- Built as a homologation special for Group A rallying, the Lancia Delta Integrale could be considered the ultimate Italian hot hatchback.
- All-wheel drive and a turbocharged engine provide grip and go in all conditions.
- This example is a limited edition, of which 310 were built.
Quick! What company has the most WRC championships? Subaru? Mitsubishi? Audi? Nope. The surprising answer is plucky little Lancia, an Italian automaker that punched above its weight for ages. And there’s no better expression of that rally-bred spirit than the boxy, brawny, turbocharged, all-wheel-drive Lancia Delta Integrale.
Up for auction on Bring A Trailer—which, like Car and Driver, is part of the Hearst Autos—is a limited edition Delta Integrale built to commemorate Lancia’s sixth WRC championship. It’s number 272 of a run of 310 versions called the Martini 6 Evoluzione and features a lovely Martini racing livery over white paint, and a stunning turquoise interior with red accents.
The ordinary Delta was introduced in 1979, and as you’ve probably guessed from its squared-off styling, it was penned by Giorgetto Giugiaro—the designer behind the likes of the Volkswagen Golf and the DeLorean DMC-12. Lancia built a Group B version of the Delta that shared nothing with the road car; then, when Group B was canceled for being too dangerous, it produced a homologated road car to meet the rules of Group A rallying.
The first Delta Integrale arrived in 1988 and had the same recipe you see in modern WRC rally cars today. All-wheel drive was standard, and in this 1992 example, a Torsen limited-slip rear end is also present. Power comes from a turbocharged 2.0-liter twin-cam four-cylinder engine, which in this Evoluzione version makes 207 horsepower and 220 pound-feet of torque. The transmission is a five-speed manual.
If you’re thinking “Italian WRX,” you’re not far off. With its 15-inch Speedline wheels and adjustable rear spoiler that sticks straight up like the tail of a fox terrier, this pressurized shoebox is pure rally-car fun. The closest modern equivalent is probably the Toyota GR Corolla, and as a practical classic, a Delta Integrale is equally as useful every day. It’s a practical four-door hatchback for running to the grocery store, and then driving home like your pants are on fire. Whoops, broke all the eggs again. Mi scusa.
Delta Integrales are quite collectible, and this limited edition Martini version is even more so. At this writing, the bidding is knocking on the door of $100,000. The auction ends September 26.
Contributing Editor
Brendan McAleer is a freelance writer and photographer based in North Vancouver, B.C., Canada. He grew up splitting his knuckles on British automobiles, came of age in the golden era of Japanese sport-compact performance, and began writing about cars and people in 2008. His particular interest is the intersection between humanity and machinery, whether it is the racing career of Walter Cronkite or Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki’s half-century obsession with the Citroën 2CV. He has taught both of his young daughters how to shift a manual transmission and is grateful for the excuse they provide to be perpetually buying Hot Wheels.
Source: www.caranddriver.com