Founded in 1919, Stola has enjoyed a century of success in design and prototyping, maintaining a relatively low profile. The company's collaboration with designer Marcello Gandini began in the late 1980s with the development of the Bugatti EB110. In 1996, Stola ventured into producing concept cars to showcase its skills, culminating in the unveiling of the S81 at the 2000 Turin Salon.
To mark 30 years since Gandini's original Stratos design, he was tasked with creating a 21st-century version of the iconic car. The result was the S81, a non-running prototype designed to accommodate a mid-mounted Maserati V8 from the Quattroporte.
Stola, with branches in Italy, Brazil, India, France, and Japan, has been involved in various automotive projects, including building concept cars for Mercedes-Benz, producing stamping equipment for the Alfa 156 Sportwagon, and manufacturing bodies for the Fiat Strada pickup truck and various versions of the Fiat Palio.
The S81, an epoxy model without an engine, measured 3915 mm in length, 1976 mm in width, and 1135 mm in height. It featured wheels from OZ Racing, Goodyear tires, and Brembo brakes. The model, named S81 to signify the company's 81 years, represented a creative collaboration between Stola and Marcello Gandini, bearing his initials "M" and "G" in the emblem.
While the S81 was only a full-size scale model, it left a lasting impression. Painted in a vibrant orange hue reminiscent of the HF Prototype from 1971, the concept was a nod to the legendary Lancia Stratos. It was unveiled at the 2001 Turin Motor Show and was envisioned to accommodate a Maserati V8 with 370 horsepower, although it never had plans for production.
The Stola S81, a tribute to the iconic rally car, showcased Gandini's modern interpretation of the classic wedge shape. Despite being a non-functional model, it featured distinctive design elements, including LED headlights shaped like boomerangs and a continuous light strip at the back. The concept, now resting in the collection of Corrado Lopresto, stands as a unique homage to the fabled Lancia Stratos in automotive history.
Source & Images: Stola S.p.a.; www.formfreu.de
