At first glance, rally cars seem like regular cars, but the major difference is the bodyshell. To build a rally car, you have to get a regular car and dismantle everything until you have only the bare chassis left. Take away everything that makes the car heavier and weld new, lighter materials. Then you have to mount an engine, a roll cage, new brakes and suspension, and interior components like seat belts, racing seats, and switches. Finally, a special plastic panel is secured to the underbody of most rally cars to avoid damage from gravel and dirt during high-speed driving.

Specially designed for racing events, rally cars are built with FIA regulations in mind. The rally cars on this list are not only remembered for their performance, but also for their achievements on the track. You'd have to pay a fortune to add these rare, classic rally cars to your collection, and we think they're worth every penny.

Related: The Best Rally Cars For Beginners to Start With (And Win)

10 1974 Lancia Stratos

1974 Lancia Stratos
Via Hobbylinna

The Lancia Stratos has a badass look that never fails to grab the attention of onlookers. Its eccentric design gives the impression that it's not just a rally machine, but also a road-going supercar. Following the production order of 500 units of the Lancia Stratos, it was certified fit to compete in the World Rally Championship as a Group 4 rally car.

1975 Lancia Stratos
Via Pinterest

The Lancia Stratos is equipped with a 2.4-liter V6, which is the same engine as the Ferrari Stradale. The engine was tuned up to 265 hp and 203 lb-ft of torque. Drivers like Björn Waldegård and Sandro Munari had a successful run from 1974 to 1976, thanks to the Lancia Stratos, which clocks 60 mph in 4.1 seconds.

9 1982 Lancia 037

1982 Lancia 037
Via Pinterest

When the FIA Group B design restrictions were relaxed a bit, Lancia seized the opportunity to release the 037, which was the 37th project developed by the brand. The Lancia 037 was built with the center tub chassis and frontal/rear steel subframes of the Montecarlo.

1982 Lancia 037
Via Pubblimas

The 2.0-liter supercharged inline-4 engine mounted on the 1982 Lancia 037 delivered 265 hp and was boosted to 300 hp with a water injection system. With a dimension of 154.1 x 72.8 x 49.0 inches, the Lancia 037 was a bit large to be considered a good rally car. But then, after

Walter Röhrl won the Manufacturers’ World Championship in 1983, all doubts regarding the effectiveness of the 037 were doused.

8 1985 Porsche 959 Rally

White and Blue 1985 Porsche 959 Rally
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With the ambition of competing in the Group B rally racing, Porsche set out to build the 959 Rally in 1981. Three years later, Porsche unveiled the 959 prototype at the Frankfurt Auto Show, and it finished first place at the Paris-Dakar Rally in 1984.

White and Blue 1985 Porsche 959 Rally
Via Secret Classics

Porsche mounted a 2.8-liter flat-six engine on the 959 with an output of 444 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque. The Porsche 959, which hits 60 mph in 3.6 seconds, was driven by notable drivers like Jacky Ickx and René Metge. In 2018, a 1985 Porsche 959 Rally was auctioned at a staggering $6 million.

Related: Here’s Why We Love The Porsche 959 Group B Rally Car

7 1985 Peugeot 205 T16

White 1985 Peugeot 205 T16
Via Pinterest

The Peugeot 205 T16 can never be forgotten in Pikes Peak history, thanks to the 10:47:77 record set by Ari Vatanen. One feature that sets the Peugeot 205 T16 apart from all other Hillclimb or rally cars is the four-wheel steering. A 1.9-liter inline-four-cylinder sits on the front of the right rear wheel and pumps out 600 hp and 542 lb-ft of torque.

White 1985 Peugeot 205 T16
Via Classic Trader

After the record-setting run of the 205 T16 at Pikes Peak in 1985, Peugeot won the event again in 1989 with the 205 T16 that hits 60 mph in 3.0 seconds.

6 1985 MG Metro 6R4

White 1985 MG Metro 6R4
Via Bonhams

MG Motorsport introduced the Metro 6R4 in 1984, and it was meant to rival the Ford RS200 and Audi Quattro S1. Unlike the MG Metro Turbo that made only 200 hp, the 6R4 specifically designed for the Group B rally racing produced up to 419 hp and a maximum of 270 lb-ft of torque.

1985 MG Metro 6R4
Via DirtFish

Tony Pond's reputation soared when he finished third place with the MG Metro 6R4 at the 1985 RAC Rally. The Metro 6R4 came with a 3.0-liter quad-cam V6 engine, and it accelerated to 60 mph in 3.0 seconds.

Related: Here’s Why The MG Metro 6R4 Is Such An Icon

5 1985 Audi Sport Quattro S1

White and Yellow 1985 Audi Sport Quattro S1
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The Audi Sport Quattro S1 made its debut at the 1000 Lakes Rally in 1985, with many believing that it was way ahead of its time. Audi states that the 2.1-liter inline-five-cylinder in the Sport Quattro S1 was rated 470 hp, but since it was turbocharged, the output is believed to be around 540 hp.

White and Yellow 1985 Audi Sport Quattro S1
Via SnapLap

The improved engine, coupled with the aerodynamic features pushed the Sport Quattro S1 to 60 mph in 3.1 seconds. Audi achieved what many modern-day supercars couldn't achieve with its Quattro S1 as far back as 1985. The Audi Sport Quattro S1 goes for as much as $434,968 today.

4 1986 Ford RS200 Evolution

White 1986 Ford RS200 Evolution
Via Hagerty Insider

At some point in time, the Ford RS200 Evolution was the fastest car on the earth and was even featured on the Guinness Book of Records for its completing 60 mph in a staggering 3.0-second. Produced by Ford of Great Britain, the RS200 Evolution was the first four-wheel drive by Ford to compete in the Group B class rally racing.

White 1986 Ford RS200 Evolution
Via Pinterest

With a special BTD-E 2.1-liter engine, the RS200 Evolution was capable of delivering 580 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque. Ford made only 24 examples of the RS200 Evolution, and the few existing ones are auctioned for as high as $500,000.

3 1997 Subaru Impreza S3 WRC

Blue 1997 Subaru Impreza S3 WRC
Via Sandbrooks

Colin McRae became one of the most iconic World Rally champions, thanks to the Subaru Impreza S3 WRC. Introduced as a successor to the Impreza 555, the S3 WRC was not hindered by the strict FIA regulations, which were dropped that very year.

Blue 1997 Subaru Impreza S3 WRC
Via HiConsumption

The 2.0-liter Boxer-4 engine of the Impreza S3 WRC coupled with a curb weight of 2,712 lbs, propelled the rally car to 60 mph in less than 5.0 seconds. The S3 WRC was rated 310 hp and 367 lb-ft of torque.

Related: Just How Insane Was The 1997 Subaru Impreza S3 WRC As A Rally Car

2 1992 Toyota Celica GT-Four WRC

White 1992 Toyota Celica GT-Four WRC
Via Right Foot Down

Toyota introduced the Celica GT-Four WRC as a replacement for the ST165 and made its debut at the World Rally Championship in Monte Carlo in 1992. Carlos Sainz emerged second place in the competition, and that was just the beginning of a great championship run by the Celica GT-Four WRC.

White 1992 Toyota Celica GT-Four WRC
Via BangShift

Mounting a 2.0-liter inline-four engine on the Celica GT-Four WRC resulted in the production of 295 hp and 339 lb-ft of torque. This power plus the aerodynamic features were enough to take the Celica GT-Four WRC from 0-60 in 4.3 seconds.

1 1996 Suzuki Escudo Pikes Peak

Via: gtplanet.net
Via: gtplanet.net

The Suzuki Escudo Pikes Peak is a purpose-built racing machine for monstrous performance on dirt tracks. Suzuki introduced the Escudo Pikes Peak in 1996 to compete at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb event, and it won the attention of the racing world.

Red 1996 Suzuki Escudo Pikes Peak
Via Giant Bomb

With a 2.0-liter twin-turbo V6 engine, the Escudo Pikes Peak cranks out an astonishing 985 hp and 678 lb-ft of torque. This high-revving Escudo Pikes Peak hits 60 mph in 2.5 seconds and was the fastest car in many PlayStation video game series at the time.