We’re Building an AWD Lancia 037. Why?
- Jan 22
- 3 min read
Updated: Jan 27
The Lancia 037 was the last RWD car to win the World Rally Championship: why remake it into an AWD car? What ideas lie behind a decision to totally alter the DNA of rallying’s last RWD hero? Read on to get a closer look at why we’ve decided to build an AWD 037.
The hypothetical: AWD 037 vs Quattro
Our dream to build an AWD 037 was initially born from a simple hypothetical. Lancia 037 versus Audi Quattro is an iconic rallying rivalry: the last of the RWD old guard up against Audi’s first attempt at AWD. The 037 has often been framed as the underdog in this battle, and that had us wondering: if the 037 had been AWD, would it have triumphed over the Quattro?
Obviously, that question can never be definitively answered. Our version of an AWD 037 will incorporate 21st century components, and have double the power of the original 037, so any comparison to the original Quattro’s performance is unfair. The Rebel AWD 037 won’t give people the sterile, scientific answer to the AWD 037 vs Quattro hypothetical; it’s simply our imaginative take on it.
Unlocking the next competitive level
Imagine watching an 037, in the 2020s, competing in your local rally series and triumphing over all the AWD rally cars that took over the sport in the years following its 1983 World Championship win. Like you, we love the 037. We wish more people were driving 037s, we wish we could watch 037s on our local competitive rally stages tearing apart the competition. We believe, when armed with AWD, this balanced, deft, rallying champion of the past could step into the present and steal the show, bringing its beauty, style and legacy into a new era.
The quest to feel something real
The other motivation for us was to build something that gives drivers a raw, analogue, rapid driving experience; something we feel an AWD 037 would capture completely. At Rebel Autoworx’s heart is the desire to build cars that make us feel something real. We feel that modern vehicles have engineered the aggression out of the driving experience, and we want to give drivers the opportunity to feel that again.
We look back and remember Group B’s cars, machines that showcased how far an analogue car could go in a person’s hands; no electronic aids, just raw power and lightning reflexes. What an experience that must have been. We want our cars to encapsulate that vivid experience; this is what our AWD 037 is built to give you.
Where to from here?
A wise man (Allan Carter) once said; Dreams aren’t necessarily free, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t dream. AWD 037 is our dream, and we’re determined to make it a reality.
Like to know more about how we’re building our AWD 037? Keep an eye on our site and socials and you’ll be the first to know. Or sign up to Rebel Pacenotes, our monthly digest, to get every new story delivered to you in one package.
Written by: Connie Carter
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