One out of 492 Lancia Stratos HF Stradale rally cars will go on sale in Saint-Moritz, Switzerland soon expected to sell for around 700,000 CHF (around $717,000) despite having been damaged in a major accident a year after rolling off the line.
The 47-year-old, mid-engined rally car has a legendary status now, which explains the price. With a 2.4-liter Ferrari engine and an exterior by Marcello Gandini, the HF Stradale (see video) is widely recognized as the world’s first dedicated rally vehicle. Lancia only agreed to produce a limited run of street-legal cars because it had to homologate the model for racing. It then proceeded to win three championships in a row, cementing its status as one the most successful rally racers in the entire history.
This example, chassis number 1666, reached its owner on May 22, 1975. A year later, the driver lost control of the car, flew off the road and into a tree. The chassis was deemed a write-off, but a Lancia dealership eventually agreed to restore the car on another chassis.
It then proceeded to change hands in Europe, never going beyond the continent. Judging by the photos, it is still in excellent condition. One of the photos shows an odometer with 36,770 km (22,848 miles) on it, but the seller does not comment on the mileage.
