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I remember this one! I was the underbidder when it traded at the Villa Erba RM auction. Things worked out, though, and a few months later I got another one. Love it! Once you understand what it wants to do and what it doesn't, it's terrific. My favorite car....
yes, some warehouse in Gdansk last I heard. The engine and transmission transplanted to a Polonez, since the frame was too damaged.
A new Stratos video is available from Petrolicious. Another really well made video, worth the nine minute view time.
It's in an automotive museum in Warsaw last time I heard. A few pics: Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Was a Senior at Warsaw Polytechnic and interned at OBRSO (Polski FIAT factory R&D outfit) All rally cars were built there and had the maintenance also for cars purchased from FIAT Italy ( 124 Abarths,Stratos (3 total), a number of 131 Abarths and some special cars for VIPs like Polonez Hatchbacks with 132 engines, 130 Sedans,130 Coupes and some Lancia Betas HPE). A few prototypes of a new Polski FIAT 1300 were also built as an inexpensive sports car for domestic market but 1981 Marshall Law put a stop to it.
One was a donor for that Polonez (body was too damaged to be repaired). 2nd was also damaged but eventually repaired and last time I heard, was disassembled and is being kept in some warehouse in Gdansk supposedly. 3rd, barely driven, was buried (to avoid a scandal when Solidarity was at it's peak) in unknown location (rumor says there is a parking lot and a shopping mall above the "grave").
Do we have anybody here who has experience with both stradale and grp.4? If so please share impressions. How do they compare? I’m specifically interested in handling. Of all the cars I’ve driven the stradale is the one that is most sensitive to throttle input. I know it’s a cliche but you really can steer it with throttle. The slightest of lifts can change its attitude. Does the grp 4 retain this characteristic or is it more buttoned down?
The GR4 car is much more planted and assuring to drive than the road car. The main difference is the heim joint suspension, stiffer springs, Bilstein shocks and wider 15 inch rims with lower profile tires. You feel much more in control in a GR4. Even just adding the rims and tires to a road car helps out quite a bit. I have them on my road car and it feels much better than the normal rim with 70 profile Michelins. Don't get me wrong, the road car is no slouch.
Does is still have the throttle steer magic of the Stradale or does it lose that from feeling so planted? What does the power difference feel like?