Stratos-pheric
There have been various kit-car versions of the iconic Lancia Stratos offered over the years, but nothing compared to Manufattura Automobili Torino's re-imagining, as seen here. The story of what would crystallise as the New Stratos began back in the mid-1990s when a teenage enthusiast named Chris Hrabalek bought the rights to the Stratos name, which Lancia had allowed to lapse. Some ten years later Hrabalek was a postgraduate student on the prestigious Royal College of Art's Vehicle Design Course; rather than present the customary portfolio of drawings as his final-year project, he decided to build his own version of the Stratos. Ten wealthy backers came forward, and Hrabalek's 'Fenomenon Stratos' was duly exhibited at the 2005 Geneva Salon where it caused a sensation.
Encouraged by the car's favourable reception, Hrabalek explored ways to put his vision into production. One of those original ten backers, German billionaire Michael Stoschek, agreed to bankroll the project, and the legendary Italian design house of Pininfarina came on board as a technical partner. It was decided to use the then current Ferrari 430 Scuderia as the basis of the New Stratos. Using Hrabalek's art school project as the starting point, Pininfarina refined the design to suit the 430 Scuderia platform.
By 2010 the New Stratos was ready. Although the result was well received by Ferrari they declined to supply parts for the 25 cars planned and Pininfarina had no choice but to abandon the project. Fast forward eight years, the Ferrari 430 Scuderia is no longer in production and there are plenty of used examples and spare parts available. Equally importantly, Paolo Garella, who had been the special projects manager at Pininfarina during New Stratos development, was now running his own company: Manufattura Automobili Torino (MAT). Garella revived the project, although this time using Ferraris supplied by his customers.
The New Stratos has a carbon fibre body while the interior is uncompromisingly spartan, in keeping with original's competition car rationale. The Ferrari 4.3-litre V8 produces 540bhp in the New Stratos, some 37 horsepower more than in the 430 Scuderia. More powerful and some 50kg lighter than the Scuderia, the New Stratos comfortably out-performs its Ferrari cousin in every department.
This example, number 1 of the 25 planned, is based on a 2009 Ferrari 430 Scuderia which was supplied by the original client. The car was finished at the beginning of 2019 and exhibited at the Geneva Motorshow on the MAT stand. The result, finished in the classic Alitalia livery, is nothing less than stunning. Bonhams will be offering this very special MAT New Stratos Coupé at their upcoming Les Grandes Marques du Monde au Grand Palais Sale in Paris held on the 6th February. For more information on this and other vehicles at the sale, click on the link below. Photos © Courtesy of Bonhams.