Have you ever found yourself in the middle of a discussion with other people or friends who are also enthusiastic about cars, and you started bragging about all the cool ones you've ever driven? Well, simply mentioning the fact that you've driven a road-going, Group B homologation vehicle would be something a very limited number of people would be able to match.
We stumbled across Davide Cironi's channel and were surprised to see a large selection of special vehicles he has driven and reviewed. A Bugatti Chiron, a Pagani Zonda F, a Ferrari F50, and the list doesn't stop here. His newest video shows him reviewing the Lancia 037, a road-legal version of the Lancia Rally 037. Back in the day, the Group B monster managed to win several rallies with Walter Rohrl and Markku Allen behind the wheel.
Some 217 road-going Lancia 037s were produced between 1982 and 1984, and you could certainly see the similarities they shared with the race version. As he drives along some very interesting Italian B-roads, Davide mentions that: "Compared to the race version it lacks the straight-cut gearbox and some power obviously but I swear I don't feel any lack of power whatsoever on the road, quite the contrary."
Yes, he has driven the rally version as well, and he also had the opportunity of taking a Peugeot 205 T16 out for a spin too. Further reinforcing the idea that Lancia mostly wanted to meet the homologation requirements, thinking less about how these cars would feel like on the road, Davide adds that: "Among the road-going Group Bs, it's also the most similar to the race car."
Photo: Davide Cironi
The setup of the car is certainly one to make you gasp for air as you get to experience it. The engine is sitting right behind the driver, and it delivers a little over 200 horsepower to the rear wheels. Seeing that the car only weighs around 2,500 lbs (1,170 kg), it's quite a nimble machine and very capable in the real world that comes with bumps and potholes on the road. It must have been mind-blowing back in the '80s when it was launched.
While the rally car might end up costing as much as $1 million, you can consider yourself lucky if you get your hands on the street-going version for around half that price. Sure, you can argue that there are faster cars out there for that budget, but are they Group B homologation vehicles? Comparing the two versions of the 037, Davide mentions that "The racing version is absurd, but even the road one is truly enjoyable."
Davide ends by saying "If it had 50 more horsepower, it would be the ultimate road car, but it's right the way it is without being terrifying. The steering, the transmission, the engine whistle...if you add it all up, it's exceptionally engaging." Now, if you can allow yourselves to just dream for a bit and imagine what it would feel like to drive all of the Group B homologation vehicles; which one do you think you'd fall in love with?
The things Dragos enjoys the most in life are, in no particular order: cars, motorcycles, diecast cars, and drifting. He's seen (and driven) many vehicles since he started his writing career back in 2009, but his garage currently houses a 1991 Mazda RX-7 FC3S Turbo II and a 1999 Suzuki SV650-S. Full profile
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