One to Buy: Single Owner 1989 Lancia Delta HF Integrale 16v
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In the world of Group A Touring Cars, every twelve months a manufacturer could build batches of 500 Evolution variants (using an already homologated base car) to pave the way for updated equipment that could be used in competition. However, in a hangover from the prodigiously dangerous Group B era, Evolutions of base cars were banned in Group A rallying.
This meant, every time a manufacturer wanted to run a significantly different model on the special stages, it first had to complete a full run of 5000 road cars which was obviously a major undertaking.
Somewhat fortuitously, when the FIA decided to abandon Group B cars in favour of Group A machinery for the 1987 season, Lancia was about to launch the perfect base car: the compact, all-wheel drive and immensely tuneable Abarth-developed Delta HF 4WD.
Having won the 1986 and ‘87 Driver and Manufacturer World Rally Championship crowns with the Delta HF 4WD, Lancia launched its first Integrale-badged iteration. Boasting an enhanced turbo and cooling system, uprated brakes and suspension, wider wheels and signature flared fenders, the Integrale continued Lancia’s winning ways for most of 1988 and ‘89 when Lancia again scooped all four world titles on offer.
In May 1989, the second Integrale arrived to usher in a new four-valve cylinder head for the Aurelio Lampredi-designed Inline 4. This Delta HF Integrale 16v won three of the four World Championship crowns awarded between 1990 and ‘91. It also proved extremely popular with a little under 13,000 copies sold – well in excess of the 5000 cars actually needed for Group A homologation.
Offered between 1989 and ‘91, even the youngest Integrale 16V is now 35 years old which makes finding a single owner car immensely rare: However, currently on offer at the Ruote da Sogno showroom in Reggio Emilia is just such a machine. Finished in Rosso Monza with Grigio upholstery, this first year Integrale 16v from 1989 has covered 97,553km and is accompanied by it original book pack.
