If you ignore the alloy wheels and the bulging fenders, the Lancia Delta HF Integrale looks like any typical 1980s 5-door hatchback. The fact that it possesses enough performance to scare plenty of traditional muscle cars makes it a bit of a wolf in sheep’s clothing. This 1988 Integrale 8V found its way to the US via Japan. It is a tidy survivor that is now in need of a new home. Located in Flanders, New Jersey, it has been listed for sale here on eBay. With 31 bids submitted to this point, it appears that there are quite a few potential buyers who would like to add this Italian classic to their collection. This has pushed the price along to $10,901 in what is a No Reserve auction.

The Lancia is finished in Rosso Monza, which is a stunning shade of red. Visually, the fender flares, deeper front, and rear bumpers, side skirts, and the alloy wheels all tell you that this is anything but your garden-variety Delta. All of these additional body components combine to provide the vehicle with a muscular appearance, and they are all in good condition. There are no signs of any cracks or damage, while the red paint has a beautiful shine to it. There are a few marks and blemishes, but there is nothing visible that is particularly bad. This is an Italian classic, so it should be no surprise to learn that rust can be a huge issue with the Integrale. The floors, the lips of the wheel arches, and the rear apron are all particularly prone areas. The owner provides a wide selection of photos of this car, and I can’t spot any problems anywhere. The floors look sound, while the other areas that I have mentioned appear to be clean. The alloy wheels are in good condition, and there are no signs of any issues with the glass.

The additional body pieces give some indication of the performance of the Integrale, but they don’t tell the whole story. This is a classic that packs a drivetrain that delivers impressive levels of performance. Under the hood, we find a 1,995cc 4-cylinder engine, which doesn’t sound that scary. However, add fuel injection, electronic engine management, and a Garrett T3 turbocharger, and suddenly this mild-mannered hatch is blessed with 182hp. Those muscular Italian stallions find their way to the road via a 5-speed manual transmission and a sophisticated all-wheel-drive system. The result is a car that can accelerate from 0-60mph in 6.6 seconds and gallop through the ¼ mile in 14.9 seconds. Give it enough space, and it will nudge its way to 134mph. When you stop and consider the size of the engine, that all adds up to some impressive figures. These were also an expensive car when new, which meant that they were only available to people with some decent money in the bank. As the years passed, dropping values meant that they became more accessible to the general public. That also meant that more of these owners drove them to exploit the performance that was on offer. That was fine if they were properly maintained, but a hard-driven Integrale that was not was essentially a time-bomb just waiting to go off. It would seem that this will not be an issue with this car. The owner states that all of the fluids have been kept up to date. The Lancia is said to run and drive extremely well, with the suspension and brakes both being singled out as being great.

With such mindboggling levels of performance and handling, there would be nothing worse than flopping around like a rag in a bottle the moment that the Lancia is pointed at some twisting road. To this end, the Integrale comes equipped with some body-hugging Recaro bucket seats. These are upholstered in predominantly gray cloth with striped inserts. The rear seat and door trims are upholstered in matching material. Overall, this interior provides a positive impression. The most pressing need is the fact that there is a tear in the outer bolster on the driver’s seat. This is about 4″ square and will need to be addressed before it can deteriorate further. A competent upholsterer might be able to fit a patch, although it might require a new outer cover. Given the fact that the outer bolsters on both front seats are looking a bit tired and wrinkled, it might be worthwhile having all of the bolsters restored. Otherwise, the remaining interior trim and plastic have survived well. Front-seat occupants get power windows, but the rear windows are manual. The owner also mentions a Pioneer CD player, but this must have been a very recent addition. The supplied photos show the original Sony radio/cassette player still in situ.

The Lancia Delta HF Integrale is a giant-killer, and its development was aided by the brand’s success at that time in the World Rally Championship. It is said that racing improves the breed, and that was undoubtedly the case with this model. Much of the company’s WRC technology found its way to the roadgoing versions, and the result was a car that was an accomplished performer. However, their tendency to develop rust problems tarnished their reputation, while owners who mercilessly thrashed their cars helped to reduce numbers over the years. Finding a healthy, rust-free example today is becoming difficult. This car appears to meet those criteria and seems to offer a lot of promise to its next owner. I have never had the opportunity to drive one of these little cars, but I have always wanted to. That means that I am about to envy someone because they will be able to do something that I have long desired to do. The question is, will it be you that I envy?