1983 Lancia Rally 037 – Evolution II Specs

Sandwiched between Lancia’s fabulously competitive Stratos and its rules-orphaned Delta S4 was one of the maker’s more successful efforts in Group B: the project known as SE037. Representing a fusion of ideas from Lancia, Abarth, Pininfarina, and chassis constructor Dallara, the first 037s began their careers in 1982 as rear-engined, featherweight rally cars. That initial season was less than successful, but under FIA “Evolution” rules, manufacturers were encouraged toward continued development, with a scant requirement of only 20 homologated examples (stradale, or street), cars per “evo”. Lancia wasted no time enlarging the supercharged four-cylinder Abarth/Lampredi engine, fitting it with a new intake manifold, and improving the supercharger housing. The car – already weighing less than a ton – was put on another diet. The efforts paid off, as Lancia won the constructor’s championship in 1983. Today’s featured car exited the factory as a stradale, ordered new by Spaniard José Bernardo Cardín and fitted with a race engine from the outset. The car was rallied extensively into the 1980s, then converted in 1986 to Evo II specifications by Lancia’s Rally Service Department. Serious racing reconvened until 1989, when it was retired. Cardin began to use the car again in 2014, participating in historic rallies. He sold it to its second owner in 2021. Gooding Christie’s will auction this well-prepared, well-documented historic rally car on August 14th, at its Pebble Beach event. The estimate is $900,000 to $1.2 million. Araknid78, you’re on my wavelength – thanks for the tip!

The first 037 engines were based on Aurelio Lampredi’s 2.0-liter iron block/alloy head Tipo 232 AR4 four-cylinder. Conformed for dry-sump lubrication and supplied with a single twin-choke Weber, Marelli electronic ignition, and an Abarth R10 Roots Volumetric supercharger, this engine produced about 205 hp. It was mounted longitudinally in the car’s rear, flanked by two gas tanks, with power brought to the rear wheels by a ZF five-speed transaxle. Brembo brake discs were fitted at all four corners. The later Evo II saw displacement enlarged to 2.1 liters; coupled with the aforementioned technical improvements, the engine’s output jumped to 325 hp.

Lancia was rarely flush with cash, even after its acquisition by Fiat. Consequently, the car’s interior was made of cloth and plastic, with no concession to luxury whatsoever. The footprint of this car’s serious racing history is evident from the instrumentation available to the pilot and co-pilot. A few interesting details stand out – the odd holder for the single pencil still present in front of the navigator’s seat, the Abarth-labelled steering wheel decked with a Lancia center badge, the very original handbrake.

The easiest way to tell an Evo II from its older sibling is the lack of a rear bumper – part of the weight-saving measures that deposited the 037 onto the podium so many times in 1983. The body itself was designed by Pininfarina and fabricated from composite materials; the chassis was tubular aluminum. Pepperpot wheels, a staggered stance, and eight headlamps – could it be anything but a rally car? A surprising number of 037s have found their way to market over the last few years. The bona fide race cars have rarely found homes, while the stradale versions – innocent of ice, mud, or gravel – typically sell in the $500k area. I’m in Monterey for the auctions this week; I’ll post a follow-up once I lay my own eyes on this beast.