Hawk HF3000: A 2012 Stratos Tribute With Alfa Power

Few rally cars stir emotions quite like the Lancia Stratos, and few originals are affordable. Enter the Hawk HF3000, a British-built replica that captures the wedge-shaped drama of the 1970s icon without demanding a six-figure sum. This particular example, assembled in 2012 and now offered for sale in Northwood, Greater London, shows a genuine 1,531 miles since completion and has drawn bidding to £25,000, still short of its reserve.

The Stratos story began when Bertone pitched Lancia a replacement for the ageing Fulvia in the World Rally Championship. Lancia approved, and the first cars rolled out in 1973. The model went on to claim the WRC crown from 1974 to 1976 and won the 1974 Targa Florio. Because surviving originals now change hands for around half a million pounds, Hawk, based in Frant, East Sussex, stepped in with a comprehensive kit approach: a bespoke chassis, a full body tub, suspension, and the other hardware needed to build a running car. Buyers can pick from kits tailored to five standard engines, and the company also offers custom work.

The first owner assembled this HF3000 in 2012, and the current seller is its third keeper. Finished in a bright yellow, it wears spoilers and scoops intended to generate downforce and feed cool air to the engine bay. The paint is described as glossy, the car as rust-free, and the glass as clear, while the Campagnolo-style alloy wheels show only light marks. Underneath, the powerplant is a 3.0-litre Alfa Romeo V6 rather than the 2.4-litre Lancia unit of the original, sending drive through a five-speed manual transaxle. Independent suspension at all four corners and four-wheel disc brakes round out the mechanical package. Recent work includes new clutch master and slave cylinders, fresh fuel hoses, and a full service carried out just forty miles ago, with documentation said to back up the low mileage.

Inside, the cabin is trimmed in two-tone blue Alcantara. The seats show no serious bolster wear and the dashboard is in strong shape, though the seller notes a dirty mark on the passenger seat, generally soiled carpet, and a few loose wires that need sorting. The leather Lancia steering wheel is in good condition, air conditioning requires a recharge, and the power windows and mirrors are reported to work.

The original Stratos proved that modest power could win rallies when the car was small and light, and this tribute follows the same philosophy. With eight bids already placed, the auction will reveal what buyers are willing to spend on a machine that recreates a legendary driving experience at a fraction of the cost of the real thing.