The Lancia Stratos Zero or Lancia Stratos HF Zero is a grand tourer concept sports car from the Italian automobile manufacturers Bertone and

Lancia Lancia () is an Italian car manufacturer and a subsidiary of FCA Italy S.p.A., which is currently a Stellantis division. The present legal entity of Lancia was formed in January 2007 when its corporate parent reorganised its businesses, but it ...

. It was presented at the 1970 Turin Auto Show, predating the production Lancia Stratos by three years.

History

The concept car was created by Marcello Gandini (chief designer at Bertone). They called it "Stratos 0" after the space-age

stratosphere The stratosphere () is the second layer of the atmosphere of the Earth, located above the troposphere and below the mesosphere. The stratosphere is an atmospheric layer composed of stratified temperature layers, with the warm layers of air ...

then in vogue at the time. It was successfully used for marketing by Scuderia Lancia in relation with its Lancia Stratos (and GT Stradale road car) version which was produced in 492 units between 1973 and 1978, and featured a Ferrari Dino 246 GT/GTS (1969) 2.4 liter V6 engine for a power output of 142 kW (190 PS; 187 hp), which led to a series of wins and domination of the world rally championships in 1974, 1975 and 1976.

Chassis and body

The concept car was created by Bertone using the chassis of a crashed Lancia Fulvia HF1600 rally car. Its angular trapezoidal ultra-futuristic science fiction design (for its time) styling is ultra low and aerodynamically shaped, with a height of only 84 centimeters. The bodywork is made of fiberglass, with an original copper color scheme, a

fastback A fastback is an automotive styling feature, defined by the rear of the car having a single slope from the roof to the tail. The kammback is a type of fastback style. Some models, such as the Ford Mustang, have been specifically marketed as ...

rear body shape, a retractable steering wheel for easier access to the

cockpit A cockpit or flight deck is the area, usually near the front of an aircraft or spacecraft, from which a Pilot in command, pilot controls the aircraft. The cockpit of an aircraft contains flight instruments on an instrument panel, and the ...

, and a flip-open front-windshield door, and integrated bucket seats. The instrumentation was on a digital control screen, which was visionary at the time. The

aeronautical Aeronautics is the science or art involved with the study, design, and manufacturing of air flight–capable machines, and the techniques of operating aircraft and rockets within the atmosphere. The British Royal Aeronautical Society identifies ...

design is inspired, among other things, by the supersonic planes of the time and by competing concept cars such as the General Motors Firebird III (1959), Chevrolet Testudo (1963), Alfa Romeo Carabo (1968),

Alfa Romeo 33.2 The Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale is a mid-engined sports car built by Italian car manufacturer Alfa Romeo. It is one of the world's first supercars; it was the fastest commercially available car for the standing kilometer when introduced.Alfa Romeo ...

(1968), Alfa Romeo Iguana (1969), Autobianchi Runabout (1969) and Ferrari Modulo (1970). The Stratos Zero in turn may have inspired designs such as the

Maserati Boomerang The Maserati Boomerang is a concept car designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro and produced by Italdesign. It was first revealed at the Turin Motor Show in 1971 as a non-functional epowood model, but by the time of the 1972 Geneva Auto Show it was based ...

(1971), De Tomaso Pantera (1971), Fiat X1/9 (1972), Vector (1972), BMW Turbo (1972), Lamborghini Urraco (1973), Maserati Khamsin (1974),

Lamborghini Bravo The Lamborghini Bravo is a concept car designed by Marcello Gandini at Bertone for Lamborghini. It was first presented in 1974 at the Turin Auto Show. The Bravo was designed to showcase ideas for a replacement to the Urraco. The completely wo ...

(1974), Lamborghini Countach (1974), Lotus Esprit (1976), Dome Zero (1978), Lancia Medusa (1980), DeLorean DMC-12 (1981),

Peugeot Quasar Quasar was the name of the first concept car produced by Peugeot of Stellantis. It was assembled in 1984 at the Peugeot plant in La Garenne, and first displayed at the 67th Paris Motor Show in the same year. Named after the astronomical phenome ...

(1984), Ferrari Testarossa (1984), or Maserati Birdcage75th (2005).

Engine

The Lancia Stratos Zero is driven by a mid-rear mounted Lancia V4 engine from a Lancia Fulvia HF1600 Rally, with a displacement of 1.6 liters and a power of 86 kW (115 PS; 113 hp).

Display

The concept car was exhibited for a long time at the Bertone museum near Turin. It was sold at auction, among others, at the 2011 Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este elegance competition, and has since been exhibited by its various successive private owners in various elegance competitions and car museums around the world. In 2023, Lancia Stratos Zero has been filmed in one such exhibition at Sankt Moritz, Switzerland. On August 18th, 2024, the Stratos Zero was entered into the

Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance The Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance is an automotive charitable event held each year on the Pebble Beach Golf Links in Pebble Beach, California. It is widely considered the pinnacle event of its kind and one of the most prestigious car events in ...

, competing in the "Wedge-shaped Concept Cars and Prototypes (Early)" class. In addition to winning 1st place in this class, the Zero also won the Gran Turismo special award given by Kazunori Yamauchi.

Film

The Lancia Stratos Zero appears in the 1988 Michael Jackson musical film '' Moonwalker'' by Jerry Kramer and Colin Chilvers. In the "Smooth Criminal" section, the character of Michael Jackson is cornered by gangsters, turns into a bullet-proof Lancia Stratos Zero, and gets away.

References

{{Lancia Bertone vehicles Grand tourers 1970s cars Lancia vehicles Concept cars