Built from scratch to contest World Rally, the Stratos was the first of its kind. It practically changed the sport, and started a new era in rally when manufacturers created thinly disguised race cars to homologate as production cars.
Roughly based on a dramatic concept car released by Bertone at the 1971 Turin Motor Show, the production version was seen a year later and had everyone looking twice. Aside from its short, wide and wedge-shaped body by Bertone, the Stratos had all the hallmarks of a winning race car.
Every Stratos used a mid-mounted Ferrari V6, but in varying states of tune. For instance, 280 bhp turbocharged versions were permitted to race in the Group 5 class, while the 400 road cars used a standard spec 190 bhp engine.
