what are your thoughts on a stratos replica? the stratos has been my dream car since year dot, however the likelihood of picking up one of the like <400 on the planet is slim... especially at a price at which i would be willing to drive it. now, i am very much against bodykits and lambo "replicas" ( ) and all that nonsense, however have a certain respect for proper replicas of cars which are nigh on impossible to get... GT40, Cobra, Seven... etc, if they're done right from the start... ie, none of this based-off-a-VW-or-MR2 or whatever nonsense. if i saw a countach/diablo 'rebody' i'd just find it so very sad that someone spent all this time and money making a (nearly always) crappy version of a (relatively) available car. just wondering, what kind of esteem would you hold a stratos replica in?
Ash you do know seven's have been in pretty much constant production for the past 40 years?........if you want one call Caterham cars........pretty sure you can still buy a new AC Cobra or at least you can get a used MkIv from a couple of years ago for £35-40k!, built on the same jigs by AC Cars as they were in the 60's..........
sorry no, these are just examples i thought of where they were designed that way from the ground up. i have no interest in them... however i'm on the waiting list for the ariel atom, but that'll take a couple years to be available here. i really just NEED a stratos. it's been haunting me for years, the X1/9 has been a good precursor but the stratos to me is the ultimate... and in the next year or two i'd like to get one.
A replica is ok if its built with the proper chassis type and uses the same engine, i.e. a Ferrari or Ac Cobra with a 1.6 ford 4 cyl is a no no, also so are these awful Mr2's with tons of fibreglass glued on to resemble a 355 but it still has a toyota 4 cyl engine. Getting back to your comment, in my opinion a Stratos would be fine if it has the same chassis construction and if you used the 2.4 Dino engine say out of a Fiat Dino, at least it would be fairly authentic, this is just my personal thoughts
I love the stratos very much too and have the same problem moneywise ( a real Stratos is out of the question). I'm currently saving for either a 308 Dino or a secondhand Stratos replica. Allthough a real Ferrari should be a better option than any replica I'm so much impressed by the Stratos. In the end I'll follow my heart and don't care about what other people think. A Stratos replica with a Dino engine would be nice but I'd settle for an Alfa 146 V6 as well (which looks the part too). I'd say go for it! Best, Peter p.s. what are your optoins? Are you going to build one yourself, have one built or buy a secondhand and/or project car?
The Stratos did it for me too. Originally the door stop show car, then the production and WRC dominating ones. I missed out on one in 1986 by $500. It sold for $17,500. I offered $17k. Still kicking myself. I think a replica would be GREAT ! However dont try to immitate it; Improve it with a modern Fuel Injected, no maintenance V-6. Add A/C, a bit larger wheels, Etc. If you were to go original Ferrari, the glass 76 308 comes closest. As you probably know a kit is offered for the Stratos. Make sure you fit into one first !
last year i nearly bought a 'decent-enough' 308GT4, but with my (heavily modified twin-cam) X1/9 eating my pockets out it wasn't feasible for me. next year it will be. i'd still really love the GT4, a good example here runs about $60kAUD, so i'm thinking i'd like to see what's around in the Stratos market for those $$$. i don't want a project car, wasted too much unrecoverable time and money making my X go fast and it's still not finished. as for powerplant i'd ideally like a ferrari/dino based solution, but something else italian and 'competetive' with the original engine would be acceptable.
Hawk in England does a pretty good Stratos replica, powered by a 2L 4-cylinder FIAT. If you find a FIAT Dino engine, you still need a transversal gearbox.
The hawk replicas are OK. They use a square-tube chassis rather than the monocoque of the original Stratos, with mainly Lancia Beta running gear. Handling and grip are as good as if not better than a real Stratos, but they are heavier. One benefit is RHD, all real Stratos' were LHD. Any replica is pointless unless it has a Dino engine. The engine and gearbox are vital to the driving experience, anything with a 4-cyl engine will leave you dissapointed. A 308 engine will fit but again, its just not the same noise or feel. A complete Dino engine + gearbox is worth about A$40K. The "coffin" wheels are $4K each in magnesium, $2K in aluminium. To put this in context, here in Sydney, Gerry D just sold his red replica, with an aluminium block competition Dino engine, for $65K. This is about 1/4 the value of a genuine Stratos and was in fact a bargain. So its makes sense to find a car with the correct spec. Keep your eye on the local register http://www.hermes.net.au/stratos/ and the Stratos supersite www.stratossupersite.com
thanks for the pm, i'm not going to be a serious buyer for at least a year or so, but i figger these cars can take that long or longer to track down so i thought i'd start now. i wouldn't go for a 4cyl, (already have a fiat!) it would be the dino engine if possible, but i was looking at the options list yesterday and saw the alfa V6 listed which is similar in size and power, but modern. i'm not a huge fan of modern (again, with the X i chose a raw '78 beast over an '89 smooth as silk version) but if it sounds and goes "as good as" the dino then i'd be interested. as for weight, i read that the hawk is actually MUCH lighter than the original... i think the original was around 980kg, whereas the hawk tips in at about 820kg... sorry i don't recall if that was with engine/gearbox though! i've been a lurker at all the stratos sites for a long time.....
the 'registry' only lists half a dozen cars or so. any ideas on real numbers in oz... real and replica?
Replicas? yes but Crappy? HELL NO!!!! http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=5103203899688387162&q=stratos
thanks, those are awesome... always looking for more stratos vids. got any hi-res spectacular pics? i want to print out a poster for my wall, it's my next car.
Replicas look good from afar. They're identifiable in a matter of microseconds. I have nothing against them but they're just that, replicas.
My view is that by getting a replica you don't get a Stratos. Several reasons to that: - Chassis are completely different (spaceframe[replica], monocoque[original]) - Engines are different (Alfa?[replica], Dino[original]) - Gearboxes are different and differently placed (Alfa? side mounted[replica], below engine[Dino, original]) - Cascade gears are not interchangable on replicas - Suspension layout is different - Rack and pinion as well as steering ratio are different - Brakes are different - Differential is, usually, not self-locking on replicas - The list is endless If you want a Stratos buy one, it's expensive but it's an investment too and you will not lose your money (on the contrary). You may have trouble registering a replica outside the UK. If you decide to build one you should count on 2 years with luck. Go work at McDonalds the same hours and buy the real thing.
Hey Jeff how are you? Hows your Stratos? You know tha marqui for the Concorso in Monterey this year was the Lancia, and guess what, alot of people were disapointed because no one braught a Stratos, there were 23 Scorpions, 1 Integrale but no Stratos. Anyway will you be able to bring yours next year? Ciao Mike
Ash, I feel your pain mate. I have been in-love with the 037 ever since I laid eyes on one... I do not mind the Stratos replicas. The reason I do not mind them is because they run a hell of a lot of Lancia gear (as Ian noted). They are not running some dodgy Pontiac rebody. I think that you could get a screaming 4 (see the hp Guy Croft gets) and have a lot of fun. I would not bother with the Dino motor. Frankly I would rather a Stratos replica than a GT4. Most of the Stratos replicas I have seen are very close to the original car (less the dino motor). From what I have seen most run the bullet proof 2ltr Lancia twin cam motor (I have a number of these babies!), which are a nice fun motor with the likes of double valve springs which let you rev them.
Which part of: - Chassis are completely different (spaceframe[replica], monocoque[original]) - Engines are different (Alfa?[replica], Dino[original]) - Gearboxes are different and differently placed (Alfa? side mounted[replica], below engine[Dino, original]) - Cascade gears are not interchangable on replicas - Suspension layout is different - Rack and pinion as well as steering ratio are different - Brakes are different - Differential is, usually, not self-locking on replicas - The list is endless have you missed exactly? What Lancia gear are the replicas running? Chassis? Suspension? Steering? How many common parts replicas have with originals? I like replicas and so do you, apparently. But please don't write untrue statements about them.
Stratos, I think he means Lancia drivetarin/parts in general, not Stratos parts. This thread is quite interesting, just because of the love shown for the Startos replica. I'm not anti replica in any shape or form and of all the replicas on the market a good Stratos replica is one of the ones I would love to own. A great handling car with the looks of a 70's classic racing car. But as Stratos says, they having nothing in common with the real thing. Move this thread to the Lambo section and change Stratos for Countach and you'd have a riot. Similarly, move it to the vintage section and change Stratos to 'I've rebuilt this unloved 250GTE into a GTO' and stand back
Fact is replicas don't use Lancia parts at all (save the engine sometimes). Suspension components are Fiat sourced, steering racks are Rover and other makes, brakes are Alfa sourced usually, etc.
Theses guys have been promissing to produce there Stratos concept http://www.fenomenon.com/ Supposedly with Prodrive
