Lancia remains one of the most successful marques in the cut and thrust of the World Rally Championship. Its Delta Integrale proved a formidable weapon in Group A form, developing a legend status that virtually guarantees that any tidy example that hits the market will command a premium. However, the stakes are raised if the vehicle happens to be one of the company’s rare Special Editions. That label perfectly describes this 1995 Integrale, which is the ultra-rare Edizione Finale. Produced exclusively for the Japanese market, only 250 of these cars found their way into showrooms. This is the 15th example built and has recently received significant work to ensure that it is a turnkey proposition for its new owner. I must say a big thank you to Barn Finder Tony P for spotting the Lancia listed here on Craigslist in an undisclosed location in Northern California. I said that these cars typically command eye-watering prices, and you will need to hand over $155,000 to take this one home.

Lancia transformed its Delta when it introduced the Integrale version for rally competition. The mild-mannered Hatchback received bulging fender flares, purposeful spoilers, extra vents and grilles for cooling and admitting cold air to the engine, and larger wheels. The result was dramatic, giving the Delta a muscular appearance that immediately turned heads. None of these upgrades were cosmetic; designed to improve performance in the racing version. This Integrale rolled off the line in 1995 as an Edizione Finale. This model was produced exclusively for the Japanese market and, as the name suggests, it was the last special edition produced by Lancia. All cars featured distinctive Amaranto paint, which is a deep shade of Red. Stripes in Yellow, Blue, and Yellow span the hood, the roof, and the rear spoiler. It appears to have recently found its way from Japan to North America, and the indications are that it has led a fairly sheltered existence. The paint holds an impressive depth of color and shine, and the panels are laser-straight. This is a Lancia, so the potential for rust must be a prime consideration. However, there is nothing in the supplied photos that rings alarm bells. The spoilers and trim are in good order, as are the beautiful alloy wheels.

Audi rewrote the World Rally Championship Rule Book when it unveiled the Quattro. It demonstrated that feeding engine power to loose surfaces via four-wheel-drive was the way of the future, forcing the competition to follow suit. It culminated in the fire-breathing Group B monsters, cars that were considered too fast and unsafe to continue competing after 1986. Group B was on shaky ground in 1986, but the deaths of Henri Toivonen and Sergio Cresto in a Lancia Delta S4 during that year’s Tour de Corse sealed the category’s fate. Group A stepped into the breach the following year, but all-wheel drive was still the popular choice among manufacturers. The most profound difference was that the racing machines had to be based on production models rather than the bespoke vehicles of the previous era. Lancia stepped up to the plate, producing the Delta Integrale, and, as one of the final vehicles produced, this car’s 2.0-liter DOHC turbocharged four should produce 212hp and 209 ft/lbs of torque. Those figures may not sound special by modern standards, but they must be placed into perspective. That engine only needs to shift around 2,900 lbs, which isn’t a huge load. Factor in the power feeding to the road via a five-speed manual transmission and all four wheels, and it is easy to see why these cars can cover the ¼-mile in around 16 seconds. However, even that figure doesn’t tell the entire story because it is the acceleration out of slow corners and on loose surfaces that helps the Integrale to stand apart from its peers. The seller indicates that this gem is in excellent mechanical health. The engine was recently pulled as part of a comprehensive overhaul that consumed over $10,000. The results justified the effort and expense, with the Lancia running and driving perfectly. Of course, I am sure that I’m not alone in believing that we should expect nothing less from a car within this price bracket.

Steel was one weak point with the Delta Integrale, and it was a similar story with interior trim and plastic. However, there appears to be nothing but positive news in this case. Ordering an Edizione Finale brought distinctive interior trim in Black Alcantara and cloth. This car retains those components, and the condition is extremely impressive. There is minor wear visible on the driver’s seat, but the condition is comfortably acceptable for a survivor-grade car of this vintage. There is no evidence of crumbling plastic, and a modern CD player occupies the spot usually reserved for the radio. It might not score such luxuries as power windows, but the new owner will undoubtedly welcome the air conditioning.

Group A was a golden era for the World Rally Championship. The cars were far less potent than their predecessors, but manufacturer involvement created stiff competition. Subaru, Toyota, and Audi all tasted success, but Lancia lifted the Manufacturer’s Crown in six consecutive years. The company celebrated its success with several special versions, and this 1995 Delta Integrale Edizione Finale effectively marked a fitting farewell for a badge that had raised the marque considerably in the public consciousness. The seller’s price is eye-watering, but it is realistic. It will take a special individual to become its new owner at that figure, but I don’t doubt that it will happen.