"abrahamd" (abrahamd)
08/08/2015 at 01:36 • Filed to: None
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"abrahamd" (abrahamd)
08/08/2015 at 01:36 • Filed to: None | 1
| 10 |
We all know homologation specials are the very manifestation of enthusiasm. But how the hell did you get one?
Ironically, the rarest road going race specials’ path to a privateer’s hands are the easiest to understand . Getting something like a Porsche 911 GT1 Strassenversion when new was only a matter of being the richest dude in Germany with the best relationship with an executive. The other end of the spectrum is fairly clear too, Group A sort of things like the R32 GT-R or Subaru WRX were relatively successful volume models considering their niche appeal. The middle is where it gets murky. The legendary Group B class required manufacturers to make 400 road going versions of the all-terrain death wagons. While I know that a good number of them went to people with close connections to the teams, there had to have been some system in place for a consumer with the desire to get one.
Does anyone have any understanding or perspective on how homologation specials were sold?
Dusty Ventures
> abrahamd
08/08/2015 at 01:43 |
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The legendary Group B class required manufacturers to make 400 200 road going versions of the all-terrain death wagons.
FTFY. (That’s why the Ford RS200 is called the RS200, the number represents how many they had to make. Also, fun bonus fact, rumor is Lancia totally fudged their numbers on the Delta and actually made less than 50)
TheHondaBro
> Dusty Ventures
08/08/2015 at 01:57 |
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How the fuck do you fudge
that
?
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Dusty Ventures
> TheHondaBro
08/08/2015 at 02:10 |
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The story goes like this: FIA sends a rep to ensure all the road versions have been built. Rep arrives at warehouse containing ~50 Deltas. Lancia explains that there’s only 50 in the warehouse because that’s all the building can hold, there’s a few other warehouses around town holding the remaining cars. While Lancia’s liasons take the FIA rep to the next warehouse (the scenic way) a fleet of employees rush the cars to the next warehouse. Repeat a few more times, rep goes home convinced all 200 cars have been built, Lancia gets into Group B with just 50 cars.
Amoore100
> Dusty Ventures
08/08/2015 at 02:26 |
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That’s incredibly, stupidly, brilliant...and a very Italian solution...
Baeromez
> abrahamd
08/08/2015 at 02:32 |
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Be fucking loaded.
Sam
> abrahamd
08/08/2015 at 02:58 |
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Well, Toyota sold the GT-Four homologation cars through Toyota dealerships. So really, you just had to have the money and make a reservation at the dealership. Very similar to any limited production car, such as the Range Rover SVR.
LongbowMkII
> Dusty Ventures
08/08/2015 at 06:57 |
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whats that ticking? like 50 cars cooling?
that? that’s a bird.
f86sabre
> abrahamd
08/08/2015 at 08:10 |
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My 2003 Evo VIII was one of slightly more than 5000 road going cars built that year for WRC Geoup N Homologation. I think it was around the IX and definitely the X, that Mitsubishi got away from worrying about it.
http://www.ralliart.com/eGRN/homologat…
I guess you just have to know where to look. The Evo and STi are good examples of “easy” to obtain specials. You could look at the big sanctioning bodies regs to get an idea of what cars are the specials. I’d recommend the FIA, ACO and maybe IMSA.
chaozbandit
> abrahamd
08/08/2015 at 09:11 |
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Definitely a unicorn this one. Hat tip to Dusty for that story - the owner of this Evo made a lot of people jealous.
If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
> abrahamd
08/08/2015 at 10:40 |
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I don’t think many homologation specials (can we shorten that? Homspecs, maybe?) were ever sold through dealerships. It was more like how it went with the Ford GT, you could get on a list to buy one but priority goes to people with connections to the company or those who the factory decides are “worthy”.