ok, i KNOW this is a bit off topic, but i'd love to get everyone's opinion on this- i've found a lancia stratos for sale-there are a lot of small cosmetic bits and pieces that need to be fixed (non-original fogclamps, non original gas cap etc), but mechanically the car is sound -the BIG problem is that at some point, the car was hit in the front-so it has a new front bonnet-the body guy who looked at it said he would never have known, if i hadn't told him-the repair was really well done, but i'm wondering how that affects the value. 5 years down the road, assuming that stratos values continue to climb (which they might not!) is that going to be a problem? A stratos guy told me that of the 350 left, very few were completely original... so? thoughts? not a big deal? or RUN!? if there were any other to look at, i would, but this is the only one i can find in north america! (unless someone here has one they'd like to sell me)
Omicron are a Lancia Stratos specialist in the UK - probably worth speaking to them on sourcing the non original parts and a correct 'front' they do a lot of parts and remake too? For what it is worth my dino had a front end ding in the 1970s and has a 246E style front instead of the slightly different M version. Didn't put me off at all...but then I might be an idiot. Good luck with the purchase when you find one though - thoroughly jealous ! Snowy
thanks snowy...i'll post pics (if) and when i get it! i'm just terrified i'll spend all this money and then have an unsellable paperweight on my hands (a very fun to drive paperweight..)
Phil, we have a few Stratos experts within Fc. Try dropping a pm to 'Stratos', himself an owner. his link is... http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/member.php?u=2715
I would bet the number of perfect, un-damaged cars are very low. As long as a repair was done properly and with parts/materials that are consistent with the original, I wouldn't think there should be a lareg reason to be concerned.
Phil- Dino's, Iso Griffo's and Now Strato's - aside from being fixated on cars ending in a vowel you must have sold a few new books or something!! Make sure you bring all of them to the New Canaan Motorsport Show this Fall (since you missed it last year!!)
Phil, I don't think a repaired front clip will affecte the value at all. They are just fiberglass, and the originals never fit well anyway. They were competition cars, so damage is common. Having said that, a Stratos is a very focused car, with no air-conditioning, no provision for a stereo system or even a radio, and no electric windows (not even wind-up windows!). It is tight inside and a bit more intimidating than the Dino. "The Stratos soes not forgive anything," Car & Driver said. That and the relatively high price mean the market for the Dino will be limited, so the possibility of an expensive, if exciting, paperweight is always there. But the faults you mentioned shouldn't put off a a fringe-end enthusiast looking for the Stratos. Best of luck! Andres PS: An A110 Alpine! I know which end of the market you belong to, Phil. Now, it makes sense.
Phil, as promised, here are photos of the cockpit of my Stratos. The red Omp seats are not original, and I will take the original seats out of storage to show you what they look like. One of the pictures shows the unusual headliner on the Stratos. I will try to post more detail pictures to help you, but if you can get a Stratos buff over to look at the car, that will be best. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
And here are the front and rear bays, with the Dino engine. My car has the optional 15" Campagnolos and so the spre wheel will be different from the standard car. I am not sure how much of my car is "standard" either, as there are so few original cars to compare it with it. The odd green hose is the original Cavis, much revered in this and the vintage forums. Andy Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
thanks so much andy-your car looks pristine!! i'd love to see more shots, and of course, of the outside of the car, too!
It makes a difference if a front or rearclip has been changed, because they are numbered, it also depends if it was done with an original part or just a frontclip made up themselves or one of a replica. hereby are pictures of a perfect all original Stratos. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
But a Stratos is such a great car to own, that if you go and testdrive the car, you will mostlikely fall in love with it, and it does not matter anymore if it will be a return on investment. The blue car I bought a few years ago from the second owner was an all original dutch car which was standing in his office, i picked it up and had it serviced and made it ready to enjoy, and before I could really have some fun with it, the old owner called me, and told me that he was badly missing his car and hadn't had a good night sleep since, and offered me a good profit back on the car which I could not resist, and now still regret selling it.
i have test driven it, and that's why i want it..that, plus the fact that i grew up watching those cars on tv, and have always wanted one! .. the investment aspect is just because they're so expensive now, that you can't help but worry that for that kind of money, you hopefully won't loose your shirt..if this was an 80k car, i wouldn't even hesitate..
That is the problem, cars get to expensive to just enjoy them, I prommissed myself a MB 300SL roadster a few years ago, now when it is the time, I have the feeling that I do not want to have a car at these prices just for the fun. We have to protect ourselves of thinking of prices on our cars which we own, luckily the interest is low in the banks so that is also not the thing to do. We live in a strange world and what is most important WE WILL ONLY LIVE ONCE THIS LIFE.
Phil, You may have missed this thread, which has more detail pictures on the Stratos. I have some photos here, taken from the other side of the car: http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=241336&highlight=Dino+Stratos Regards, Andres
This is what the seats should look like. One has to be very slim-hipped to fit into these. Image Unavailable, Please Login
great pic! any pictures of the "works munari" HF seats on the gr4 cars? i think you mean the optional later 15" tecnomagesio? tecnomagesio didnt aquire campagnolo until long after the strato's stop production, but the wheels are often consider offical re-issued campy's many thanks for posting shots of your stunning stratos hf
