REVIEW
Legendary motor that dominated from the start
Few road-going models can boast better motorsport pedigree than that of Lancia’s pint-sized pugilist. Few, if any, would have predicted the humble Italian VW Golf clone would climb to such dizzying heights, when it first reached the world’s showrooms in 1979.
The timeless Italian firm had been a dominant presence in international rallying since the early Seventies, but with the wild Group B era abruptly ending in 1986, Lancia found itself in a fortunate position.
It happened to have the ideal contender already waiting in the wings, in the form of the Delta HF 4WD.
Seeing which way the wind was blowing, Lancia gathered a suitable four-wheel drive system it had already ‘on the shelf’ and added the ideal turbocharged fourcylinder engine from the Thema Turbo i.e.
With a string of wins, the new fourwheel drive Delta cleaned up, taking the 1987 season in dominant fashion. This was just the first in a string of international rallying laurels, with drivers helming the go-faster Delta (now called Integrale) to victory at 46 events, ‘The new four-wheel drive Delta cleaned up’ including a further five world constructor championships and four driver’s titles between ’87 and ’92. Unsurprisingly, decimating all comers on the world’s rally stages resulted in significant demand for good Integrales among private owners, keen to experience a slice of WRC magic. These have always been collectible cars but in recent years the prices being paid to acquire, restore, and even improve them has reached truly staggering proportions.
Take the claimed £90k that’s been spent on this heavily personalised Lancia, offered recently by Bonhams Online as an example (bonhamscarsonline. com). The owner took it wit
