Images thanks to Girardo & Co
This magic 1983 Lancia 037 Group B claimed second overall in the 1983 Targa Florio and won the 1983 Rally Internazionale della Lana. It’s up for sale at Girardo & Co.
The car, chassis 178, was built in 1982 and assigned to the Jolly Club racing team in their green and orange livery at the start of 1983.
It made its debut at the 1983 Targa Florio with Carlo Capone at the wheel and Luigi Pirollo on the notes. Lancia’s 037 Rally dominated that event, with four entered and the three that finished locking out the podium. Capone and Pirollo took this car to second, following the 037 Rally driven by Franco Cunico.
Fourth in the Rally Costa Smeralda followed before the car claimed a prestigious European rally win in the 1983 Rally Internazionale della Lana, again with Capone piloting. Following that round, the car was entered in R6 colours at Rallye Sanremo and handed to Andrea Zanussi for his World Rally Championship debut. Zanussi’s debut was not the success he hoped, going off after running well in fourth and fifth and retiring after stage 33.
The car was sold to HF Grifone in 1984, picking up Olio Fiat sponsorship and the corresponding blue and yellow livery. Fabrizio Tabaton piloted it in the 1984 Sanremo rally, driving it to fourth overall.
1985 saw the Lancia driven by Massimo Lugli, contesting four rounds of the Italian championship. In 1986 he claimed second place in both the Tirrenia Rally and the Rally Dell’Emilia with Enrico Santini as his navigator.
In 1987 the car went to Raceprogram di Giovanni Claudio, entering the final rally of its period career – the 1987 Rally del Sestriere. Luca and Rita Borghi ended its career on a high note, completing the rally on the podium in third.
The car went into Angelo Chiapparini’s hands in 1990, eventually passing on to his wife, Gianna Luigia Croce. In 2004 Girardo & Co purchased the car. They returned it to Turin and its long-time mechanics Elio and Giovanni Baldi for inspection and rebuild, also taking the opportunity to restore the bodywork and finish it in its 1984 Rallye Sanremo Olio Fiat Livery.
This storied and stunning example of Group B’s rear-wheeled legend is in excellent condition will be welcome at classic motorsport events around the world. For the full details, head to Girardo & Co.
History and images thanks to Girardo & Co
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