In 1980, Lancia began development of the 037 to comply with the new FIA Group B regulations, which allowed manufacturers to compete with relatively few homologation models. As the project was designated number 037, this became the car’s name. Abarth, then part of the Lancia-Fiat family, performed most of the design work, incorporating styling cues from its race cars of the 1950s and 1960s, such as a double bubble roof line. The car was developed in collaboration between Pininfarina, Abarth, Dallara and engineer Sergio Limone, who managed the project. Prior to its first participation in the 1982 World Rally Championship season, 200 road-going models were built to meet Group B regulations.
The 037 debuted at the 1982 Rally Costa Smeralda in Italy, where both entered cars retired due to gearbox issues. The 1982 season saw several retirements, but the car achieved its first win at the Pace Rally in the UK. The 1983 season was more successful: Lancia won the World Rally Championship Constructors' title with Walter Röhrl and Markku Alén as its principal drivers, despite competition from the 4WD Audi Quattro. Both drivers missed the final round of the series, but Hannu Mikkola of Audi secured the drivers’ title.
For the 1984 season, Lancia introduced the Evolution 2 version of the 037, with increased engine power. However, this was not enough to compete with 4WD rivals, losing to Audi in both championships, and again to the 4WD Peugeot 205 T16 in 1985. Markku Alén achieved the final 037 win, and the sole victory for the E2 model, at the 1984 Tour De Corse, before the car was replaced by the Delta S4 for the season-ending RAC Rally in Great Britain. Driver Attilio Bettega died in a 037 crash in 1985. António Rodrigues won the 1984 Falperra International Hill Climb in a 037. The 037 made its final appearance in the 1986 Safari Rally, entered by the Martini Lancia team in place of the Delta S4 due to development time constraints.
The 037 was loosely based on the Lancia Montecarlo (also known as Scorpion in the US and Canada), but shared only the center section, with significantly different body panels and mechanical parts. Steel subframes were used fore and aft of the center section, while most body panels were made from Kevlar. The 037 was sold as a distinct model, and both street and race versions were built using the same construction methods.
The mid-engined layout of the Montecarlo was retained, but the engine was rotated 90 degrees from transverse to longitudinal. This allowed for greater freedom in suspension design while shifting engine weight forward. An independent double wishbone suspension was used on both axles, with dual shock absorbers at the rear to cope with high-speed off-road driving. The 037 is notable as the last rear-wheel drive car to succeed in Group B rallying, as nearly all subsequent successful rally cars used four-wheel drive.
Unlike its V6-powered predecessor, the Lancia Stratos HF, early 037s featured a 2.0-litre 4-cylinder supercharged engine. Based on the Fiat Abarth 131 rally car’s long-stroke twin cam engine, the four-valve head was carried over from the 131 Abarth, but the original two carburetors were replaced with a single Weber carburetor in early models and later with fuel injection. The 037 features a ZF transaxle. Lancia chose a supercharger over a turbocharger to eliminate turbo lag and improve throttle response. Initial power output was 265 hp (195 kW), increasing to 280 hp (206 kW), and finally 325 hp (239 kW) in the Evolution 2 model with a displacement increase to 2.1 L (2,111 cc).
Body: kevlar reinforced with fiberglass Weight: 1,170 kg (2,579 lb) in running condition Dimensions: length 3,915 mm (154.1 in), width 1,850 mm (72.8 in), height 1,245 mm (49.0 in), wheelbase 2,440 mm (96.1 in) Engine configuration: longitudinally mounted rear mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout, straight-4 Bore X stroke: 84 mm × 90 mm (3.31 in × 3.54 in) Displacement: 1,995 cc (2.0 L; 121.7 cu in) Max. power: 205 PS (151 kW; 202 hp) at 7,000 rpm Max. torque: 226 N⋅m (167 lb⋅ft) at 5,000 rpm Supercharger: Abarth Volumex system with pressure between 0.6 and 0.9 bar (8.7 and 13.1 psi) Lubrication: dry sump Valvetrain: DOHC driven by belt, 4 valves per cylinder Clutch: Single dry plate, diameter 230 mm (9.1 in) with hydraulic foot pedal Transmission: ZF The type claw, 5-speed plus reverse Differential: Self-Locking with two shafts fitted with CV joints Front suspension: Independent double wishbone, coil springs, gas shock absorbers and stabilizer bar Rear suspension: Identical to front but with dual shock absorbers and without bar Wheels: Speedline 16" alloy wheels, Pirelli P7 205/55 VR 16 tires Steering: Rack and pinion, lubricated and shock Cooling: Forced with pump and radiator front Ignition: Electronic inductive discharge Marelli AEI 200 A
Body: Polyester resin reinforced with glass fibre and flame retardant Weight: 960 kg (2,116 lb) in running condition Dimensions: length 3,915 mm (154.1 in), width 1,850 mm (72.8 in), height 1,240 mm (48.8 in), wheelbase 2,445 mm (96.3 in) Engine: longitudinally mounted Rear mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout, Straight-4 Displacement: 1,995 cc, [2,111 cc - Evolution 2] Bore and stroke: 84 mm (3.3 in) x 90 mm, 85 mm (3.3 in) x 93 mm (Evolution 2) Maximum torque: 299 N⋅m (221 lb⋅ft) at 5,000 rpm, 333 N⋅m (246 lb⋅ft) at 5,500 rpm (Evolution 2) Maximum power: 255–280 PS (188–206 kW; 252–276 hp) at 8,000 rpm, 310–325 PS (228–239 kW; 306–321 hp) (Evolution 2) Supercharger: Abarth Volumex system with pressure between 0.60 and 0.90 bar (1 bar on the Evolution 2) Lubrication: Forced dry sump oil tank 8 kg (18 lb) Layout: Rear-wheel-drive Valvetrain: Dual overhead cam shaft driven by belt, four valves per cylinder Clutch: Single dry plate with sealing metal - Valeo, 230 mm (9.1 in) diameter with hydraulic foot pedal Transmission: Five-speed + reverse Differential: ZF-Abarth type self-locking with two shafts fitted with CV joints Front suspension: independent wheels with two wishbone, coil springs, Bilstein gas shock absorbers and anti roll bar Rear suspension: Identical to front but with dual shock absorbers and without bar Wheels: Gravel version: Front; Speedline 15-inch front alloy wheels, 205/50 Pirelli P7 Corsa tyres. Rear; 16-inch alloy wheels with 295/60/16 tyres; Asphalt version: Front: 16-inch. Rear: 18-inch wheels. Steering: Rack and pinion with scaler Brakes: Brembo-Abarth disc brakes on all four wheels with alloy calipers Cooling: Forced with pump and radiator front Ignition: Electronic inductive discharge Marelli AEI 200 A
Pelassa, Piergiorgio. (September 1992). 037 Ultimo Mito. Turin, Italy: Pluriverso. ISBN 9788879950039. Cheetham, Craig (2003). The World's Most Exotic Sports Cars: Super Cars. Motorbooks. ISBN 0-7603-1685-6.
This article is based on the Wikipedia article “Lancia Rally 037” accessed on May 31, 2024. No external sources, such as primary archives, autobiographies, period programmes, or specialist publications, were consulted.
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