Precision engineering components from Accu have played a vital role in the recreation of the iconic Lancia 037 rally car from the early 1980s — a vehicle known by motorsport enthusiasts as the last rear-wheel-drive winner of the World Rally Championship.
The rally car was built by engineer and lifelong Lancia enthusiast J-P Lihou, who spent 14 years recreating the legendary Group B machine from the ground up. With its exposed double wishbone suspension, tubular spaceframe rear end and composite bodywork, the Lancia 037 is a sight to behold.
Every fastener performs a structural role and must match the original specification exactly to accurately replicate the original build. This demanded an extraordinary range of specialist fasteners, from bespoke nuts and bolts to vintage-standard fixings that are rarely stocked today.
While remaining faithful to the original design, J-P Lihou approached the project with a sustainability mindset. He manufactured as many components as possible locally, used alternative composites where appropriate and partnered with Accu to reduce shipping distances and environmental impact.
Initially, sourcing fasteners proved to be slow and fragmented, with J-P Lihou relying on multiple suppliers and eBay listings. Accu’s one-stop solution, extensive stock range and next-day delivery quickly became the answer to these challenges and soon the backbone of the entire project.
Accu, one of the UK’s fastest growing precision engineering component suppliers, provided an extensive suite of specialist fixings, including high-strength fasteners, unusual captive nuts and obsolete hardware, all critical to maintaining both the structural integrity and authentic specification of the build. According to Lihou, many of these components were not readily available elsewhere.
Lancia enthusiast J-P Lihou explained: “You cannot build a 037 with off-the-shelf parts. You need specialist fixings, unusual sizes, old standards and things that most suppliers don’t even stock. Accu had every unusual part I needed and could even deliver them next day. If I had found Accu earlier, the whole project would have moved twice as fast.”
He continued: “When you’re trying to get a prototype on the road, you need reliability from your suppliers as much as from your components. Accu’s speed, quality and sheer range make them a natural fit for projects like this. Without Accu, I’d have wasted so much time trying random suppliers. Their quality is excellent, the CAD models save hours and next-day delivery keeps momentum going. It’s exactly what you need in a prototype environment.”
Today, Accu components hold together everything from chassis pick-up points to powertrain brackets in the Lancia 037. Invisible to the eye yet they are essential to the integrity of the build.
With its lightweight chassis, supercharged engine and razor-sharp suspension, the recreated Lancia 037 delivers the balance and responsiveness for which the original became famous. Accu’s precision fasteners ensure that assemblies stay aligned and structural fixings perform reliably under load.
Alastair Morris, Accu’s Managing Director, said: “We’re proud to have supplied fasteners for this legendary car. With our extensive range and quick-order service, enthusiasts like J-P Lihou can bring their vision to life without compromise. Our aim is to be the go-to single source fasteners supplier for individuals creating their own bespoke projects right through to small, medium and large engineering businesses.”
The Lancia 037 has already turned heads at motor shows across Europe. Looking ahead, J-P Lihou plans to prepare the car for hill-climb competitions, alongside further development including rebuilding the original supercharger, increasing boost and remapping the engine.
For more information, visit: www.accu.co.uk
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