Precision engineering components from
Accu have played an essential role in the painstaking recreation of the iconic Lancia 037 rally car, the last rear‑wheel‑drive machine to win the World Rally Championship and a legend among motorsport enthusiasts. The project, undertaken by engineer and long‑time Lancia devotee J‑P Lihou, took 14 years to complete and involved rebuilding the Group B car entirely from scratch. With its exposed double wishbone suspension, tubular spaceframe rear end and composite bodywork, the finished car mirrors the aesthetic and engineering purity of the original.
Every fastener on the vehicle performs a structural role, and each had to match the exact specification used in period to ensure authenticity. This created the need for a broad range of specialist components, including bespoke fasteners, uncommon captive nuts and hardware built to standards no longer widely stocked. While staying true to the original design, J‑P Lihou approached the project with a strong focus on sustainability, manufacturing as many parts locally as possible, using alternative composites where appropriate and selecting Accu as a supply partner to minimise shipping distances and reduce overall environmental impact.
Early in the build, sourcing the required fixings proved both slow and fragmented. Lihou relied on multiple suppliers and even online auction listings to locate rare or obsolete parts. Accu’s extensive stock range, single‑source approach and reliable next‑day delivery quickly resolved these issues, becoming the primary source of fasteners for the remainder of the project.
As one of the UK’s fastest‑growing precision component suppliers, Accu was able to provide a vast suite of specialist fixings, ensuring structural accuracy and enabling the car to be assembled exactly to the original specification. According to Lihou, many of these components would have been unobtainable elsewhere. 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.”
Excellent component qualityHe added: “When you are 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 would 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 is exactly what you need in a prototype environment.”
Accu’s components now underpin everything from chassis pick-up points to powertrain bracketry on the recreated Lancia 037. Though hidden from view, they are fundamental to the strength and durability of the build. With its lightweight chassis, supercharged engine and highly responsive suspension, the car delivers the same direct handling and balance that made the original 037 such a formidable rally machine. The precision fasteners ensure alignment is maintained and that structural loads are managed reliably throughout the vehicle.
Alastair Morris, Accu’s managing director, said: “We are 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 completed car has already attracted attention at motor shows across Europe. Plans for the next phase include preparing it for hill-climb competition and undertaking further development work, such as rebuilding the original supercharger, increasing boost levels and re-mapping the engine.