Even if you are not a keen car enthusiast, you have probably heard of the term “homologation special.” Most of the world’s racing championships only allow racing cars they base on regular production models. So, manufacturers often produce special limited runs of their vehicles to get an advantage on the race tracks. They equip them with unusual features, wild aero kits, and specially tuned engines, transforming them into thoroughbred race cars. The homologation specials are always interesting models since they are different than their more mundane cousins. They feature components or specially designed racing parts you couldn’t get any other way.
Lancia 037 Stradale
To homologate the car for the infamous Group B rally series in 1982, Lancia needed to produce at least 200 road-going examples. So, they presented the 037 Stradale later that year. The street-legal car was almost as extreme as the racing model. The Stradale featured a lightweight plastic body. Depending on the tune, it had a mid-mounted 2.0 or 2.2-liter four-cylinder engine producing up to 280 HP. The Stradale has the same stiff suspension, Spartan interior, racing seats, plastic windows, and a close-ratio gearbox.