Lot Ended
Description
Lots of history from new; recently serviced; current owner six years;
a smart example of this iconic rally-bred hero
From humble
beginnings in 1979, the Lancia Delta went on to become one of the most iconic
rally weapons of all time. A crisply styled five-door
hatchback designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro, its mix of nimble handling and sharp
looks won it the coveted Car of the Year in 1980. However, it wasn't until 1986
that the Delta began to get really interesting when the HF 4WD was launched,
featuring four-wheel drive and a 165bhp 1600cc turbocharged
engine.
The following year the HF was
completely redesigned with rallying in mind and a legend was born: the Lancia
Delta HF Integrale. Now fitted with a two-litre eight-valve turbocharged engine,
it had 185bhp and the world's most sophisticated 4WD system that rocketed the
car to 60mph in just 6.6 seconds, on virtually any surface, on its way to a top
speed of 133mph.
A devastatingly effective
rally tool, the Integrale simply murdered the opposition, scoring 46 WRC
victories overall and winning the Constructor's Championship a record six times
in a row from 1987 to 1992. As the rally cars were developed, so the road cars
improved too, and in 1988 the 16-valve Integrale was launched, now with 200bhp
and a 0-60 time of just 5.5 seconds.
In 1991
the first Evolution cars came out with a wider track to improve the handling,
wider and more aggressive bodywork and a host of improvements to the brakes and
suspension. The engine was also remapped to give another 10bhp. In 1993 came the
final development of the model, the EVO 2, with more sophisticated engine
management that raised power to 215bhp and 220lb/ft of
torque.
This 1990 Integrale 16-valve spent its
first eight years in Germany before coming to the UK in 1998 at which point it
had covered 97,770 kms (60,700 miles), the odometer now showing 139,315 kms
(86,500 miles). A good file of invoices show that it was always well maintained
in Germany with various new parts including the fitment of a Supersprint exhaust
system in 1996.
Plenty more invoices show
regular servicing while in the UK. In April 2004 (at c.118,500kms) it went to
Lancia specialist Tanc Barratt for a full service which also included a new
uprated clutch kit, cam belt, balance belt and tensioners, idler bearing, front
and rear crank seals, water pump plus various other items. Just 300kms later in
August 2005 it had a major going-over at Allitalia of Wrexham which included an
engine and differential overhaul with many new parts, all detailed in invoices
on file.
Our vendor acquired the car in June
2017 to join a collection of other cars and promptly sent it to Allitalia for a
thorough check-over which included new front shocks; Powerflex front suspension
bushes; fuel sender unit; 4-wheel laser alignment etc. In April 2019 it went
back to Allitalia for a full service and it has only covered 6,000kms since
(3,700 miles).
Driven over 120 miles to the
sale, it has been starting promptly and running well as we have moved it around
on site and has an MOT until October 2023 with just one advisory for a slight
o/s/f oil leak. It may interest bidders to note that the vendor also owns the
Ferrari 348 elsewhere in this sale (Lot 49) and he states that
the Integrale is noticeably quicker on a cross-country drive: "You
don't have to think, you just overtake".
With
Integrale EVOs now routinely fetching £80k+ at auction, these earlier
Integrales, which offer an equally brilliant driving experience, strike us as
remarkably good value so bag one while you can…
For more information contact James on 07970 309907 or email
james.dennison@brightwells.com