One to Buy: 2200km 1985 Lancia Delta S4 Stradale
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The Ford RS200 and Lancia Delta S4 were the last new cars to emerge during rallying’s Group B era, both of which broke cover during the latter part of 1985. However, while Ford elected to pull the plug on its World Rally Championship campaign after just three events owing to the littany of Group B fatalities, Lancia forged ahead, determined to wrestle the 1986 Driver and Manufacturer titles away from Peugeot.
As it transpired though, despite a stunning couple of early events, the Delta S4 proved a tricky beast to set up and it wasn’t until the end of August, when a new tyre and wheel combination was tried, that Lancia began to get the best out of its new car.
Ultimately, this breakthrough came too late and Peugeot won both 1986 championships, after which Group B cars were banned from the WRC.
As for the road-going versions of those infamous Group B cars that had to be built in order to gain homologation, many sat with dealers and manufacturers for years before they found a buyer. An often quirky, ultra specialised nature combined with a lack of appreciation for just how mega the Group B scene was meant the majority had to be heavily discounted too.
One such car was Delta S4 chassis ‘155’ which will be going under the hammer at RM Sotheby’s Essen sale in Germany on April 12th.
Configured in the trademark Delta S4 colour scheme of red with tan upholstery, chassis ‘155’ was originally delivered to an Italian customer, after which it departed for France and Germany before returning home. It has today covered a little under 2200km and is presented in timewarp condition throughout complete with all books and tools.
