Tag Archives: Dallara

1984 Lancia 037 Stradale

February 24, 2019 Graham

By now, the story of the Lancia 037 is a familiar one: Lancia set out to follow up the FIA Group 5 World Rally Championship success of their Stratos with the 037 in the newly-minted FIA Group B World Rally Championship. Series regulations required the manufacture of 200 road-going examples in order to compete, and thus, the Lancia 037 Stradale was born.

The mid-section of the cars was borrowed from the Lancia Montecarlo/Scorpion, while steel tube structures replaced the front and rear of the donor cars. Kevlar-reinforced fiberglass made up the new front and rear body work, which was designed by Pininfarina. The mid-engine layout was retained, but with the engine and transmission rotating 90 degrees into a longitudinal layout. Abarth breathed on the powertrain, while none other than Dallara provided the necessary suspension design and tuning.

1984 Lancia 037 Stradale red rear — *Click to view listing*

Year: 1984
Model: Lancia
Engine: 2.0L supercharged 4-cylinder
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Mileage: 3,234km
Price: Auction, €350.000 - €400.000 estimate
Location: Essen, Germany

1984 Lancia 037 Stradale red interior — *Click to view listing*

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1984 Lancia 037 Stradale

Chassis No. ZLA151AR000000022

1984 Lancia 037 Stradale red engine — *Click to view listing*

As exciting as the history of these cars is, we wonder if there isn't a way to coax more power from the twin cam Fiat engine. Nothing irreversible, but something more nonetheless. Aside from the relatively - and with a curb weight of 2,579lb, we do mean relatively - low power output of 205hp, we wouldn't change anything about one of these Stradales.

Homologation specials are, it now seems, strictly the domain of wealthy collectors. If that describes you, then this example may be a wise purchase. For the rest of use, well, a nice Montecarlo with a hot 2 liter might come close.

-Graham

Bertone, Lamborghini

1984 Lamborghini Jalpa

December 7, 2018 Graham 1 Comment

We have been featuring Alfa sports sedans all week, but now it is time to move up a class from BMW to Porsche 911 competitors. Hopefully the readers are aware of our Lamborghini Urraco adoration - the Gandini Bertone wedge, the Dallara/Stanzani engineering - we are fans. As much as we like them, the public did not exactly clamor for these mid-engine V8 sports cars. And, had they, we are not so sure that Lamborghini could have kept up with demand. Nonetheless, Lamborghini did manage to sell its mid-engine V8 sports car models for 16 years between 1972 and 1988 - not a bad run.

It began with the Urraco in 1972, which was augmented by the Silhouette in 1976, and then after a brief halt to production in 1979, was replaced by the Jalpa in 1981. The Jalpa engine, now 3485cc vs. the 2996cc V8 in the Silhouette, was down 5hp to 255hp, but made its power lower in the rev range, thanks to the increase in engine torque. While European models ran four twin-barrel downdraft Weber 42 DCNF carburetors, US car were forced into emissions compliance through the use of fuel-injection. This car does not appear to be burdened with the half-bake fuel-injection system, thankfully.

Year: 1984
Model: Lamborghini Jalpa
Engine: 3.5L V8
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Mileage: 38,966 km
Price: $90,000

CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS: 1984 Lamborghini Jalpa

Though we wouldn't personally choose a red Jalpa, we like the color on the car, as it begs comparison with its much more popular peers, the Ferrari 308/328 series. The tan leather interior doubles down on the Ferrari impression. Condition of both the interior and paintwork appears to be excellent, with the steering wheel leather standing out as the only cosmetic shortcoming on this example.

$90,000 would buy a lot of Ferrari 308/328.. And, the 308, though not particularly-loved or appreciated, does have a bit more of a reputation for serviceability and durability. What issues they have can be sorted at a number of shops. With the Jalpa, the owner will either need an exceedingly resourceful shop, or the gumption to take on the maintenance and repairs himself. With a total of 420 cars produced, we think these are a more special buy than the 308/328. Just make sure you already have a Urraco and a Silhouette before adding one of these to the collection.

-Graham

Bertone, Lamborghini

1973 Lamborghini Urraco

September 20, 2018 Graham 1 Comment

Introduced at the 1970 Turin Auto Show, the Lamborghini Urraco would not find its way onto the market until 1973. The timing of its launch suffered from delays in development, and very likely due to the overlap with the sale of the Lamborghini Automobile division to a Swiss firm in 1972. Though the Urraco became available after his departure, the mid-engine 2 crush 2 sports coupe was the realization of Ferruccio Lamborghini's vision of a smaller, lighter, but not down-market Lamborghini.

Under engineering direction of Giampaolo Dallara, engineer Paolo Stanzani led the development of a 90 degree V8 to power the Urraco. The ambitious road-holding goals of the project necessitated a lightweight engine to be designed. The aluminum crankcase was a two-piece design, split horizontally along the crankshaft journal centerline. Cast iron wet liners were fully surrounded by the water jacket. To simplify valve lash adjustments, the cylinder heads carried their single cams as well as tappets in a separate casting above the lower cylinder head casting, which contained the valves. Finally, a belt drive synced the cams to the crankshaft via individual fiber-reinforced rubber belts that connected the cams to intermediate pulleys, which were splined to the nose of the crankshaft. I recently had the opportunity to hold the aluminum casting tasked with containing the timing drive belts, and was impressed with its elegant design.

Year: 1974
Model: Lamborghini Urraco
Engine: 2.5L V8
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Mileage: 43,685 (indicated)
Price: $79,500

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1974 Lamborghini Urraco

1973 Lamborghini Urraco This highly collectible 1973 Lamborghini Urraco is available in yellow with black interior. It comes equipped with a 5-speed manual transmission, air conditioning, power windows and Campagnolo wheels. It also includes $17,000 in service records for an engine out service in 2016. A very clean and presentable example which has been with the same owner for many years and is mechanically sound. For $79,500 If you have any additional questions Please call 310-975-0272 or email with any questions! We also welcome all international buyers. We can help with shipping quotes and arrangements.

With Countach LP400 prices in the stratosphere, where does one find an affordable, clean Gandini wedge these days? For this thought exercise we can exclude the X-1/9, as its shape does not quite capture the wedge we're after. And the Maserati Khamsin, while beyond reproach, doesn't quite classify as a wedge, angular as it is. In our opinion, the Dino GT4 and the Urraco are the last bastions of sub-$100k Gandini wedges.

So, which fits the bill? The GT4 should prove easier to maintain, if only because V8 Ferrari parts are not exactly difficult to procure, at significant cost, of course. Opt for something a bit more rough around the edges, such as this Urraco with disconcertingly few details from the seller, and the road ahead could be challenging. Discussions with the seller should hopefully provide detail beyond the disclosure of recent engine-out servicing. We're more than partial to anything blessed by Dallara, so you know where we'd put our money.

-Graham