By Jeff Glucker
The Lancia Stratos Zero is one of those great concept cars that shape an era of automotive design. Marcello Gandini penned the bodywork for this Bertone beauty. It was crafted in 1970 and shown at the Turin Motor Show. Now it sits in a private collection and it’s occasionally loaned out for various art and automotive exhibits. Oh, and it was once used in Michael Jackson’s film Moonwalker… You can see that for yourself and watch Joe Pesci and his thugs try to keep up with the king of pop-turned-hyperfast concept car. Despite its amazing lines, the Stratos only packed 1.6-liters of V4 fury. A new version is being cooked up and the powerplant is a bit more entertaining, and so is the chassis.
Ceramic coating company AvalonKing has teamed up with Youtuber Casey Putsch to create a replica of the Lancia Stratos Zero. This one will ride on a Porsche Boxster chassis. The engine being used is a BMW M70 V12. It makes 350 horsepower, which is plenty for a machine like this. Though the builders say it will be 10% larger than the original, it should still be light and sleek as hell.
Once it’s built, the pair plan to take the car around and let others experience it. This is a great idea as most will never see the real Zero in their lifetime, let along get a shot behind the wheel. Even if they can moonwalk.
We’re going to keep an eye on this build and see how it develops. Good luck to everyone involved! And expect some awesome pics too as this thing is sure to be quite a photogenic beast.
Hahaha Americans, amirite? “Let’s take this rare, elegant, European masterpiece of roadhandling and shove some Texas sized sedan motor in it so it goes wicked fast!”
What a concept.
It isn’t as much of a replica as it is “inspired by” the Stratos concept.
It amazes me that Casey (and a handful of inexperienced kids) can build this from scratch AND build the Fast & Furious Lykan AND do all the unrelated stuff with the front-engine Porsches, Viper, dune buggy, etc, and post a significant number of YouTube videos each week, but he can’t seem to be able to acquire and use a hands-free microphone.
Awesome, but I wouldn’t mind just having a reasonably-powered Stratos HF replica. Or 037, for that matter.
Define ‘reasonably priced’.
http://www.carteroni.co.nz/images/slideshow/037_front.jpg
http://www.carteroni.co.nz/about-the-037/kitset-prices gives O37 replica at NZ$ 200,000, (approx US$ 135,000) plus freight.
About the same price for a Lister Bell Stratos Replica
https://www.lbspecialistcars.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Lister-Arms-with-STR-4.jpg
https://www.lbspecialistcars.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/STR-Lancia-Stratos-Replica-Front-800×534.jpg
https://images.thetruthaboutcars.com/2011/04/LaunchaSplatos-13-418×350.jpg
Were it not for my No Two-Seaters rule (for the next 17 years, at least), I’d probably be pretty happy with something like the Launcha Splatos from LeMons (an Alfa V6-powered X1/9).
That’s ironically funny, because just yesterday I was considering an ad for a cheap white Mk1 MR2, with the thought of applying Alitalia livery. It was a moment of weakness after watching a video of a Stratos rally event. The X1/9 is a better fit, with that wedgey nose.
But like you, I have a pretty strict no-two-seaters rule that could likely only be broken by a Stratos or 240Z.
That’s ironically funny, because just yesterday I was considering an ad for a cheap white Mk1 MR2, with the thought of applying Alitalia livery. It was a moment of weakness after watching a video of a Stratos rally event. The X1/9 is a better fit, with that wedgey nose.
But like you, I have a pretty strict no-two-seaters rule that could likely only be broken by a Stratos or 240Z.
As long as you don’t get a roadster, a “two-seater” can generally accommodate a couple more on the next level.
https://www.suitcasesandsippycups.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/dscf5796001.jpg
A local company (Midwest Bayless) sells a kit to but a Honda K20 or K24 and a 5 or 6 speed into an X1/9. That’s where my old RSX Type S went to. Sounds like a heck of a lot of fun.
Define ‘reasonably priced’.
http://www.carteroni.co.nz/images/slideshow/037_front.jpg
http://www.carteroni.co.nz/about-the-037/kitset-prices gives O37 replica at NZ$ 200,000, (approx US$ 135,000) plus freight.
About the same price for a Lister Bell Stratos Replica
https://www.lbspecialistcars.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Lister-Arms-with-STR-4.jpg
https://www.lbspecialistcars.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/STR-Lancia-Stratos-Replica-Front-800×534.jpg
Not “reasonably priced”. Reasonably powered.
I’m not the type of enthusiast that would buy a nice replica. I’m far more likely to just build a really shitty one. However, that Alitalia Stratos in the last pic is fantastic. I love that livery.
If 190-350BHP while sitting sideways in a spaceframed cheddar wedge of death isn’t enough for you, then you’re more barking than I am.
There’s been a couple of convincing stratos rep kits over the years. e.g. https://www.lbspecialistcars.com/str/
..which reminds me of an old joke. How can you tell if it’s a replica and not a real Lancia Stratos?
The panels line up.
There’s been a couple of convincing stratos rep kits over the years. e.g. https://www.lbspecialistcars.com/str/
..which reminds me of an old joke. How can you tell if it’s a replica and not a real Lancia Stratos?
The panels line up.
I love it when Lancia rally cars come up because it’s a chance to post Top Gear’s recounting of the 1983 World Rally Championship – in which the Lancia 037 defeated the Audi Quattro; the last time ever that a 2 wheel drive car won the championship. It’s a great story, and a reminder, to paraphrase, that one should:
“Never bet against an Italian Racing Team when the championship is on the line.”
It’s about 20 minutes long so plan your workday accordingly, but I think you will enjoy it.
This is definitely one of those pieces where you go “Oh… that’s right, these guys can be really really good at their jobs.”
Clarkson has a number of pieces like this. Actually all three hosts do. This is a great one.
Pretty entertaining even if I have to deduct minor points for confusing traction with grip. Gotta love Walter Rohrl “Listen I’m not planning to have an accident” haha. 🙂
Been subscribed to Caseys channel a while now, can’t say I can sit through all his more “talky”/ranty vids but he seems to be a decent dude genuinely concerned with passing skills to the next generation.
By an odd coincidence, a 1/64 scale HF stratos I ordered on Ebay finally arrived and only a few days prior, I’d gotten a Monte Carlo (circuit not rally 037). Both are made by CM’s – a Japanese company that made stuff so good, that I think they forgot to make a profit and went bust.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/5de17ad3aa96fae68c4269b96b75a01e4e2705f4a77b127ef0af5f97e0f817c5.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/5a27814cda7c94bddb01a8d8ff059b95a6205b390c1a5b628555b9e996f8a672.jpg
the Stratos Zero used in the Moonwalker film wasnt the original it was a fibreglass mold off said car and Andy Saunders known in the uk for his crazy custom cars bought the prop/shell and made a decent replica using a Fiat x1/9
Can we make one in electric and AWD, please (hey, I live in Minnesota!)