1989 Lancia Delta Integrale 16V Sedan
Result: PASSED IN
Specifications
| Engine | In-line 4-cylinder, 1995cc |
|---|---|
| Gearbox | 5-speed manual |
| Body Work | Hatchback |
| Colour | Burgundy |
| Interior | Gray with Blue/Grey inserts |
| Trim | Cloth |
| Wheels | Cast alloy |
| Brakes | Discs |
Description
An evolution of the prosaic Delta hatchback, Lancia’s Integrale became a rally icon in the late Eighties and early Nineties, assuming the mantle of the Audi Quattro as the undisputed king of the World Rally Championship, becoming one of the most effective homologation specials ever to hit the road. Following the decision to ban Group B and the demise of the fearsome Delta S4, Lancia devised a new Group A weapon for the 1986 season, badged the Delta HF Turbo 4WD, using the 2-litre twin-cam four-cylinder unit lifted from the Thema sedan equipped with a Garrett T2.5 water-cooled turbo and 165bhp on tap. Just two years later the first Integrale appeared, sporting flared wheelarches covering chunky 15-inch alloy rims, a bigger T3 turbo/intercooler and uprated brakes. Power jumped to 185bhp and performance improved accordingly, with seemingly endless grip from the sophisticated all-wheel drive system. Such was the pace of development in the highly competitive world of rallying that Lancia continued to improve an already fabulous piece of machinery, adding a 16-valve head in 1989, the torque split revised to 47:53 for greater rear bias. ABS became optional and power rose to an even 200 horses, dropping the 0-100 km/h times to just 5.7 seconds and the top speed rose to 220 km/h. The 16-valver became the definitive (and most popular) Integrale made, with 12,860 built, all left-hookers. Later Evo 1 and Evo 2 models were supplemented by a series of limited editions before production finally came to a halt in 1994, ending almost a decade of domination for the ultimate Italian hot hatch. With Lancia pulling out of the Australian market long before the Integrale went on sale, they remain a rare sight on our roads, the small number of private imports mostly sourced from the UK. Values of Integrales have risen sharply in recent years, spurred on by the renewed interest in rallying and Eighties cars in general and this trend looks set to continue for years to come. The respected magazine Classic & Sportscar magazine summed it up best, stating the Integrale “had a body by Giugiaro and handling by God”.
