In addition to high level classic car restoration and bespoke modified classic cars, Hinckley-based Retropower provides a design and development service for one-off vehicle development projects.

Their 'back catalogue' and list of clients is impressive and includes Gordon Murray, one of the foremost automotive brains of our time and a man to whom attention to detail is paramount.

In this case, the client offered Retropower the opportunity to put their own slant on rallying's ultimate 1970s wedge and they found ourselves drawn instead to its far more readily overlooked predecessor and direct relation, the Stratos Zero.

Retropower commenced the project six years ago using a ListerBell Automotive (now LB Specialist Cars) chassis and body kit, considered to be one of the best Stratos homages available in terms of its accuracy.

The delicate operation of redesigning detailed aspects of the original Marcello Gandini design was sympathetically adhered to with this particular car, whilst ma...