A Street Car Named Dallara

Over the course of a typical weekend during auto racing season, Italian engineering firm Dallara estimates that more than 300 of its products take to the track at circuits around the world.

An impressive accomplishment to be sure, but apparently not one that Dallara is content with as the Varano de’ Melegari-based marque has decided it will start building street-legal road cars.

Christened the Stradale, the first of Dallara’s street cars was delivered to company founder Giampaolo Dallara on his 80th birthday at the building where he founded the company in 1972.

A two-seat barchetta with no doors or roof and an optional windshield, the Dallara Stradale tips the scales at a scant 1,885 pounds in its base package, although there is an option to add in a rear wing that’s capable of giving the car 1,808 pounds of downforce at its 130 MPH top speed.

Additions like the windshield or the wing aren’t the only options on the Stradale as Dallara can also install an adjustable suspension that can comfortably lower the car down to track level. A paddle-shift transmission is also an option, although the 400-HP road car comes standard with a six-speed manual as well as a supercharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine under the hood.

“This project sums up everything we learned from racing and from collaborations with our clients, and I am convinced that those who will use this car will be able to try the pleasure of driving for the sake of driving,” Mr. Dallara said of last year’s birthday gift. “They will get in the car to take a nice ride and to experience the pleasure of driving.”

Now 81, Dallara and his company plan to release 600 more Stradales over the coming years, so if you’d like one, drop them a line on Facebook and prepare to say “arrivederci” to $182,000.