1970 Lancia Stratos Zero

In terms of car design, the most original idea to come out of 1970 was a futuristic prototype by the name of Stratos 0, fruit of Bertone inspiration. It all started with the idea of mounting the engine block from a Lancia Fulvia 1.6 HF on a new base. The engine was centrally-mounted in a lowered position, and the suspensions and steering elements were designed according to a revolutionary line, breaking out of any known set moulds. The result is a flowing shape which tapers in sharply at both ends, 358 cm long and just 84 cm high. The presence of the four wheels is the only conceptual link to the contemporary idea of an automobile. The marked shaping of the wings, which accentuate the wedge-shape of the body, and the triangular motif of the roof, and air vents, all serve to underline its stylistic divide from the classic elements of car design. The technical features employed are astounding: the double side windows, the front and rear lights, and the access to the car with the entire front of the vehicle opening up to let the driver literally walk up to the driving seat. The ‘Stratoline’ as Nuccio Bertone had initially christened it, goes beyond an exercise in design, to represent a global reworking of the actual concept of what makes a car.