- Officially registered in the 037 registry as the “Andruet test car”
- Official rally car of the Chardonnet team
- Formerly owned by the famous rally driver Jean-Claude Andruet
- Recently underwent a comprehensive overhaul of the engine and transmission
- Driven by Walter Röhrl at the 2026 AVD Histo Monte Rally
- Completed at the Lancia factory on July 29, 1983
- Still in its original race livery, complete with sponsor decals from Pioneer & Total
- The last rear-wheel-drive car to win the world championship title!
Vehicle history:
The Lancia 037—an exceptional collector’s car with ties to the factory and a history of prominent drivers. This Lancia 037 is one of the rare examples that stands out not only because of its design but, above all, because of its historical connection to the Chardonnet factory team.
Based on evidence from its operational context at the time, this vehicle is believed to have been part of the Chardonnet racing team’s fleet of training, development, and press cars—the team that was closely associated with Lancia and in which Jean-Claude Andruet, among others, played a pivotal role. Vehicles of this type were typically used for tuning, preparation, and media presentations outside of pure competition and are just as sought after by collectors today as classic factory race cars.
Lancia vehicles were distributed in France by the independent importer André Chardonnet. He established a highly successful racing division, and one of his drivers was Jean-Claude Andruet, arguably the most talented French rally driver of that era. He is a two-time French Rally Champion (1968 and 1970), the 1970 European Rally Champion, and the winner of the “Tour de France Auto” (1972, 1981, 1982), the “Tour de Corse” (1968, 1972, 1974), and the 1973 Monte Carlo Rally, as well as having made numerous appearances at the 24 Hours of Le Mans with class victories. Andruet was a highly regarded driver who drove an Alpine A110 and a Lancia Stratos before taking the wheel of the Chardonnet team’s 037, with which he also won numerous rallies in 1983 and 1984.
In addition to the 037 race car, which he drove in the French Championship, Andruet owned a reconnaissance vehicle for track inspections that was painted like the race car but mechanically corresponded to the production version—apart from a few improvements that Chardonnet had made at the time. It is precisely this vehicle that we are offering here. This 037 was used primarily to open stages and for demonstrations. The vehicle bears the chassis number ZLA151AR0 00000109 and left the factory on July 29, 1983. It is officially registered in the 037 Registry as an Andruet test car and belongs to the 200 series of the 037 models.
Today, the car has 12,368 km on the odometer, which matches its original mileage, and has retained its racing livery: a blue-and-white Chardonnet paint job featuring the main sponsors of the time, Pioneer and Total. The car is remarkably well-preserved and is in perfect running condition. The race car, on the other hand, was destroyed. This 037 is an original and indispensable exhibit for any rally collection.
A recent development impressively underscores this vehicle’s special status:
As part of the AVD Histo Monte 2026, this Lancia 037 was selected for an exclusive demonstration run and prepared to the highest technical standards.
The highlight:
Walter Röhrl, a multiple World Rally Champion and one of the most influential figures in motorsports, personally drove this car on the legendary final stage from Monte Carlo to Cannes—including the iconic climb up the Col de Turini.
This drive was extensively documented. Included are, among other things:
– Photographs of Walter Röhrl in front of the Monte Carlo Casino
– Walter Röhrl’s original signature on the vehicle
– Video footage of the car in motion on historic rally routes
This rare combination of historical factory ties and contemporary prominence lends the vehicle exceptional authenticity and collector’s appeal.
