Thought this might be of interest to some Dino owners so here is a pic of my 24-valve Stratos being restored in Italy. Very blue! Image Unavailable, Please Login
I was in Italy in the mid eighties going to visit people around Modena in the car restoration biz with a friend. We went to one guy who was a car reseller. He took me downstairs to a basement in the building. It was totally dark. Then, he turned on the lights. In front of me was one of the Lancia Stratos Marlboro rally cars in perfect condition. The paint was this incredible neon red/orange. I swear the paint burned my eyes. I don't think I ever saw a more beautiful car appear right before me since. I've always loved the Stratos (great name too!)
I've had the engine for about 15 years and the car for about 12. Finally coming together. Racing parts are hard to come by even many years ago.
That is a fantastic car!! Congratulations! Do you have any pictures that you could share with us of the 4-valve heads? I have heard/read that they exist, but have never even seen a picture of one.
Here are a few pics. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Offered at this year's vintage races at Lime Rock. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
racerboy9 Art in aluminum (and magnesium?)!! Thanks very much for posting the pictures of the cylinder heads. They must be very rare, indeed. They really are very different from the stock heads. Is there some kind of separate casting that bolts in that has the cam bearing surfaces?
I love the Stratos! It is an important part of the Dino history for sure! Would very much like to see more pictures. The following 2 pictures where taken in Holland during "The palace Het Loo concours d'elegance". Same kind of blue? Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
you are correct on both neither it is going to become cheap ....too little road cars around available and too many stratos lovers
Yes the cam towers are a separate piece. I had rough castings machined out for quatrovalve tappet buckets and the engine all together and running and then I found the factory tappet buckets and finished castings in Italy and installed those instead.
Great project, Racerboy9. Where is the Stratos located and who is restoring it for you? I assume it came with the standard heads before? Are you otherwise keeping the stradale configuration? Sorry, so many questions. Here's a picture to add to the lovely ones that came earlier. Andy Image Unavailable, Please Login
I came within $500 of a Stratos back in 1985. One in Milwaukee my home town. Owner wanted a 308 2+2 Dino for the kiddos and was selling his for $18,500 I was firm at $18k. Think I should have budged ? It was Orange with huge (for the day) gold Gotti rims. I look at my Boxer and see Stratos all over it, but sleeker/longer vs compact. In this months Automobile magazine there is an interview with Gandini in which he talks of his Stratos design. The first Wedge shaped Stratos was got me into European cars.
I found the bare heads in California years ago and picked up other parts on trips to Italy. It is a full-bore Gr4 car with all the mods. AP Calipers, quick steering rack, heim joints, comp gearbox, electronic racing, etc.
