1993 Lancia Delta HF Integrale Evo Sedan (LHD)

Description

An evolution of the 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 and 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, using the 2-litre twin-cam four-cylinder unit lifted from the Thema sedan equipped with a Garrett T2.5 water-cooled turbo and 165 bhp 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 output increased to 185 bhp and performance jumped 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.  Arguably the most significant revision in the Delta Integrale’s history took place in 1991, with wider flared guards and revised headlamps combining to give the new Evo 1 a more aggressive frontal appearance. New 15-inch Speedline alloys and an adjustable roof-mounted spoiler derived from the rally cars added to the Evo’s visual appeal. The suspension and brakes were both improved, while under the bulging bonnet the familiar turbocharged 16-valve motor featured a revised exhaust system and was now good for 210 bhp. Options included Bosc ABS, Recaro seats, air conditioning and an electric sunroof. The Evo 1 (and later Evo 2) Integrales 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”.