10 Best cars that changed rallying forever

Owing to the shift towards professionalism and commercialization of the sports, car companies started introducing special models or variants in 60s for the sole purpose of winning rallies. As public interest grew in car rallies, the car manufacturers made several advances in cars over the last few decades. Cars like Mini Cooper, Renault 5 Turbo and Lancia Delta Integrale are some of the radical and impressive rally cars of their times. Here is a description of 10 best rally cars that serve as milestones in this fast and exciting revolutionary world of sports.

1. Lancia 037

Lancia 037

Successor of the successful Lancia Stratos, Lancia 037 won the WRC Constructor’s title in the year 1983. It came with a supercharged 2-liter, 4-cylinder engine unlike V6 in Stratos which helps to reduce turbo-lag and achieve improved throttle response. It was notable for its rear-wheel drive though most successors had a 4-wheel drive. It had its final run in 1985.

2. Audi Quattro

Audi Quattro

This one is a road and rally car from Audi, Quattro referring to its four-wheel drive with a turbocharged engine. It was first displayed at Geneva Motor Show in 1980. It was the first to exploit the new rules allowing a four-wheel. Inspiration for this was the Volkswagen Litis whose performance was not matched by any car on snow. This and its subsequent evolutions Quattro A1 and A2 won several world rallies. It serves as a major milestone in Audi's evolution.

3. Saab 96

Saab_96

An improvement over Saab 93, it enjoyed a successful stint from '60s to 1980 winning the RACs in three consecutive years in 1960, '61,'62 and the Monte Carlo Rallies in 1962 and 1963. Equipped with a 750 cc 3-cylinder Saab two-stroke engine, it came with several new features, one being 'gear lever mounted on steering column'.

4. Toyota 2000GT

Toyota 2000GT

It is a front-engine, rear-wheel drive designed by Toyota in collaboration with Yamaha which proved Japan could rival its competitors in Europe. It entered first into competition in domestic races in '66 and broke several FIA records for speed and endurance but was scrapped after an accident in '67. Even now it collects a high price as a collectible, also perhaps due its famous on screen appearance in Bond Movie 'You Only Live Twice' where it appeared as a convertible.

5. Austin Mini Cooper

Austin Mini Cooper

John Cooper developed Mini Cooper in collaboration with car designer Sir Alec Issigonis which was a small, economical design equipped with several features uncommon at the time for a small car, for example, front disc drakes. Its front-wheel drive allowing for four-fifths of floor span for passengers and luggage created influenced car-making in the decades to come. It won the Monte Carlo Rallies in 1964,-65,-66,-67 but was disqualified controversially after the finish.

6. Ford Escort Mk.I RS

Ford Escort Mk.I RS

Mark I Escorts have been one of the most successful rally cars of all times, unbeatable during late 60s and early 70s. Its greatest feat came in 1970 when it won the World Cup Rally with Hannu Mikola as the driver. In addition to special additions of its variant Escort Mexico, another version RS1600 was being developed with better engines and strengthened body shells.

7. Renault Alpine A110

Renault Alpine A110

A110, also known as Berlinette, was a victorious rally car in early 70s winning the Monte Carlo Rally in 71 and several other events in International Championship for manufactures from 1970-72. It became the first World Rally champion in 1973 winning most of the races in World Rally Championship. With the coming of Lancia Stratos, this and several other rally cars became obsolete despite several efforts to improve performance.

8. Citroen C4 WRC

Citroën C4 WRC

Built for World Rally Championship by Citroen Racing, it entered racing in 2007 and has won the drivers' as well as the constructors' title with Sebastian Loeb as driver. C4WRC and Loeb have maintained a cent percent record on Asphalt events in WRC.

9. Peugeot 205 T16

Peugeot 206 T16

T for turbo and 16 for 16 valves gave T16 its name. T16 shared the same transverse,mid-engine with its regular production models but it had more than double their power. It won the constructors' title in 1985 and 1986 the last of Group B rallies of World Rally Championship with competition from Lancia, Audi, Ford, etc. 205 was too fast for its drivers and it led to several accidents ultimately leading to the demise of the series.

10. Datsun 240Z

Datsun 240Z

Way cheaper than the European cars, it gave impressive performance and reliability with a 2.6 liter inline-six engine. It offered great value for money and set the stage for affordable performance for Japanese car makers.