This year’s Salon Privé Concours, set to take place on 28-29 August, will feature a display celebrating iconic motorsport liveries
Two original competition cars whose liveries can be identified by the title-sponsor will be shown at Salon Privé at Blenheim Place later this month. The first is a Lancia Stratos HF works rally car, sporting the Lancia-ubiquitous green and white Alitalia livery. Better known by the last part of its chassis number, ‘1637’ was assembled in 1974, the year that the Stratos enjoyed the most WRC success.
It was sent to Lancia Squadra Corse where it was equipped to Group 4 specification, including a rise in power from the Stradale’s 190bhp to 275bhp.1637 was to be the first test car for the 1975 Safari Rally, receiving large metal guards front and rear to protect it from errant wildlife, a redesigned air-filtration system for Africa’s dusty tracks, and longer-travel Bilstein dampers to cater for the rocky roads the teams would encounter. Piloted by Vic Preston Jr, it achieved an 11th place finish.
The Lancia will be joined by a 1996 Subaru Impreza WRC97, sporting the iconic yellow-on-blue ‘555’ livery, synonymous with Colin McRae’s success in rallying. This particular example, chassis 97001, was campaigned by privateers for some years, including providing nine-times motorcycle champion Valentino Rossi with his first rally success when he finished seventh in the Rally di Monza.
Both cars will be on display at the 19th Salon Privé Concours. Tickets are available from salonpriveconcours.com
