From 1982 to the end of the 1986 season of the World Rally Championship, Group B was the “it” word of the motorsport world. Due to the outright performance of Group B-specification rally cars, the class was disestablished after the death of Henri Pauli Toivonen in the 1986 Tour de Corse. Despite the short-lived existence, the unhinged Group B class has acquired noble status among rallying enthusiasts.
Lancia was among the first automakers to jump on the Group B bandwagon with the introduction of the 037, also known as the Lancia Rally 037 or Lancia-Abarth #037. The single most insane 2-wheel-drive rally car ever made is also the only 2-wheel-drive rally car to beat the all-wheel-drive Audi Quattro at its own game.
After the 1983 season, Lancia went to win a handful of titles with the Delta, the single most successful model designation ever to compete in the World Rally Championship. In order to let the 037 work its magic in the 1982 World Rally Championship, Lancia (and Abarth) had to produce at least 200 units of the road-going 037. And good golly, it did build around 220 examples of the 037 Stradale from 1982 to 1983.
The car featured in the image above isn’t one of them. In fact, this is a 1980 Lancia Rally SE 037, the first prototype of the mid-engined supercar. Slated to go under the hammer next month in Monte Carlo, the first-ever 037 is estimated to fetch as much as €400,000 ($452,310). That’s cheap, like properly cheap for an Italian thoroughbred that was first owned by Abarth, then by Sergio Limone, the father of the Lancia 037.
The Bonhams auction house adds that chassis number SE037-001 was restored in 2013 and 2014, an item of expenditure that doesn’t only increase the value of the car but should keep collectors on their toes.
The lucky guy or gal who will acquire this baby will also be presented with a valid UK V5C registration document, FIVA papers, and a Registro Lancia passport (confirming the ownership of Sergio Limone).
After the 1983 season, Lancia went to win a handful of titles with the Delta, the single most successful model designation ever to compete in the World Rally Championship. In order to let the 037 work its magic in the 1982 World Rally Championship, Lancia (and Abarth) had to produce at least 200 units of the road-going 037. And good golly, it did build around 220 examples of the 037 Stradale from 1982 to 1983.
The car featured in the image above isn’t one of them. In fact, this is a 1980 Lancia Rally SE 037, the first prototype of the mid-engined supercar. Slated to go under the hammer next month in Monte Carlo, the first-ever 037 is estimated to fetch as much as €400,000 ($452,310). That’s cheap, like properly cheap for an Italian thoroughbred that was first owned by Abarth, then by Sergio Limone, the father of the Lancia 037.
The Bonhams auction house adds that chassis number SE037-001 was restored in 2013 and 2014, an item of expenditure that doesn’t only increase the value of the car but should keep collectors on their toes.
The lucky guy or gal who will acquire this baby will also be presented with a valid UK V5C registration document, FIVA papers, and a Registro Lancia passport (confirming the ownership of Sergio Limone).