Best rally car of all time?

[Peter]

Ford RS200. It's why group b was banned. It was too fast for the drivers.

 

[Metar]

Ford RS200. It's why group b was banned. It was too fast for the drivers.

Except it was Toivonen's famous accident in a Lancia which sparked the ban. Every single Group B car of the late era was too fast - it was a formula under which Audi achieved 1000HP (they didn't race those, though).

 

[Ardius]

Except it was Toivonen's famous accident in a Lancia which sparked the ban. Every single Group B car of the late era was too fast - it was a formula under which Audi achieved 1000HP (they didn't race those, though).

Indeed, and a car being too fast for the drivers to even control doesn't strike me as the "best" kind of car for rallying...or in fact any kind of motorsport.

My favourite of all time would probably be the Ford Escort (in all forms, though naturally the Cossie is the main one).
But the one I'd say is the "best" would probably be the Lancia Delta.

The best ones for their rivalry for me would be the Impreza vs. Lancer.

 

[homeforsummer]

At a push, I'm going to have to vote Mk2 Escort, as others have done. The Quattro defined the start of the AWD era and we've had an incredible advancement in technology since then and some cars that stand out. In the earlier days we had the BMC Minis and Alpine A110s, both cars that I love but ones that didn't have the same impact as the Mk2. And, as others have mentioned, Mk2s are still winning numerous events today, all the while still thrilling spectators with their sideways tendencies.

My mate's dad has a Mk2 which he rallies occasionally, and when I've been to watch and help out the cars define the essence of rallying - the challenges, the cameraderie, and most of all, great fun. This is his car below (image links to the team's blog):


(Image credit: Source)

 

[Metar]

I think the Lancia Stratos and Audi Quattro both have a very major point in their favour: They both changed the sport completely. The Audi for obvious reasons - but the Lancia too, because it created a whole new breed of cars: Cars designed for rallying. Previously, rally-cars were modified production models: But the Lancia was a true homologation special, the first true from-the-ground-up rally car.

 

[Babylon46]

The best car of rally is the Lancia Delta (6 times world championship), but for the eyes and the ears the best cars are these :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpXMgWMfnG8&feature=channel_page

 

[CyborgGT]

I agree with the RS200. The extremity of it is just astonishing. There used to be an old clip on YouTube of Clarkson driving it. When he stomped on it... oh my god. Such power in that light little car, this earth was never intended to handle it. I swear, the car looked like it was about to take off and fly.

 

[Leonidae]

Peugeot 205 T16 Evo 1 and 2. it didn't need a whole new design and body panels to be fast. and they used a diesel engine block if I recall right..

 

[sher_da_putt]

audi qauttro

 

[Metar]

Peugeot 205 T16 Evo 1 and 2. it didn't need a whole new design and body panels to be fast. and they used a diesel engine block if I recall right..

Other than the fact that it was a new design under the skin - and considering aerodynamics are less important than handling and power on a rally-car, it's not too surprising they could get away with the stock-looking (because they still changed most of the) panels.

The insides, however, are what matters - a spaceframe chassis with a mid-mounted turbocharged engine? Exactly what isn't "new" about it?

 

[Leonidae]

engine is still transversely mounted, unlike in S4.

 

[Metar]

And that is "old"? A front-engined, front-driven tiny hatchback gets a different engine, in a different location, with a different drivetrain - but the direction is the same, so it's not a new design?

 

[Zmann42087]

I'm admittedly biased, but my vote(s) are...

-Mitsubishi Lancer EVO III


-Mitsubishi Lancer EVO VI


-BMW E30 M3 (the car was amazing for only being 2WD)

 

[NISM0_SKYLINE]

I gotta go with the Lancia Delta S4. Like everyone said, it was powerful, fast, and it just looked good, well to me atleast. After that I gotta say the Impreza.

 

[Big Right]

This is kind of a test, being my first ever forum post anywhere, but just thought I should give both the Lancia Delta S4 and O37 a mention as being my personal favorites, and hopefully I haven't broken any forum rules in the process.

 

[LancerEvo7]

I agree on the Delta S4 and Welcome to the Forum World and to GTP Big Right!

 

[GT Racer08]

The Renault 5 turbo rally car was brilliant. Consistant High finisher,(Very reliable, never any engine problems,etc.)

 

[Pescarolo/C60]

Lancia Delta S4

 

[TeamStig]

Lancia Delta HF Integrale (8v, 16v and Evo)

These get honorable mentions:

Peugeot 205 T16

Subaru Impreza 555

Ford Escort Mk2

Lancia Stratos HF

 

[bubble97]

The Abu Dahbi Ford Focus is the best. FTW

 

[speedemon08]

'04 WRC Subaru is my fav. it looks just right
Audi Quattro Comes a close second, with the Lancia 037 3rd

 

[CarBastard]

Hard to choose...BETWEEN ALL GROUP B!!!

Angry, powerful, mean machines with top notch engineering, flimsy silhouette bodies, engines that laugh at a 100HP/Liter relation. Drivers with 🤬 made of the same solid steel, as their nerves and their abilities at the wheel. AH!!! Those were the times!!! .

 

[Cale]

Lancia 037.

I'm sorry. I'm deeply sorry.

I agree

 

[Kakumaki]

I agree

Me too, Lancia 037 was incredible.

 

[NotThePrez]

The Greatest Rally Car of all time is the Delta S4, aka the "Move over, saloon car!"

 

[alba]

Audi Quattro[/thread]

I approve.

 

[Azure Flare]

ahem,

 

[Stotty]

Escort Mk2 and Audi Quattro.

Escort because it defined the sport for years and is the quintisential (sp?) 2WD rally car.

Quattro because it changed the sport forever.

 

[nosturbo]

As much as I respect and admire the Mk2 Escort my vote is going to the 037 Lancia. Best looking rally car ever IMO, and as said previously, the only real challenge, and the only 2WD car to beat the mighty Audi's.

Of course I still have soft spots for the Metro 6R4, Opel Manta 400, Citroen BX and Nissan 240rs.

 

[Marvdogger]

I'd have to go for the Peugeot 205 T16 and a year later the T16 E2. Won the 1985 drivers and manufactuers championship and did it again in 1986.

Great looking car and was easyer to drive than the others, really well thought out and desisgned aswell. The T16 E2 gave out a max bhp of 540bhp with 3.0 bar boost.

Second greatest would be the Sport Quattro E2, i know it had its flaws but for sheer sight and sound you coul'dnt beat it and Walter Rohrl winning the 1985 San Remo Rally in it by nearly 7 minutes showed it had potentail.