Lancia Delta Integrale Evo to Group A Specification, 1992
Lancia Delta I (831)
Lancia Delta I (831)•
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Chassis No.: ZLA831AB000556199
Estimate: €200,000 - €250,000 EUR
- Originally a standard road model
- Converted to Group A specification (date unknown)
- Competition history between 1998 and 2000
- Rare and collectible
- Nato come modello stradale
- Modificata per la specificazione Gruppo A (data sconosciuta)
- Partecipante alle gare dal 1998 a 2000
"Between 1987 and 1992, the Integrale utterly dominated its branch of motor sport, winning 46 rallies and six consecutive constructors' championships outright. And to keep the rally car at the sharp end of the results table, the road car went through a number of iterations, each more potent than the last."
– Octane magazine, June 2012.
From the mid-1960s until the early 1990s, Lancia was a major force in international rallying, winning the World Rally Championship for Makes no fewer than 11 times between 1972 and 1992, including a remarkable six successive victories commencing in 1987. During the same period, Lancia drivers won the European Rally Championship on 14 occasions and the World Drivers' Championship (only instigated in 1978) four times. The models used - Fulvia HF, Stratos, Rally 037, and the Delta family (S4, HF, and Integrale) - are among the most successful rally cars of all time.
After experimenting with a system combining both a conventional (Volumex) supercharger and a turbo on their 'homologation special' Delta S4 rally car, Lancia opted for turbo-charging alone for the less exotic Delta HF. Already a fine handling car courtesy of its tuned suspension, the HF moved up a class with the introduction of a state-of-the-art four-wheel-drive transmission incorporating Ferguson viscous couplings and a Torsen differential.
Badged as the Delta HF 4WD on its introduction in 1986, the model retained the Volumex blower initially before switching to a straightforward turbo when transformed into the Integrale in 1987. The latter would prove a supremely capable rally car, winning the World Championship in both 1987 and 1988, yet in road trim remained a thoroughly practical family hatchback. Integrale performance was boosted further by the introduction of a 16-valve cylinder head for the 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine in 1989, maximum power increasing to 200bhp and top speed to 220km/h.
Homologated to maintain the works rally team's competitive edge, the first Evoluzione (Evo) models were manufactured towards the end of 1991, incorporating wider front and rear track, appropriately altered bodywork, and an engine re-mapped to produce 210bhp among many other detail improvements. The Evo 2 was essentially the same but came with a catalyst in the exhaust system.
First registered in 1992, this Evo model started life as normal road car before being converted to Group A specification (at date unknown). Issued in 1998, the accompanying CSAI Passaporto Tecnico records the owner at that time as one Luigi Santamaria of Navara and lists events entered from 15th May 1998 onwards. The last event listed is the Rally San Remo, dated 27th May 2000. The car also comes with Italian registration papers cancelled (for export) in 2012. Finished in Martini livery, just like the World Rally Championship works cars, and recently serviced, this beautiful Integrale represents a wonderful opportunity to acquire one of the rarest, most desirable, and increasingly collectible sporting cars of its era.
