2022 Retropower Stratos HF Volumex

In addition to high level classic car restoration and bespoke modified classic cars, Hinckley-based Retropower provides a design and development service for one-off vehicle development projects. Their 'back catalogue' and list of clients is impressive and includes Gordon Murray, one of the foremost automotive brains of our time and a man to whom attention to detail is paramount.

In this case, the client offered Retropower the opportunity to put their own slant on rallying's ultimate 1970s wedge and they found ourselves drawn instead to its far more readily overlooked predecessor and direct relation, the Stratos Zero.

Retropower commenced the project six years ago using a ListerBell Automotive (now LB Specialist Cars) chassis and body kit, considered to be one of the best Stratos homages available in terms of its accuracy. The delicate operation of redesigning detailed aspects of the original Marcello Gandini design was sympathetically adhered to with this particular car, whilst maintaining the original and much loved overall shape.

Both front and rear clamshells would originally have been fixed by slightly awkward, exterior-mounted metal catches, a legacy of the ListerBell kit having been intended to pay homage to the 'Group 4' Stratos rally cars. While not exactly thrown together, it would be fair to say that these machines were primarily built in order to satisfy the demands of homologation, so technicalities like fit and finish were deemed less important. Retropower decided against the standard catches and replaced them with internally-mounted equivalents paired with internal alignment pins, resulting in a far smoother overall appearance, before painting the whole shell in the striking and suitably seventies shade of Feu Orange metallic.

Whilst the concept Stratos Zero was powered by the underwhelming V4 from the earlier Fulvia and the original production Stratos motivated by the V6 from Ferrari’s Dino, these options were not really appropriate and didn’t really fit with the company’s approach to building cars. As a result, Retropower committed to imbuing the car with a much needed performance hike, slotting in Alfa Romeo’s infamous 'Busso' 24v V6. However, that still wasn’t enough so the decision was made to supercharge the V6 bumping the car up to 400bhp on 1 Bar of boost. To feed all this power to the rear wheels, the Alfa Romeo V6 has been mounted to a strengthened Toyota MR2 gear box which features internals from the gearbox magicians at Quaife.

This raucous combination resulted in an effective and reliable forced-induction arrangement for the Busso engine, proving to be one of the most technically demanding aspects of the whole project, not least because of the tight confines dictated by the rear clamshell design but, as you can see from our images, it has been shoe-horned in beautifully. The Eaton M112-centred system utilises a charge-cooled inlet manifold of Retropower’s own design to ensure intake temperatures remain within the optimum range, while enlarged radiators and oil coolers now reside in the specially created cut-outs located above the rear wheels. Both have unique 3D printed grilles and mountings.

It is not often you get the opportunity to purchase what is, quite literally, a one of one special edition with the added knowledge that another will not be built again, certainly not to this specification. Retropower are deservedly successful and it's no secret that their waiting list to begin the design process is multiple months with completed builds easily taking years to perfect. This unique motor car is ready to drive away complete with a comprehensive history and photo-documented build file covering every part of its life up to modern day. This is a stunning automotive creation and we invite and encourage your viewing at our Supercar Fest Sale.