Been a while since I last logged onto Locost.

I built an MK around 3-4 years ago, with the help and input from people on here, thanks.
Ive been dipping in and out of the kit car scene for some years and always wanted to build a Stratos or GT40. The idea of the MK was always to see how I got on with building a car prior to putting, what will be quite a significant, investment into my next project.

Eventually decided on a Stratos, certainly not Locost but less than a GT40! Picked the chassis up around 12 months ago and things have been progressing steadily since.

Bought this on e-bay for not a great deal of money..


alfa

The kit uses the engine and gearbox from the 166, Im also using the Alfa ecu so make use of some of the loom.
Engine and box were stripped and rebuilt, I also fitted a Quaife LSD. Broke the remainder of the 166 and managed to get back almost the cost of the car!


engine1


engine2

Chassis is it was when I collected it


chassis

Took around 8 months to get to this point


chassis above


rear


front

Its a well engineered kit, aluminium billet uprights:


front sus


rear sus

Car successfully started and driven under its own power


side

This is where I am now, body is loosely fitted. I need to take the centre section off and trim the roll cage prior to refitting and bonding on permanently.


body1


Description


body3

Im not 100% about the quality of the gel coat and may have it painted once I have the body properly fitted and aligned.
Interior will be Stradale rather than the full on Group 4 rally version.

Hopefully be of interest to some of you and you may see it around at Stoneleigh in the future.

Cheers

That's looking really good! Always been a huge fan of the stratos shape - do like that blue as well.

What is the kit? I know that Hawk are popular?

Keep us all updated with your progress.

Congratulations; it's going to be a beautiful car, as are all Stratos!

I've only built one kitcar and I don't see me building another. BUT if I did it would be a Stratos replica

Keep the updates coming please

Looking good

Thanks..

The kit is made by a company called Lister Bell, they have been around for about 4 years.

Their kit is a more modern take on the Stratos, when compared to the Hawk who arguably make a more authentic kit using hard to find older Lancia and Alfa parts.
From the research I did this kit is an easier build than the Hawk due most of the parts being made by the kit manufacturer. It does use quite a few parts from an X19 (as did the original) which are now getting more and more scarce.

quote:

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Originally posted by perksy
Keep the updates coming please

Looking good

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Looks brill! Out of interest what do you do for a windscreen on these kits?

I don't often gush but.... man that is so lovely. I love the Stratos as a car and that colour combo is perfect.

Looks very nice!

As above, I'm a real fan of the Stratos look and that seems to capture it very well.

Best of luck and keep us updated.

quote:

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Originally posted by cloudy
Looks brill! Out of interest what do you do for a windscreen on these kits?

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Please please keep posting! On my bucket list!

Beautiful ....... Love those fat rear wheels they look expensive

Always wanted one of these. How much room is there in the footwells?
Build looks great you must be excited!

love it

Thanks again for the positive replies.

As has been pointed out the windscreen is not that expensive. Copies were commissioned by the Stratos club, I believe they are an exact copy and will fit an original car. In cab ventilation is notoriously rubbish, so I will be getting a heated windscreen.

The colour scheme is based on original 70s rally cars sponsored by Chardonnet (French Lancia importer not the wine!).


Chardonett2


Chardonett1

Im not going for the full on rally decals, the car stands out as it is and I think sometimes the decals take away the shape of the car.
When I ordered it I was considering red wheels, as I thought the blue and yellow may be a bit much, now its coming together Im really pleased I did go yellow as one colour sets the other off.

The space in the footwell is not that bad, certainly bigger than a 7.
Its slightly wider than the original and the steering wheel and pedals are in line. Unlike the original, which was typical Italian, the driver was a bit of an after thought and they put the steering wheel on one side and the passenger had the pedals

Ill certainly post more pictures as I progress. Its not a quick build, the above 10 or so pictures are about 18 months of work, so probably wont have anything new to report for a couple of months.
Trying to get parts from the kit supplier is not the easiest, as Im sure we have all experienced, dealing with small volume kit manufacturers is never quick!

quote:

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Originally posted by Bizarro


front sus

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quote:

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Originally posted by tilly819

quote:

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Originally posted by Bizarro


front sus

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Do you happen to know what ball joints are used on the outboard end of those wishbones?

They look ideal for a project I'm doing!

Cheers,
Tilly [/quotes]

They look like spherical bearings to me. You can see the bearing cups welded to the ends of the arms.

Nice build by the way. Keep us updated.

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tilly819 - 4/2/16 at 02:12 PM

True, but they also have gaiters and if they were sphericals there would be a nut or bolt head on the outside of the wishbones.

Cheers
Tilly

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David Jenkins - 4/2/16 at 03:24 PM

The Stratos is very much a Marmite design - I love it, the wife thinks it's ugly. If I had an unlimited budget I would build a replica, perhaps with a Ferrari engine as originally fitted.

Many, many years ago I saw a genuine one in Swansea - never seen one before, but instantly fell in love with it, even though it looked like something that had landed from outer space. There was a TV programme a long time ago about Group B rally cars, which showed a Stratos hammering up a very rough track; it looked really weird, but wonderful.

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Bizarro - 29/4/17 at 05:11 PM

After 2 years finally managed to get this finished and through IVA

Passed IVA end of Feb and got my registration through 1st March. Not had a great deal of chance to use it, only done about 150 miles, apart from desperately needing a suspension geometry set up, all is fine. Cant believe the attention it attracts!

Hopefully be at Stoneleigh tomorrow, say hello if you see me.


lbstr1


lbstr2


lbstr3


lbstr4

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SJ - 29/4/17 at 07:26 PM

That's lovely! There's a guy local to me has a red Stratos replica. I'm very jealous!

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craig1410 - 29/4/17 at 08:25 PM

Lovely job! Enjoy!

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ReMan - 29/4/17 at 11:38 PM

Looks great love to see it but not at stoneliegh til monday at

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Mash - 30/4/17 at 05:42 PM

Amazing car ! Well remember seeing these flying through the forests back in the day

Always wanted one, and if I had the cash, I'd build one

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loggyboy - 30/4/17 at 07:44 PM

Looks lovely. My dads been hankering after one of these for aes. What was the approx build cost?

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steve m - 30/4/17 at 08:06 PM

I like it, always loved the stratos, its so different

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Ugg10 - 30/4/17 at 08:23 PM

Love the stratos, absolute classic, the top gear article didn't help the kit car versions. Like the colour scheme but think I would have to go for either the martini or the Alitalia colours.

Must admit, almost bought a raffo Belva as I thought it was a poor mans stratos, not a bad kit shame it did not really take off. http://www.madabout-kitcars.com/pictures/126/Raffo+Cars_Belva

There was also an attempt to update it a couple of years ago based on ferrar 430 running gear http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/new-lancia-stratos-lancia-stratos-review

Hawk stratos shell/chassis for sale on the bay at the moment Lancia Stratos bodyshell,

[Edited on 30/4/17 by Ugg10]

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