One to Buy: 2200km 1985 Lancia Delta S4 Stradale (SOLD)
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.
Reprinted below is RM Sotheby’s description:
Chassis No.: ZLA038AR000000155
Engine No.: 233ATR18S
Highly original with under 2,200 km from new
Accompanied by its original books and tools
One of only 200 Stradales ever built
Lancia’s iconic Group B homologation Special
The 1980s went down in history as one of the most extreme and exciting eras in motor racing. Racing vehicles were producing insane amounts of power: from F1 to motorcycle GP racing, everything was thrilling to drive and required immense concentration and skill from the drivers.
Perhaps the most radical series of this era was Group B rallying: dominated by cars with insane amounts of power racing down tight dirt-roads, it was surely a spectacle to see in its time. In this era, it was a feast for homologation specials: from Renault 5 Maxi Turbo to Audi’s S1 Quattro to Lancia’s own 037.
Perhaps the most famous of them all is the Delta S4 Stradale: if you’re looking for the ultimate homologation special, look no further than this Turinese beast.
Developed jointly by Abarth and Lancia, it was a sensation: powered by Eng. Lombardi’s 1.8-litre four-cylinder that was both supercharged and turbocharged, it was a formidable fighter in racing trim, putting out no less than 500 bhp.
The S4 was also Lancia’s first four-wheel drive vehicle, implementing three differentials of which one is a viscous central differential that splits the torque at the 30% front and 70% rear.
In order to satisfy homologation requirements, Lancia built no more than 200, with notable hardships to sell them: as by the end of the 1990s, some of them were still languishing in showroom deposits!
A true time capsule, this 1985 Delta S4 Stradale has covered only 2,196 km in its 30-plus year history.
According to the owner, the car was originally delivered to Italy, then later sold to France before passing to an owner in Germany before returning to its native Italy with the current owner. In his ownership, the car was fully serviced in July of 2018.
It is accompanied by its original books, documents and tool kit. Finished in the classic combination of rosso over a lovely tan Alcantara interior it is a brilliant example of Lancia’s rally icon.
