Among the cars or trucks that get imported are a select few performance vehicles that many enthusiasts drool over. The Nissan Skyline, Mazda RX-7, Mercedes-Benz 190E Evolution, and a handful of others have sat at the top of the heap for years. The funny thing is, all of those cars originate from fairly humble beginnings. One of the other top performance cars not mentioned here is the Lancia Delta Integrale Evoluzione, which is a vehicle yours truly would love to experience some day, but that 300 horsepower rally car began its life as this car: a 1982 Lancia Delta LX listed here on Facebook Marketplace in Washington, D.C. and in shockingly clean condition.

The Lancia Delta was a sales success for the company following its introduction, and offered in a variety of trim levels. Unlike the Integrale, most of the Deltas sold were fairly humble in terms of performance. Equipment levels were generous, and as an LX level car, it comes with a few interesting features other trims didn’t. The seller’s car was supposedly repainted several years ago in its original color, which is a metallic gold; metallic paint came standard on the top-of-the-line LX trim, along with wheels designed by Giugiaro, unique wool cloth upholstery, a convenience package, and a few other items. The upholstery is worth a closer look as it features a wild checked pattern that was actually outsourced to an Italian fashion designer.

As a 1982 model, this Delta also underwent a stylistic refresh. The bumpers were updated, a front chin spoiler was integrated, and the curb weight was reduced. The seller’s car still presents very well inside and out, right down to the chrome trim that sits inside the front and rear windshield rubber trim. In ’82, a DOHC performance version was introduced, which likely helped Lancia assess whether a car like the Integrale could survive. How this standard version with the upmarket trim got to the U.S. is left unanswered,but given it’s location in Washington, D.C., I wonder if it’s a former diplomat’s car.

There are some great details on this car that points to it being a survivor. Stickers like this one, signifying the Lancia’s ascent to being named the European Car of the Year, and another one on the other side of the back glass that points to it belonging to a member of an Italian car club, are like historic artifacts. If nothing else, the stickers surviving with original colors and lettering still visible, points to long-term covered storage. The seller notes that the Lancia comes with an assortment of original brochures, dealer correspondence, maintenance records, and more, and the asking price is $15,000. Have you ever seen a survivor-grade Delta in the USA?