1983 Lancia Rally 037 Evoluzione

This Lancia Rally 037 EVO2 is a rare opportunity to purchase one of the most iconic cars ever made. This particular 037 chassis '412' is the ultimate development of the 037: 20 'Evoluzione 2' cars (chassis numbers '400'-'419') with larger 2,111cc engines, water injection, a new exhaust system, plus new and improved inlet and exhaust manifolds to increase airflow to the newly designed supercharger housing, raising maximum power to 335 bhp. With further weight savings through carbon/Kevlar bodywork, the weight was down to 960kg, the permitted minimum. All 20 cars were registered in November 1983 and were retained and serviced by the factory. The rally cars were campaigned in Martini Racing colours for WRC events, alongside other works-supported teams such as Jolly Club/Totip (European Championship) and Scuderia Grifone (Italian championship).

Chassis '412', registered to FIAT SPA as 'TO W67781', was supplied to the Genova-based Grifone for Italian star Fabrizio Tabaton to compete in the 1984 Italian Rally Championship in Olio FIAT/Hertz livery. The comprehensive file accompanying the car includes the Italian registration document linking the chassis number to the registration, along with the original chassis plate.

Tabaton's 1984 season did not start smoothly. He retired from his first event, the Rally del Molise in March, due to a puncture; again retired at the Rally del Gran Sasso in May; and had a minor accident at the Rally del Carso e dei Colli Orientali later that month. However, he soon found his form, securing a string of victories: he won the Rally della Lanterna in April, the classic Rally di Limone Piemonte in June, the Coppa Liburna in September, and achieved a fourth win in October at the Rally di Sassari. Although he finished 6th in the Rally Citta di Messina later that month, he capped off the season with a fifth victory at the Rally del Sestriere in December. The CIR Italian Championship was decided on classes, won by a smaller Group A FIAT Ritmo, but Tabaton finished second overall and clinched the all-important Group B class title. In March 1985, Tabaton returned to the car, now in black and gold Esso livery, winning the challenging Rally 1000 Miglia—his sixth win from nine starts.

In July 1985, chassis '412' was sold to Garage Centrale, the parent of TAM Auto near Como in northern Italy, known for preparing the Lancia 037 for the Jolly Club and various privateers. The car was re-registered as 'CO 824444' in compliance with Italian regulations. It was repainted red and sponsored by Wurth, entrusted to future three-time Italian Rally champion Gianfranco Cunico. Cunico's first event was the Rally Citta di Torino in May, which he won with co-driver Pierangelo Scalvini.

This was followed by three European Rally Championship outings for the duo as part of the Jolly Club satellite team. Cunico finished 4th at the Rallye dell'Isola d'Elba in May 1986; had a DNF in Spain at the Rally El Corte Ingles in July (due to an incident with a parked car); and again finished 4th at the Marlboro San Marino Rally in November. For both events, the car was plain white but still bore Wurth logos.

In between these events, renowned privateer Enrico Gelpi achieved another win for chassis '412' at the national Trofeo Villa d'Este Rally in October 1986. This was followed by another victory for privateers Riccardo and Massimo Trombi in March 1987 at the national Rally del Ciocco e Valle dei Serchio, bringing the total Group B victories for chassis '412' to nine. The car's final event was again with Cunico and Scalvini at the 1987 Rally Citta di Torino, where it did not finish. A full schedule of events and results is included in the accompanying file.

By this time, TAM Auto was focused on the new Group A Lancia Delta, but '412' remained registered to Centrale. It was refreshed and mechanically rebuilt, repainted in the iconic Martini colors, and kept in a collection in Italy.

In early 1998, chassis '412' was sold to a noted Italian rally car enthusiast and collector in the UK. Although the mechanicals were found to be 'as new', the car was carefully recommissioned for occasional use. The new owner invited various guest drivers to demonstrate the Martini-liveried car at select events, including the 2003 Manx Rally, where 1998 British Rally Champion and 2003 World Production Champion Martin Rowe drove it as a 'zero' car, and the 2005 Eifel Rally Festival in Germany, Europe's largest gathering of historic rally cars, where 1979 World Rally Champion Bjorn Waldegard drove the Lancia.

In June 2006, the car was sold to the current owner, a close friend of the UK collector. The car received a further overhaul, and as a precaution, the engine was fully rebuilt by Terry Hoyle, one of the UK's leading Cosworth and Ferrari engine specialists. Over the next 17 years, chassis '412' participated in a limited number of demonstration events in the UK, Germany, Italy, and Spain (see full list in the file). Notable events include the Goodwood Festival of Speed (both hill climb and rally stage), Goodwood Members' Meeting, Eifel Rally Festival, Rally Legend San Marino, Rally Catalunya WRC, Rally Clasico Mallorca, Trasmeira Rally Festival, Rally Valpantena, and Classic Shelsley Walsh, as well as display events at Royal Hospital Chelsea, NEC, and O2 Centre. The car has always been professionally prepared, maintained, and serviced during events, and is a regular invitee to participate in numerous events each year. It is UK registered, has a current MoT, and holds a current MSUK sprint and hill climb logbook.

In 2007, British driver and engineer Andy Dawson, who drove the Chequered Flag Stratos in period, drove the car at Race Retro, followed by a complimentary magazine article about it. In 2008, Lancia 037 legend Markku Alen drove the car at the same event, marking his first time back in an 037 for 20 years. Alen signed the Kevlar driver's door (still visible today), and his comments to Motor Sport magazine can be found in the car's file. Alen demonstrated the car again at Rally Day in 2014.

Chassis '412' has been featured on the cover of Auto Italia magazine; highlighted on Goodwood's GRRC website; and includes numerous photographs and references in Antonio Biasioli's authoritative 2019 book, Lancia Rally 037. UK Italian car author Peter Collin's book, Lancia 037: Development and Rally History of a World Champion, includes a section from the current owner detailing the experience of owning and using a competition 037. Any online search for 'Lancia 037' typically brings up a picture of '412'.

In early 2022, the car returned to the Turin workshops of legendary former Abarth engineers and Lancia 037 specialists Elio and Giovanni Baldi for a complete mechanical revision. The engine received new cylinder liners, pistons, con-rods, valves, and valve springs. All bearings and seals, as well as head lugs, were replaced with the correct items. The Volumex supercharger had its seals replaced and was serviced, remaining in excellent condition. A new competition-specification clutch was installed, and the flywheel was machined smooth. Gear rings and dogs for the straight-cut gearbox were replaced on all five gears, with a new first gear machined and installed. All other gears underwent X-ray checks. The four brake calipers were serviced with kits; front and rear discs were checked and replaced if needed; and master cylinders and handbrake were serviced. The front and rear suspension were overhauled, with shock absorbers checked, greased, and reinstalled, or replaced as needed. Older rubber suspension boots were replaced, bearings checked and greased, front wishbones adjusted, and a new steering damper installed. Finally, the radiator was flushed and cleaned, and new period-correct rear and side undertrays were fitted.

The completion of this work coincided with the outbreak of the Covid pandemic, resulting in limited use, primarily testing in Turin by the Baldis. Since then, '412' has been driven approximately 250 miles, with its last appearance at the Eifel Rally Festival in July 2023, where it was awarded the jury prize for 'Best Original' car out of more than 150 historic rally cars at the event.

The car comes with two sets of new wheels mounted with dry and wet Pirelli P7 Corsa tyres, plus a set of period gravel wheels with tyres. A small spares package accompanies the car, including period-correct seats (details in the file).

Original Group B 'evolution' survivors are rare, especially those with a full and successful competition history and documented ownership. Correctly specified and in excellent condition, with beautifully patinated and genuine period chassis and bodywork, this 037 is a guaranteed entry to prestigious events, from rally demonstrations to concours showcases, and represents a unique opportunity to acquire one of the most developed and successful rally cars of all time.