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The Lancia 037 is a legendary rally car that emerged in the early 1980s as a direct response to the evolving world of Group B rally racing. Developed by Lancia in collaboration with Abarth and Pininfarina, the 037 was introduced in 1982 as a successor to the Fiat 131 Abarth. It was designed specifically to compete in Group B, a class known for its minimal restrictions and extreme performance.
What made the 037 particularly distinctive was its adherence to rear-wheel drive, at a time when four-wheel drive systems were becoming the standard for competitive rallying. Based on the Lancia Montecarlo, the 037 featured a tubular spaceframe chassis with lightweight Kevlar and fiberglass body panels. It was powered by a mid-mounted 2.0-liter, four-cylinder supercharged engine producing around 280 to 325 horsepower in race trim. The supercharger was chosen over a turbocharger for its linear power delivery and responsiveness—key advantages on twisty rally stages.
Despite being rear-wheel drive, the 037 achieved remarkable success. Its greatest triumph came in the 1983 World Rally Championship, where it secured the manufacturers’ title for Lancia, narrowly defeating the all-wheel-drive Audi Quattro. This victory remains historic, as the 037 was the last rear-wheel-drive car to win the WRC championship.
As Group B evolved, the 037 began to show its age against increasingly powerful and advanced 4WD rivals. It was succeeded by the Lancia Delta S4 in 1985, which marked Lancia’s shift to all-wheel drive. Nevertheless, the 037 remains a cult icon—praised for its purity, design, and the sheer skill it demanded from drivers.
Today, the Lancia 037 is celebrated as a masterpiece of rally engineering and a symbol of a daring era in motorsport history.
This particular 037 was campaigned throught out the 1980s with notably, two appearances in the Tour de Course
