Not too sure whether it was or not Chris! They didn't build many, a couple of hundred or so. They used the Mex. HD bodyIIRC, which was OK by me. Not sure what they did to the running gear or suspension though. I remember them pulling up at the Langdale start when they first appeared, and the engine sounding like a bag of marbles, on tick over. We all thought they would never last, but they did. I would have been less scathing, had they run Mexicos as rally cars. My reference to homologation specials, was due to the use of Atlas back axles, Rocket boxes, mag housings, turreted rear shocks, etc., on the earlier cars. Anyway. I remember Sandro Munari pulling up at the start of Langdale in the Stratos with all the fibre glass back end in shreads. What I remember most was that the navigator's window would only open a few centimeters, and I had to take the sheets off the clipboards for him to sign, as the door would not open due to the damage. What year? No idea!
It was mainly the engine that pushed the boat - they made very few, and the next thing they're out to 2-litres and the MK2 Escort simply never looked back. Same as the Mk1, but they made it stick & the Mk3 fell over itself as a useless tool + the 1700T never happened. Anyway, your description of the Stratos pretty much shows it was built out of eggshells - aka out of spirit, which is more or less where you could argue homologations major.
The fecking "Monte Carlo"s were brilliant. If they had only persued those, there would be no argument. Anyway. I forgive Lancia anything cos they built the Fulvia, The most beautiful car in history. The HF Lightweight was the tops. And, the Targo Floria coups with the roof cut off were so. OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH! Although, Pat Moss, god rest the brilliant lady's soul, recons, in "The Story So Far", that Saab 96 Tva Tackts were the best rally car ever. Are you not impressed with all these book quotes, facts, weights (can you not convert Troy weight yet?), etc. That I can spout in a moment.
I need Golf Kitcar flywheel homologation weights in metric before we talk Saabs again. Lancias? Rust-buckets my friend. The Italians know how to feed themselves, make the occasional erratic supercar and go out on the pull, but as for making mainstream motor cars, they're damn useless!
Oh! Chris, Chris, Chris, Chris, Chris, Chris, Chris, Chris, Chris, Chris, Chris, Chris, Chris, Chris, Chris, Chris! One day we shall meet. And, I will educate you. Check with Stella, we have an open date planned already!
Search on duck. Failing that - it is known as a FAIL - right click on the picture and select properties.
As a doctor, I can prescibe you more beer (amongst other things) if you wish. So who does the duck belong to Chris?
