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Featured: Just Because: Watch This Lancia Stratos Duel With A Fulvia

Just Because: Watch This Lancia Stratos Duel With A Fulvia

By Petrolicious Productions
October 19, 2015
8 comments

Story and photography by Tommaso Bertotti

The road climbs quickly towards the top of the hill, in a pretty sequence of fast bends. Suddenly, the impressive view of the Langhe, from above, appears: we are in Northern Italy, it’s a land of vineyards and fine wines, but we are not here for this. I take a look in the mirror, and I see the silhouette of a Lancia Fulvia chasing me closely. Today, I’m driving a Stratos. Today, I’m a happy kid.

“This car was owned by Lancia in the late ’70s. It should have become a race car, but it never did” the owner tells me. It, sorry, she is parked alongside the road now, I’m trying to catch her beauty with my Nikon, but people keeps stopping and getting close to admire her. I can understand them: the lines drawn by Bertone are still so exotic, somehow beyond modern, even after more than 40 years. The Verde Chiaro body color helps.

The Fulvia is an eye cacther, too. Replaced by the Stratos in the 1974, this little 2-door coupé was used by Lancia to go back into racing after its withdrawal from Formula 1. The version we have here today is a commemorative one for the 1972 Monte Carlo Rally victory: under the matte black bonnet there is a small but brilliant 1.3 liter engine that perfectly suits the light weight of the car.

We finish the shoot in the sunset light, then I watch the pair leave, spared a few more moments with the sound of their engines as they drive away…

You can follow Tommaso’s work on Instagram, Facebook, or through his website, tobephoto.com.

Tags Fulvia/ Italian/ Lancia/ Stratos
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Felipe Elcoro
Felipe Elcoro
7 years ago

Best post ever!

2
Rob Blasdel
Rob Blasdel
7 years ago

We had a pair of Stratos in the store around 1982 in the Alitalia livery. I can’t remember if they were actual ex-racing units or look-a-like paint jobs. Lancia had to make 500 for homologation, so I’m thinking the latter. What I distinctly do remember is that they were very fast. They didn’t last long, I think we got somewhere in the teens, this being the era where you could buy an edgy 275 GTB for $15K.

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Bertram Wooster
Bertram Wooster
7 years ago

Damn! Where’d I leave that phone number for Lister Bell?

1
Pedro Henrique
Pedro Henrique
7 years ago

I’m really stop alongside the road too with these green beauty

0
Edward Levin
Edward Levin
7 years ago

It may be a [i]drive[/i], but it’s not a [i]duel[/i]. My 1.6 Fulvia ia a lot faster than a 1,3S, but I couldn’t keep up with a well-driven Maglioli-prepared Stratos.

[i]Lovely [/i]photos, though, and my favorite Stratos color.

1
Guitar Slinger
Guitar Slinger
7 years ago
Reply to  Edward Levin

My first thought as well .. no one [ in a Fluvia of any kind against any Stratos ] could keep up … and thanks for saying it first so I didn’t have to be the only grump/skeptic in the room 😉

To sum it up succinctly though … Staged photos do not a ‘ duel ‘ make !

As for the photos themselves … several are in need of better lighting .. a couple are disturbingly out of focus .. but the subject matter as well as the framing , background etc is great . So ….. a 6.5 out of 10 for the photos

-3
Mitch Spence
Mitch Spence
7 years ago

Fulvia FTW

0
Guitar Slinger
Guitar Slinger
7 years ago
Reply to  Mitch Spence

Not a bats chance in Hades !

-2