1970 Lancia Stratos Bertone Concept

[MK2VR6]

Lordy. Never seen this before. It's pleasantly insane.






I think I've found my new wallpaper...

[MK2VR6]

Wow, 209 views and not one comment? I'll fetch my coat...

[andyborris]

Take that coat off and sit down, it's because you've summed the car up perfectly with "pleasantly insane"!

And there's nothing more to add.

[Deleted]

complete with Spacy soundtrack

[andyborris]

Oct 19, 2013 10:34:19 GMT andyborris said:

And there's nothing more to add.

I stand corrected!

[andyborris]

And I wonder how the steering column works?

[luckyseven]

Oct 19, 2013 17:44:40 GMT andyborris said:

And I wonder how the steering column works?

Quite unpredictably, by the look of that video

What a delightfully of-it's-time piece that is. Puts me in mind of the Pininfarina Modulo, anyone remember that? A similarly impractical piece of 70s automotive tinsel. You weren't anyone in the playground unless you had a Matchbox one of them

[monty]

Technically that's not a Stratos prototype, it's the Stratos Zero Concept car. It may be a bit far out, but you can't knock it for design flair. It's badged as a Bertone but its real father is Marcello Gandini, arguably the greatest car designer of modern times. His credits (some more memorable than others but most cutting edge in their day) include


Alfa Romeo Montreal
Alfa Romeo 33 Carabo
BMW 5 Series (first gen)
Bugatti EB110
Citroën BX
Cizeta Moroder V16T
De Tamaso Pantera SI
Ferrari Dino 308GT4
Fiat 132
Fiat X1/9
Iso Lele
Lamborghini Countach
Lamborghini Diablo
Lamborghini Espada
Lamborghini Jarama
Lamborghini Miura
Lamborghini Urraco
Lancia Stratos
Maserati Khamsin
Maserati Quattroporte II (1974–1978)&IV (1994–2001)
Maserati Shamal
Renault 5 Supercinq
De Tomaso Biguà (Qvale Mangusta)

[goldnrust]

It is a proper concept isn't it! Not toned down at all, looks like it's straight off the sketch book!

I'm kinda glad they did develop it further before it became the production Stratos though, as it did get prettier

[Del]

Oct 19, 2013 17:51:19 GMT luckyseven said:

Puts me in mind of the Pininfarina Modulo, anyone remember that? A similarly impractical piece of 70s automotive tinsel. You weren't anyone in the playground unless you had a Matchbox one of them

One of my favourite bands has a track called Mod-Ulo 510 on their new album. I seem to remember that the Matchbox model was yellow?

[fred]

For some no good reason I see this driven by Capt Scarlet

[MK2VR6]

Oct 19, 2013 17:51:19 GMT luckyseven said:

Oct 19, 2013 17:44:40 GMT andyborris said:

And I wonder how the steering column works?

Quite unpredictably, by the look of that video

What a delightfully of-it's-time piece that is. Puts me in mind of the Pininfarina Modulo, anyone remember that? A similarly impractical piece of 70s automotive tinsel. You weren't anyone in the playground unless you had a Matchbox one of them

I'm a child of the 70's, but I must have missed out on that. Just googled it and it doesn't ring any bells...


However, I did have a Mini HaHa, which is some consolation.

[fred]

This is what I had back in Junior skool!!

[TurboDieselWeasel]

The steering might cause infertility in case of accident, though...

[luckyseven]

Oct 19, 2013 21:29:46 GMT fred said:

This is what I had back in Junior skool!!

That's the one! Found a brief YouTube snippet of a working(ish) mule



or for those who can speak Italian



To be fair, there was a time when all concepts looked similar to this; most manufacturers dabbled with real Captain Scarlet style concept wedges at some point in those days, and as Monty pointed out, some even went on to become real cars. Strangley, Lancia seemed more prone to it than most, perhaps because they were generally the bonker-est manufacturer anyway. The Sibilo, for example...



but even the humble Vauxhall marque mananged the wedgey SRV, some even gas turbine-powered!



Alfa managed to throw away the curves with the Iguana



and the earlier Ghia Gilda was another jet propelled frippery



Even those most undemonstrable of designers, the Aussies managed one with the zany Holden Hurricane

[moggyman]

I seem to remember an ICE brochure from the 70's with the Stratos Zero in it, along with a load of other 70's concept cars. I think it was a Radiomoble one, has anyone got one?