Audi Sport quattro. Ford RS200. Lancia Delta S4. All considered a number of the most legendary (and deadly) rally vehicles ever made because of WRC’s short-lived Group B class.
However these icons weren’t the one vehicles tearing up the filth again then, as producers like Toyota, Nissan, Opel and even Lada had their very own entries.
Citroën BX 4TC
{Photograph} courtesy RM Sotheby’s
Maybe if Group B had continued previous 1986, the BX 4TC might have ultimately change into aggressive.
As a substitute, the Citroën was obese and underpowered out of the gate and loved little success throughout its quick WRC profession.
As for the manufacturing model, fewer than 90 of the full 200 made survive immediately, because the BX 4TC proved unpopular to many consumers–doubtless as a result of automobile’s poor rally efficiency–leading to a number of getting destroyed by Citroën.
That stated, the sharp, boxy form of the BX 4TC stands other than most vehicles on the street. (And with so few survivors left, values aren’t prone to go down any time quickly.)
Lada 2105 VFTS
{Photograph} courtesy FIA
Whereas “excessive efficiency” isn’t normally what comes first in your thoughts while you consider Ladas, think about this one the exception to the rule.
The Vilniusskaja Fabrika Transportnych Sredstv (Vilnius Manufacturing unit of Automobiles) in Vilnius, Lithuania–then a part of the Soviet Union–made a reputation for itself by making Ladas quicker.
By the mid Eighties, VFTS had been given the go-ahead with assist from Soviet racer Stasys Brundza to provide a automobile able to competing in Group B. The end result? The 2105 VFTS.
Whereas the automobile by no means achieved any outstanding wins throughout its time in Group B, it does characteristic some distinctive engineering quirks.
Take, for instance, the transmission. In attempting to maintain prices low, engineers rearranged the manufacturing shift sample to make their very own dog-leg gearbox: First gear is up and to the proper, second up and to the left.
Mitsubishi Lancer 2000 Turbo
{Photograph} courtesy Mitsubishi
Whereas the Lancer Evolutions stand as Mitsubishi’s most well-known rally machines, they weren’t the primary, as evidenced by this automobile, the Lancer 2000 Turbo.
The Group B model of the turbo Lancer was developed with assist from Scottish rally driver Andrew Cowan. (Cowan not solely helped discovered Ralliart as we all know it immediately, however he additionally served as its senior director for a number of years.)
Like so many different rear-wheel-drive vehicles competing in Group B on the time, although, it simply couldn’t compete with the likes of the all-wheel-drive Sport quattros and was later changed with an all-wheel-drive model of the Starion.
Then again, Mitsubishi did produce over 1200 examples of the road-going 2000 Turbo, although they had been solely offered in Europe due partially to extra stringent emissions laws within the U.S. and Japan.
BMW M1 Procar
{Photograph} courtesy Broad Arrow Auctions
“Professional Automotive or no automobile” additionally applies to the WRC, apparently.
An M1 Professional Automotive initially transformed to Group B specs by BMW of France competed within the 1983 and 1984 WRC seasons.
One of many extra profitable entries on this listing, the M1 went on to safe a handful of podium finishes, however not with out its share of issues.
The automobile was ceaselessly suffering from reliability points, and its measurement proved to be a notable drawback on a number of events.
Citroën Visa Mille Pistes
{Photograph} courtesy Aguettes
Whereas Group B could be finest remembered for the snarling, lightning-fast machines on the pointy finish of the sector, there have been additionally vehicles just like the Citroën Visa Mille Pistes that, whereas not as aggressive, supplied a extra accessible entry into the class.
The Mille Pistes (named after the rally of the identical title) was one of many stronger variations of the Citroën Visa to compete, that includes four-wheel drive and an influence output upward of 145 horsepower.
Though the Mille Pistes wasn’t operating up on the entrance of the pack, it did discover some success within the midfield. And when you look arduous sufficient, road-going variations of the Mille Pistes do seem available on the market every now and then.
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