Group 4 Stradale conversion started

[GaryFitz]

My Group 4 conversion of a stradale has now started, expected to take 12 months, and I will post photo's as they become available. Having the seat lowered in the chassis and a current reg FIA cage fitted so we can use this on FIA controlled events. Decided to reuse my spare 2 Valve engine and fit it into this car.

On a seperate subject, the Ahgini 92 San Remo Deltona is about to be shipped to me in March and today I finalized a deal on an Evo II 037 Martini car (driven by Preston Junior in the Safari followed by Marcu Allen the following year)

So I think my Lancia rally car collection is complete.

[tryphon]

You already have an S4?

[GaryFitz]

Fair point, no I don't as they scare the be-jesus out of me. I think my megre talent runs out at 400bhp and after that.......

Have thought about it but decided to delete this chapter in order to stay alive for a little bit longer.

Cheers gary

[tryphon]

Gary I'm sure you've seen the pictures of your car when "found" in Africa haven't you?

[GaryFitz]

Gary I'm sure you've seen the pictures of your car when "found" in Africa haven't you?
I have seen one. It waqs painted yellow and looked to be a real mess, I you have others please email. Regards Gary

[tryphon]

Gary I tried this morning but the mail was too big 13MB, will send each picture of 1637 individually. You're bound to be VERY surpsised if you haven't seen them before.

[chris.richard]

Can you post one on here too Tryphon?

[tryphon]

Here's one showing the chassis, the others are much worse...

[GaryFitz]

A real mess for sure, but it does show you that a great car never dies. These photo's are fantastic and I really apprreciate them. To see the car now you can appreciate how much effort went into it's restoration. I think the bravest guys on the planet must have been the Chequered Car rally drivers, I think I had seen these photo's and then the new rally car built from them I might have been somewhat hesitant. Thanks

[John]

Tryphon,
we like worse! Can you post the others!

[tryphon]

Is that OK Gary?
Have you noticed how the fuel pump switch is missing from the dashboard?
Did you know that these sell from 500 to 1000 euros today?
Whoever removed parts at the time knew what he was doing....

[Chris J]

Here's one showing the chassis, the others are much worse...

Isn't there a photo of this car in the same position, but from a different angle in the Reinhard Klein 'Rally Cars' book?

[tryphon]

The photos are from Reinhard.

[Chris J]

The photos are from Reinhard.

Thanks Tryphon, It must be the same one. There can't have been too many Stratos tubs lying around in back gardens in Africa?

[GaryFitz]

Things are what they are. Everybody knows that the car i own was the wreck you see in these photo's and I am not into censorship, so if Tryfon wants to publish them then it is no business of mine.

I do not intend to sell my car, so I am not at all worried about what people may think. The car has been rebuilt at least twice since then, 1) the checkered flag guys took this wreck and turned it into a rally car, and then b) the guy I bought it from had it completely stripped back and it went an nut and bolt ground up restoration. Today it is in magnificent condition, and I would argue, is one of the best around that you will ever see, complete with 24V engine.

If anybody ever comes to Japan, I will show you my collection, the Group 4, the 92 Integrale San Remo Winner, and my 037 Allen Safari Car.

Cheers Gary

[tryphon]

I will post the pictures, but not to diminish Gary's car value. On the contrary they are proof of its originality, its history and interesting adventures.
1637 is one of the finest examples to be found.

Notice how the dashboard instruments originally fitted by the factory and some detail layout is "non-standard". Goes to prove that each factory car was different.
Also, altough unclear on the picture, I have the impression the gas pedal uses the Stradale linkage.

[tryphon]

These look like early Gr.4 Ate 2 piston monobloc calipers.

Super special cyclon air induction system in the boot (all Safaris had it).

[tryphon]

Cyclon system again.

Note license plate light, nothing to do with the "original" item selling now at crazy prices...

[tryphon]

2 valve heads and engine block.

[tryphon]

Engine parts, cascade gears and clutch shaft.

Tutto originale...says the guy.

[tryphon]

I hope you appreciate the information and value in the messages above.

[strat6v]

great to see those pics. a little piece of history. :)

[mudhut]

If anybody ever comes to Japan, I will show you my collection, the Group 4, the 92 Integrale San Remo Winner, and my 037 Allen Safari Car.

Cheers Gary

Will be in Japan in about 4 weeks :D to visit my daughter (1 April to 16 April). Where are you Gary?

Regards

Peter

[John]

Gary, Tryphon,
thanks very much for sharing that with us. appreciate it very much and the spirit in which it has been done. We are all enthusiasts here!
For the more uninitiated (all right me then!) what is the full story? How long had the car been there?

[Sando]

Great to see all the pics Tryphon, I'd only seen the one on the Reinhard Klein book before.
I think it all adds to the provenance of Gary's car and as you say 'it's previous adventures' :)

Rob

[GaryFitz]

Peter, you have a PM, happy to show you and take you for a spin (not literally)

[GaryFitz]

I agree with the sentimants expressed and I am very greatful to Tryfon for sharing these pictures.

[Chris J]

I do not intend to sell my car, so I am not at all worried about what people may think. The car has been rebuilt at least twice since then, 1) the checkered flag guys took this wreck and turned it into a rally car, and then b) the guy I bought it from had it completely stripped back and it went an nut and bolt ground up restoration. Today it is in magnificent condition, and I would argue, is one of the best around that you will ever see, complete with 24V engine.Cheers Gary

Gary, I'm sure the better informed Stratos (and general rally) enthusiasts already know some of the story of your Group 4 Stratos. (From that 'Historic Race & Rally' magazine article as much as anything.) I think the more we find out about the car, the more fascinating it becomes. To me, it only adds to the car, it can't detract in any way? Talk about buried treasure?!, I think there's enough to write a small book on the car's eventful life? I'd buy it.

[PANOS]

Is that Alsatian dog peeing on the STRATO'S in the first picture Tryphon showed??????
If so, please tell me it was imediately shot!!!

CIAO PANOS

[tryphon]

Panos,

I'm sorry but the answer to your question is a yes. There's another clip where the dog in question plus a puppy relieve themselves on the chassis...

[PANOS]

So the dogs were shot then Tryphon.... Good, that's a relief!!! Pan intended.

CIAO PANOS

[CorseChris]

Don't forget the old tale about BMW engineers weeing on engine blocks to 'season' them prior to turnign them into fire breathing F1 monster motors.

Perhaps a good dose of dog wee will make it go quicker :D

Hope the smell has faded by now.

[chris.richard]

It waqs painted yellow and looked to be a real mess,

The latter certainly, but it looks more Alitalia coloured to me. :confused:

[pimms]

The latter certainly, but it looks more Alitalia coloured to me. :confused:

Hi Chris,
I think Gary was refering to the picture in "Race & Rally"magazine Feb/March 1993 ), page 37, with the Volvo road wheels.

Cheers

[pimms]

I think this one :o

[John]

Pardon me but that yellow car does not look like the car featured in the photos that tryphon has posted, which I understood to be the Chequered Flag car "as found" in Africa and which subsequently became Gary's car.
Any explanation?

[Chris J]

Pardon me but that yellow car does not look like the car featured in the photos that tryphon has posted, which I understood to be the Chequered Flag car "as found" in Africa and which subsequently became Gary's car.
Any explanation?

It IS the same car John. You can see the same small 'ramp' shaped roof scoop. It must have been thrown together as best they could? Hence the Volvo wheels. They're about the only 108mm five stud wheel you'd find lying around. Then the whole thing painted mostly yellow.

[Chris J]

'Just looking at the black and white photo of the burned out 'Stratos One' above the yellow car; 'Looks like it was the cam covers that provided the SEC club trophy?

[mogul_x]

Pardon me but that yellow car does not look like the car featured in the photos that tryphon has posted, which I understood to be the Chequered Flag car "as found" in Africa... Any explanation?

Gary did mention the car had been restored prior to his purchase. The yellow photo must be from an intermediate rebuild?

[SUSIT]

Gary did mention the car had been restored prior to his purchase. The yellow photo must be from an intermediate rebuild?


Yellow photo is taken prior to being turned into a CF car and used in the UK

[chris.richard]

Yellow photo is taken prior to being turned into a CF car and used in the UK

So it wasn't the CF blokes that found the "Pile o Shite" (tm) that Tryphon's photos are of, but somebody else that did the intermediate restoration we see here?

Tryphon, can you disclose the source of your photos?

[tryphon]

Found as in the pictures, imported and used by CF, then returned to Maglioli by its following owner (Japanese) for restoration to its "original" spec as an Alitalia car.
I say "original" because this was a Safari car and ended up a tarmac one.

[John]

So at what point did the pile of Alitalia liveried bodywork seen in Tryphon's photos become the yellow car? I'm not getting this at all!

[chris.richard]

Yes, it's a bit of an odd thing for CF to do. Ron Pellat's the one to know. Over to you Ron!
Pim, what's the signwriting on the rear panel?

[tryphon]

At that time, past FIA homologation, a race-beaten Stratos was worth nada.
Any dealer would pay you to get him rid of the car...
Several very important examples (Monte winners, Alitalia and Chardonnet cars, ...) have been bought in the mid 80s and early 90s for close to nothing as nobody wanted them.
The prototype (the aluminium bodied 1st car with dual wishbone rear suspension) went almost the same way when sold by the Lancia museum.
So no wonder that car ended up like in the pictures Pim posted.
The rest is history...

[chris.richard]

Do you think any/many were actually destroyed at that time Tryphon?

[tryphon]

It depends on what you mean by "destroyed". If you mean left to rot in fields, barns etc. then yes.
As you surely know the price turning point was reached soon after and it made sense to restore them by that time. Restoration prices were less than a third of what they are today then and used many more NOS parts.
Several 24V engines were also sold in the early 90s for "interesting" prices.

Around 380 cars survived racing and other nasty treatment. More originals are born as we speak...

[Chris J]

So at what point did the pile of Alitalia liveried bodywork seen in Tryphon's photos become the yellow car? I'm not getting this at all!

John,
The point when that happened can't have been that long? The early 'Alitalia' Safari 'left over' car came from the 1975 event. It must have been thrown together in the 'yellow' guise fairly quick, because it appeared fully prepared as Chequered Flag 'Stratos 2' on the Ulster Rally September 1976.

[Chris J]

Yes, it's a bit of an odd thing for CF to do. Ron Pellat's the one to know. Over to you Ron!
Pim, what's the signwriting on the rear panel?

You're right Chris, only the likes of Ron would know what really happened.

The signwriting on the yellow paintwork is:

"FRONTIER SAFARI" and
"CACCIA GROSSA"

As far as I can make out?

[Chris J]

Tryphon, can you disclose the source of your photos?

Photos are by Reinhard Klein.

[chris.richard]

"CACCIA GROSSA"



Big shit :confused: :eek:

[tryphon]

Big hunt...