The World Rally Championship is widely regarded as the most demanding form of motorsport. Drivers push themselves, and their cars, to the very edge over multiple days of competition. The Lancia Delta HF Integrale is considered one of the category’s legendary models, and this 1994 example is from the final year of First Generation Delta production. Adding to its appeal, it is 1-of-173 built as a commemorative “Dealers Edition” offering. It presents beautifully and would suit an enthusiast seeking a distinctive and desirable Italian thoroughbred to add to their collection. The Lancia is listed here at Hemmings in San Mateo, California. The price of exclusivity isn’t low, with the seller setting their price at a negotiable $139,000.
Lancia introduced its First Generation Delta model in 1979, with the car remaining in production until 1994. Designed as a front-wheel-drive daily driver, the Delta took a significant performance leap with the 1986 introduction of the HF 4WD derivative. The HF evolved in subsequent years, with the HF Integrale “Evoluzione II” representing the ultimate road-going version. The company built 173 examples called the Dealers Edition for the final production year. The buying public could not order one of these cars, with Lancia allocating them to its dealer network. This one presents superbly in Burgundy Metallic, recently landing on US soil from a Japanese collection. There is no evidence of significant paint or panel flaws, while the aerodynamic additions like the deeper front bumper and rear spoiler look excellent. It is an Italian classic, leading some to question whether there are rust issues requiring attention. The seller indicates there are no current problems and no evidence of previous repairs that might place the car’s history in question. The 16″ alloy wheels are excellent, and there are no visible trim or glass problems. If I am brutally honest, I don’t think the Delta Integrale is the most attractive vehicle Lancia produced, but its bulging fenders and hood give it a genuine sense of purpose.
Lancia produced all examples of the Integrale Dealer Edition with leather trim and a full complement of gauges. Apart from an aftermarket stereo, alloy pedals, and a matching passenger footrest, the interior remains original and unmolested. The body-hugging seats exhibit some slight wear on the outer edges, but there is no evidence that the leather is about to split or wear through. If the new owner continues applying conditioner, the seats should remain intact for many years. Unlike many Italian classics, the plastic hasn’t succumbed to age or UV exposure. The leather-wrapped Momo wheel should provide a comfortable driving experience, with the stubby shifter topped by a chrome knob. Rounding out the interior is a console-mounted plaque indicating this is a genuine Dealer Edition vehicle.
You must delve below the surface to uncover the performance potential the Delta’s body additions hint at. Powering the Integrale is a transverse-mounted 1,995cc, turbocharged DOHC four-cylinder engine that sends 208hp to the road via a five-speed manual transmission and a sophisticated all-wheel-drive system. That combination makes it easy to see why the Delta HF Integrale dominated world rallying, with this road-going version capable of storming the ¼ mile in 14.9 seconds on its way to 137mph. Considering the modest engine capacity, it is hard not to be impressed by those figures. The seller indicates that when the Lancia arrived from Japan, it was thoroughly inspected and serviced to ensure it was mechanically healthy. The former owner added a different air filter to improve engine breathing, but it remains otherwise untouched. The car runs and drives extremely well, with the exhaust producing a typical fizzy Italian engine note. With a genuine 96,000 kilometers (59,000 miles) on its odometer, the Integrale should offer its new owner many years of motoring pleasure.
Throughout the history of the World Rally Championship, thirteen manufacturers have held the championship trophy aloft. While companies like Citroën and Toyota have tasted success on eight and six occasions, respectively, Lancia sits proudly at the top of the table with ten titles to its name. In a golden era between 1987 and 1992, the Delta HF and Integrale scored an incredible six successive championships. No make has achieved such domination, and it took the factory might of Toyota to finally sink the relative minnow from Italy. The limited production total means these classics are highly sought after, and the asking price for this car sits around the market expectations for a vehicle in this condition. The 1994 Delta HF Integrale may not be the prettiest car produced by Lancia, but many people believe it is their best. Is that thought enough to tempt you to pursue it further?
As good as rallying gets, love these cars!
👍🤓
I have heard these are really special and have great feel and balance. I have drooled over this car for a long time. Even with its economy car roots this is one special car. I was watching old reruns of Wheeler Dealer when they bought a series one Delta Integrale for 3 thousand pounds. Man those were the days!
Lancia Stratos HI Fidelity is all I’m going to say!
This seems actually quite good value by the standards of EVO2s, perhaps because mileage is relatively high. EVO 2s tend not to get driven much.
It´s a little strange that a European Dealer Edition came from Japan. The final 250 Evo 2s were imaginatively called “Final Edition”, painted in classic Lancia Fulviua HF Rosso Amaranto burgundy and were sold only in Japan. They have the same spec as this car, but basically, unless you really are just into numbers and bragging rights, don´t buy a special edition EVO 2.
The EVO 2s were all “special editions ” in one way or another. There were 12 variants of “limited edition” blow out cars built some time after the Delta Integrale had been a force on the rally stages. The MOMO stuff on this car was just off the shelf accessorizing, all available retail from MOMO at the time. For me, value added is zero. In the market, price is doubled….
Enthusiasts buy 8v and 16v Integrales at 30-50% of the price of an EVO.
Thanks for this detailed insight into the EVO world. So interesting! I own a Renault R5 Turbo 2 and this EVO seems like the perfect playmate to the R5T2.
Luv It!!!
I’m sure it’s a great car but it looks like a customized dodge Omni so I’m not feeling it
It’s not.
All that money for 208 hp in a 90’s era bland econo box? An MR2, RX7, an AWD twin turbo Stealth or a Quattro has more appeal to me. But I’ve never been accused of being sophisticated either.
Not to worry, your reputation is safe.
Oh man, the things I would do in this car. I’m going to anger the purists, but the first thing I’d do is replace any suspension components that need replacing, install modern brake pads and rotors, then crank up the boost and drive the pi** out of it on all the twisty roads I could find. These cars are legendary for their speed and handling, and I’d love to test it out.
I would never pay the asking price for this one, there’s a hundred other cars I’d buy for the price this one is, but buying one that isn’t a “special edition” for a much lower price would be a dream come true. And then I’d drive it every day the weather was nice. It would also be a hit at every cars & coffee or show you bought it to.
Exactly. A lot of old school Lancia Integrale fans are revisiting the 8v because it is the simplest and purest ( also cheapest) of the breed.
Also any 8V which has survived so long is probably in good working order. These cars are a delight when they work, reliable when looked after and exprnsive to fix.
I wouldn’t over modify, you soon end up with a broken car. Which is very slow, as well as very expensive.
I also gather, according to the recently-late, legendary Lancisti Ed Levin, that the 8v is the ‘Grale to have for street driving thanks to its more flexible and forgiving torque/HP curves, the 16v and later versions being more peaky and demanding of high RPMs to have much fun.
one of many of the era, my fav w/a slight edge over the ford RS200.
All ralliers went 4WD after the Quatro kept winning.
Most were rule changers (due to race deaths @ the time). It’s all 1 form of
racing I dont think is available in usa (havent followed in 20 yrs) w/the closest what you see in the SCCA. Merica needs road racing on real roads. Imagine racing ona closed rd (Tail of the Dragon, NC or some of the twisties in the Cali hills)?
I had one like this back then and with its 152hp turbo & it accelerated
very good on the highway entrance 8° uphill from 80 to 130 KM/h
in the 5th gear. Just impressive! Back then the Delta HF turbo was
the secret Porsche killer in handling and acceleration. With 4 seats
and a big hatch.
Because italian roads are not us. or aussie roads with long stretches, perfect handling and perfect acceleration is the base on their cars.
As far i remember Lancia built also a version with 224hp and awd.