A new Grp4 being built

[GaryFitz]

Today i took the plunge and put my money where my mouth is. Having decided that my ex-works Grp4 needs to be preserved and not thrashed within an inch of it's life, today I bought a Stradale that has been sitting boxes after the owner stopped converting it to a Grp4 car several years ago. The car comes with all the right bits, it just needs to be built. It will of course retain it's original chassis number, and we are arranging for the whole project to be shipped to Italy for completion. I will start to post photo's as the project progresses. FYI the build brief for this car is to enable me to compete in current FIA rallies, and I am interested in your opinions on what to do and what not to do. As if today was not big enough, I have been offered a 1992 round winning factory Martini Integrale. Starting the negotiation on this one which may take several weeks so I will keep you posted. A very good day by my standards.

[SUSIT]

Congrats Gary but please please tell us you will bring it to Abingdon for a thrash when its completed.
For what its worth I would fit a present day FIA cage so that I could use it on whatever and feel safe.
To ensure you finish events fitting a Alfa V6 would be good, Only Joking :D :D
Its your car, build it how you wish, use it how you wish and enjoy :)

[Swamprat33]

Problem is Gary, that we now want to see both cars at Abingdon :D

Cheers

Tim

[tryphon]

That sounds much more sensible than your initial intentions Gary.
I hope the car you bought is not this one:
http://www.carclassic.com/stock.asp?StockID=102733

If it is all hope is not lost but you would have been much better off buying a plain vanilla Stradale as properly converting this one will cost you more.

Whatever you do please ask prior to going ahead with anything people like Thomas or Aldo or Roberto or Ernst for their input. It will avoid alot of problems and badly spent funds. Aldo can convert the car for you but it will take around 2 years. My advice is go ahead and do it as the result will be above anything you can imagine.

I decided to convert my Stradale myself and if it was to be done all over again I would have chosen the above mentionned path. My decision to convert it on my own was down to allowing me to know exactly what was needed in order to do the job properly. It has cost me more than having Aldo do it but the benefit of it all was that now I KNOW exactly what goes where, how, why, how much, where to source it, ...
Better not mess with the hell of sourcing parts yourself, mine come from Germany, Italy, Japan, US, ...very lengthy, costly but the only way to meet my expectations.

My advice: Send the car to Aldo and have him do the work as you need to change everything: Strip the car, paint nude chassis, source parts, have new body panels made by Luigino who's in Thailand now and bound to come back in spring, build everything, adjust, test,...

If you need my help don't hesitate I'll try to help as much as I can.

[guy mayers]

Gary - have you got this mag?

http://cgi.ebay.com/Lancia-Stratos-BRM-V16-Chevron-etc_W0QQitemZ8363626953QQcategoryZ30134QQrdZ1QQcmd ZViewItem

Your car?
Guy

[GaryFitz]

Guy, I dont knowif that car is mine or the third car they built, but I will try and buy it anyway.

I fully agree with all the comments made by Tryphoon, and to be clear mine is not the car being sold on Classic Cars. This car is a bog standard Stradale, and the guy has collected all of teh necessary Group 4 parts for the conversion but never completed the project. As it stands, the chassis has been stripped down, and all of the parts are in boxes and catalogued. I am lucky as it includes original group 4 wheels and body work (round arches), as well as all of the suspension. The engine is standard and I will have it sent to a specialist for re-building as a big valave engine so I have a spare motor. My intention will be to have a full FIA cage fitted, and I guess I will wait to see what I will do with the shocks (original Bilsteins or proflex). The body work is currently painted in Marlboro colors but I will either come up with a new and original paint scheme for it (my preference) or may consider having it painted in the same color as my original car.

I will ask the builder in Italy if he will allow me to publish his name, but be assured it is somebody who knows what they are doing. I will post photo's of the boxes and cars as it stands shortly. Cheers Gary

[chris.richard]

Great news Gary - how wide is the grin today? :)

[guy mayers]

It will have period pictures of your car Gary as it's about the best unravelling of the Chequered Flag story that I've ever seen. You might ot learn anything new from it but it's woth having!
Guy

[Chris J]

It will have period pictures of your car Gary as it's about the best unravelling of the Chequered Flag story that I've ever seen. You might ot learn anything new from it but it's woth having!
Guy

You're right Guy, it's a 'must have' magazine/article.

The car on the cover is being tested at Wombleton airfield near Kirkbymoorside, Nth. Yorks. and it's the THIRD car - the one that belongs to Lord Mexborough (from near Helmsley Nth.Yorks)

I think the car doesn't carry any identity, which is a shame.

[tryphon]

Chassis 1557 is still up for sale, proper Gr.4 car that with minor work could have fulfilled a very successful carreer in historic rallying. Might have been a better alternative...