1991 Lancia Delta Integrale HF Evo 1

The Lancia Delta was first seen at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 1979. The Delta Integrale is best known for its domination of The World Rally Championship in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The first 'Evoluzione' cars were built at the end of 1991 and carried on through 1992. These were to be the final homologation cars built for the Lancia Rally Team, which raced under the Martini Racing banner. The Evoluzione II was never actually rallied by the factory themselves.

In order to improve the handling, the Evoluzione had a wider track front and rear than earlier Deltas. So in order to fit this revised track into the bodywork, the already wide wheel arches were extended even further and in the process also became more rounded. The new Integrale retained the four-wheel drive layout. It had an epicyclic centre diff with torque splitter, plus a Ferguson designed viscous coupling and Torsen rear differential. The engine, although technically the same as the earlier 16V cars, was remapped to give 210bhp at 5750rpm,this was in order to compensate for the slight increase in weight and increased frontal area. These improvements were aimed at improving the handling potential of the car and it worked, with the new Integrale being able to travel faster over rally stages on both asphalt and gravel.

This particular Lancia Delta is an Evoluzione I model that was imported in to the UK from Germany in 1996. In 2009 the car was subject to a detailed service, strip down and a professional re-spray in its current maroon colour. We are told that as a result of the re-spray the paintwork is in wonderful condition with only minor stone chips and that the bodywork shows no signs of rust. The timing belt was changed in June 2012 at 105,922km and a new starter motor was fitted in early August 2012.

Inside the car is in great all round condition with only the driver's seat showing signs of wear. The radio has however been removed from the car and will need a new system fitted.This car has covered just 106879km (67120 miles) at the time of its entry into this auction.

We are told the car drives and runs perfectly with great oil pressure.