Lot 233 - 1992 Lancia Delta HF Integrale Evo 1

• Rare and desirable colour combination
• Good service history

The Lancia Delta was first shown at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 1979. The Delta is best known for its World Rally Championship career in the late 1980s and early 1990s, when it dominated. The first Evoluzione cars were built at the end of 1991 and through 1992. These were to be the final homologation cars for the Lancia Rally Team; the Catalytic Evoluzione II was never rallied by the factory. In order to improve the handling, the Evoluzione had a wider track front and rear than earlier Deltas. In order to enclose this track in the bodywork, the wide arches were extended even further and in the process also became more rounded. The front strut top mounts were also raised in height in the quest for more grip: this then necessitated a front strut brace to control the forces thus generated. External changes included new grilles in the front bumper to improve the air intake for engine compartment, a redesigned bonnet with new lateral air slats to further assist under bonnet ventilation, an adjustable roof spoiler above the tailgate to assist in competition, new five-bolt wheels derived from the rally cars and, finally, the rear of the car was changed with only one exhaust pipe now showing. The new Integrale retained the four-wheel drive layout; an epicyclical centre diff with torque splitter, Ferguson viscous coupling and Torsen rear differential. The engine, although technically the same as the earlier 16V cars, was remapped to give 210bhp at 5750rpm. These improvements were aimed at, and did change, the car’s handling potential, with the new car being able to travel 5% faster over rally sections both tarmac and gravel. The result was even greater driver confidence when driving in normal road conditions.

This superb and very collectable example of this rare marque is presented in the equally rare exterior colour of metallic Madras Blue with grey Alcantara interior. The paintwork is superb and the interior is in equally wonderful condition which belies its age and mileage. The car comes with its original Lancia wallet together with the original sales brochure and all the Lancia Delta books. A great history file accompanies this Italian beauty including an A4 folder containing many old receipts and various other documents including a Certificate of Conformity from Fiat UK. It is supplied with an MoT test certificate which expires on 8th March 2022 and, as can be seen from the service history, has the benefit of its belts being serviced at 123,586 kms. The colour combination of this car clearly makes it stand out from the rest of these rare examples and would be great on any European rally or show including the Italian Car Day at Brooklands Museum in July this year.