The homologated road-going version of the last rear-wheel-drive car to win the WRC Manufacturers’ Championship. The Lancia 037 Group B is so much more than just a pretty face.
Lancia had a huge run during the mid 1970s with the Stratos, they won three consecutive World Rally Championships between 1974 and 1976 and had captured the attention of racing fans worldwide.
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Following up that act in the early 1980s was no mean feat, made even more difficult by the fact that all-wheel-drive was now exploding onto the scene. Enter the Lancia 037 Group B, which after an inconsistent debut season in 1982 came together to win the Manufacturer’s Title in 1983 thanks to the combined efforts of Walter Rohrl and Markku Alen, who placed 2nd and 3rd respectively behind Hannu Mikkola and his beastly Audi quattro S1 in the driver’s championship.
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The Lancia 037 Group B would be remembered as the last rear-driven car to ever achieve such a result. The era of the Audi quattro and Peugeot 205 T16 then arrived.
What you’re looking at here is one of the 200 road-going 037s which Lancia had to build in order to enter the car in Group B rally. It’s an undisguised race car for the road, and that’s exactly what owner Philip Toledano loves about it.
“It’s not like [the 037] was just a sports car designed for people who wanted to go fast,” says Phil. “This was designed for a purpose, and I love things that were designed specifically for a purpose, like a tool–except it’s a fast tool that scares the crap out of you.”
Take a look at this fantastic video showcasing his 037, shot and edited by Petrolicious:
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