliasco and Daniele Cianci. The car finished third overall at the Elpa Halkidikis Rally in Greece, fourth overall at the Rallye d'Antibes and Rallye Catalunya, faced setbacks at the Rallye do Algarve and the San Marino Rally, but then secured fifth overall at the Rallye du Var, now in a slightly different “Tre Gazzelle – Depositi” livery. Once again, the season ended at the Rally Autodromo di Monza, where it claimed first place overall with Adartico Vudafieri and Tiziana Borghi. In 1986, the car competed again for the Jolly Club, under the “Sitma-Nike-Clarion” livery. That year, it achieved third overall at the Rali Vinho da Madeira, driven by Alessandrini-Alessandrini. However, after 1986, as the all-wheel-drive Group B cars became increasingly dominant, the car was retired from competition. In October 1992, it was purchased by Marina Dallari, who later sold it to Effegi Trading in January 1994, only to reacquire it in July 1997. From 1997 to 2021, the car belonged to Safi Srl, and since 2021, it has been part of a private collection. In September 2021, the car appeared in excellent condition at the Audrain Newport Concours & Motor Week in the United States, where it won first in class in the “B02 - Born on the Track” category.