Hawk HF3000: A Faithful Tribute to the Lancia Stratos

Few rally cars of the 1970s left a mark as deep as the Lancia Stratos. Between 1974 and 1976 it swept the World Rally Championship, adding a Targa Florio win in 1974 for good measure. Today, a genuine Stratos commands six-figure sums, often far more, which is precisely the gap that Hawk Cars of Frant, East Sussex has chosen to fill. The company already builds Cobra replicas in 289 and 427 form, and its Stratos-inspired kit is offered well beyond a set of fibreglass panels.

Hawk’s approach is deliberately thorough. Buyers receive a purpose-built chassis, a complete body tub, plus suspension and the remaining structural components, allowing them to assemble a rolling shell before choosing a drivetrain. Kits are configured for five “standard” engine options, and the firm will tailor to a customer’s specific wishes. This particular HF3000 was assembled by its first owner in 2012 and now sits with its third keeper. Finished in a striking yellow, it wears the spoilers and intake scoops that generate downforce and feed cool air to the engine bay. The paint is reported to hold a strong shine, the glass is clear, and the Campagnolo-style alloy wheels show only minor marks.

Where the original Stratos used a mid-mounted 2.4-litre Lancia V6, this tribute carries a 3.0-litre Alfa Romeo V6. Drive reaches the road through a five-speed manual transaxle, while four-wheel independent suspension and four-wheel disc brakes round out the mechanical package. The odometer reads a genuine 1,531 miles since the build was completed, and the seller indicates that supporting documentation accompanies the car. Recent work includes fresh clutch master and slave cylinders, new fuel hoses, and a full service carried out just forty miles ago.

Inside, the cabin is trimmed in two-tone blue Alcantara. The seats show no meaningful bolster wear and the dashboard is described as excellent, though the seller notes a dirty mark on the passenger seat and general carpet grubbiness, with no certainty that a deep clean would resolve either. A few loose wires still need attention. The leather-rimmed Lancia steering wheel is in good order, and while the air conditioning requires a recharge, the power windows and mirrors are said to function correctly.

The Stratos proved that rally dominance does not require enormous output, managing three WRC crowns from a 2.4-litre V6 motivating roughly 2,000 lbs. As the seller points out, an authentic example would set a buyer back somewhere near £500,000. This Hawk delivers a comparable driving character for a fraction of that outlay. Listed with Car & Classic in Northwood, Greater London, bidding has reached £25,000, still below reserve, with eight bids placed so far. It will be worth watching whether this little tribute finds a new custodian, and at what price.