Updated: 19th July 2007

Scale 1/24 Kit Manufacturer Hasegawa Grade-up Parts Studio 27 (Etch and Wheels) Hasegawa Acu-Stion Reji Resin Engine Year 1977 Driver Sandro Munari (Italy) Event Monte Carlo Rally 1977 (winner)

1/24 Hasegawa Lancia Stratos 'Alitalia' 1977 Monte Carlo Rally Winner

The development of the Lancia Stratos began in 1970, it was to be the world's first purpose built rally car with a revolutionary mid-ship design layout with FRP cowling front and back. Throughout the 1970s vehicle power became the key ingredient to a successfull rally car and it was soon evident that the machine with the lightest weight and highest performance would be the car to beat.

Aware of this Lancia discarded their policy of building rally cars around stock production models and developed the Stratos - a pure bred rally car built to win the WRC Crown. Bertone announced the project at the Turin Motor Show in November 1970 and by the 1971 show the second prototype made its formal debut.

1972 was a year of evaluation for the car, it was entered into various events in order to test the design and iron out any problems that arose before entering the car into the WRC. Production then started in earnest in October 1973, however it was a full year before Lancia had built enough of the Stratos in order to reach the homologation requirements for Group 4 rallying.

The Stratos' first WRC event entered was the San Remo of 1975 winning the event and many more throughout the 1975 season incredibly winning the Constructors title in its first year of competition. One of the most recognisable liveries in motorsport then appeared on the Stratos the following season when Italian Airline 'Alitalia' became main sponsors of the car. The following three seasons Lancia won the Constructors Title, which included three consecutive wins at the Monte Carlo Rally 1975, 1976 & 1977. To this day the Stratos still ranks as the favourite WRC car of all time and was without question a definative rally car of the 1970s.

The model is the 1977 Monte Carlo Stratos with the famous 'Alitalia' livery as driven by Munari/Maiga. As with my Renault 5 I will be removing the rear cowl as I have managed to locate a very rare Resin Engine transkit to add to the model. I also have picked up along with way some Studio 27 Wheels & P/E parts and a further small P/E set from Hasegawa and Aucstion, as always I will be detailing it as much as I can.

Reference Material used - 1/24 Lancia Stratos

Super Lancia by Neko Publishing	Lancia Stratos by Piero Casucci	Lancia Stratos Super Profile by Graham Robson	Rally by Reinhard Klein
Encyclopedia of Supercars Vol.39

Details added:

• Replaced plastic parts/decals with photo-etch as follows;
  All grills
  Foot pedals and Foot rests
  Petrol Cap Covers
  Windscreen Wiper
  Wheels
  Bonnet / Hood Fasteners
  Number Plates & Rally Number Boards
  Door Handles
  Mirror Lenses
• Added photo-etch & decals as follows;
  Fasteners, bolts and rivet heads added onto body work engine
  Seat belts and all associated hardware
  Aerial
  Tyre Valves
• Scratch built add ons;
  Twin Fuel Tanks
  Door Windows
  Air Box Cover
  Plumbing for Fire Extinguishers
  Fusebox and Relays
  Distributor
  Cooling Pipes to Radiator
  Seat pad on driver/co-drivers seats
  Exhaust pipes from end section to engine block
  Fasteners for Spot lights

Progress & Completed pics