Lancia 037 Rally EVO Safari 1984 - Collectible model car
This exceptional model car of the Lancia 037 rally EVO faithfully reproduces the car that made history in the 1984 Safari Rally. Driven by the legendary duo **Markku Alén and Ilkka Kivimäki**, this special version of the 037 represents one of the most memorable moments in the career of this iconic Italian sports car.
Aimed at collectors with a passion for racing cars, this model car captures the essence of the golden era of world rallying, when the **Group B** cars dominated the special stages with their immense power and cutting-edge technology.
Characteristics of the model car
- Model: Lancia 037 rallye EVO
- Brand: Lancia
- Year: 1984
- Scale: 1/43rd
- Crew: M. Alén - I. Kivimäki
- Event: Safari Rally 1984
- Protective case included: Yes
The Lancia 037: the last breath of rear-wheel drive in rallying
Developed between 1980 and 1982, the Lancia 037 was born out of the Italian brand's need to replace the aging Stratos in the World Rally Championship. Based on the Beta Montecarlo platform, it quickly became the ultimate representative of rear-wheel drive rally cars, in the face of the rise of all-wheel drive models like the Audi Quattro.
Powered by a 2.0-liter supercharged four-cylinder engine developing nearly **280 horsepower**, the 037 compensates for its poor traction with an exceptionally balanced chassis and optimal weight distribution. Its Pininfarina design, instantly recognizable with its flared wheel arches and distinctive rear spoiler, makes it one of the most beautiful rally cars ever built.
Despite the advent of four-wheel drive, the 037 managed to clinch the constructors' title in 1983, becoming the **last rear-wheel drive car** to win a World Rally Championship, a feat that would never be repeated.
Lancia: Italian excellence in competition
Founded in 1906 by Vincenzo Lancia, the Turin-based brand quickly established itself as one of the world's leading figures in automotive innovation and competitive success. In the 1980s, when the 037 was created, Lancia literally dominated world rallying with a string of victories that remains unmatched to this day.
The company, then headed by Cesare Fiorio, focused on competition to restore its commercial image. This bold strategy paid off: between the Stratos, the 037, and later the Delta, Lancia racked up world titles and forged its legend. The brand became synonymous with Italian engineering and rallying excellence, attracting the best drivers of the era, such as Sandro Munari, Walter Röhrl, and Markku Alén.
This philosophy of performance above all makes Lancia a unique brand in the automotive world, capable of creating cars that are as beautiful as they are fast, combining Italian style and sporting efficiency.
The 1984 Safari Rally: When Africa Reveals the Champions
The 1984 Safari Rally will always be remembered as one of the most epic events in world rallying history. This legendary race, nicknamed the "White Hell" due to the ever-present dust on the Kenyan tracks, represented the ultimate challenge for drivers and their machines.
Markku Alén and Ilkka Kivimäki, driving their Lancia 037 EVO, waged a thrilling battle against the elements and the competition. Kenya's extreme conditions—scorching heat, high altitude, and wild animals crossing the stages—made every kilometer an adventure. The 037, with its specially tuned suspension and reinforced bodywork, had to tackle terrain few other cars could have handled.
This participation in the Safari perfectly illustrates the **spirit of adventure** that animated the rally in the 1980s. The crews set off on a veritable expedition lasting several days through hostile territories, where mechanical reliability was as important as pure speed. Alén's 037 symbolizes this heroic era when the drivers were true modern-day explorers.
The image of that white Lancia kicking up clouds of red dust on the African tracks has become **iconic**, representing everything that was most spectacular and authentic about rallying before the era of maximum safety.
Complete your model car collection
This 1984 Lancia 037 Safari naturally finds its place at the heart of a collection dedicated to model car racing cars . It dialogues perfectly with other emblematic models from the golden age of rallying, notably the Audi Quattro model cars which were its main rivals, or the Peugeot 205 T16 which took over from Group B.
Passionate rally model car collectors will particularly appreciate this faithful reproduction of a historic moment in motorsport. It fits harmoniously alongside other Lancia models such as the Stratos or the Delta Integrale, forming a legendary trilogy of Italian rallying.
This 1/43 scale model car will appeal to both those nostalgic for the 1980s and young enthusiasts discovering the history of rallying. It is a precious testament to an era when competitive motoring still embodied adventure and self-improvement, values dear to fans of vintage cars and authentic motorsport.
