Original Stratos at Classics at the Castle.

[LPH_UK]

Restored original Strat at Classics at the Castle in Dorset. Pics were posted on a Lotus forum I'm a member of for my attention due to the LB build!

Anyone here? Or anyone know the car/owner?

Text from Post says:

Fully restored original Stratos rally car at today's Classics at the Castle in Dorset. Just so happens the owner also has a replica version. Spot the flask, took the owner ages to locate an original, rear also has anti static probes as back in the day sand caused electrical problems when in the desert. Told value at circa million?!

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[The Slug]

The owner is a member on here, a few threads have been posted about its re-build on the forum.
Its how my ex car went on to look in later life.

Now that's what you call a Spot light on the door!!!

[ProtoTipo]

'Nice to see it finished.
A real labour of love?

[Bernard]

are they 15" rims ??

[john]

I'd say they were 15". So did the safari cars run one rim width? No deep dish on the rears in these photos.

[Bernard]

No 12" wide rims on the back of Safari cars as far as I'm aware.... I suspect they were same front and rear ?

[ProtoTipo]

On the competitive sections of the 1976 Safari, the car ran with 14" wheels and loose surface tyres.
6.5x14 Cromodoras on the front and 7.5x14 'chairs and flairs' Campagnolos on the back:
https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/s640x640/sh0.08/e35/13166731_1030395970375197_334957409_n.jpg?ig_cache_key=MTI1MjAyNTUzMDA0NzU4MzE0OQ%3D%3D.2.l

There are photographs of the car presented for scrutineering etc. at the start of the rally with 15" yellow coffin spokes and road tyres.
I'll post a link, if I can find one.

The Hrabalek 1977 Safari car runs round on 8x15 front and 9x15 rear yellow coffin spokes.

[john]

I wonder what the reason was for running 14"?
Tyre availability or handling considerations? ( suspension travel?)
Fair play on the knowledge database there Chris!

[Bernard]

I wonder what the reason was for running 14"?
Tyre availability or handling considerations? ( suspension travel?)
Fair play on the knowledge database there Chris!

ditto

[ProtoTipo]

Fair play on the knowledge database there Chris!

Well, David had me staring at period photos for long enough when I was making the stickers and stencil files.

[strat24v]

ditto

I'd say more likely it being to fit mud and snow super tough type tyres.

[ChrisCar6]

I think Safari and snow rallies cars used stradale-type rear arches.

[ProtoTipo]

I think Safari and snow rallies cars used stradale-type rear arches.

Yes, but note that the tub has group 4 wheel arch flairs fitted.
So that the Stradale and wide arched rear panels can be swapped.