1991 Lancia Delta HF Integrale 16v

Highlights

• 2.0-litre 16-valve turbocharged
• Original UK car
• Low ownership
• Very low mileage - under 30k miles
• Extensive recommissioning during 2019-2020

Overview

Launched in 1989, the Lancia Delta HF Integrale 16v is probably one of the most iconic rally cars to come out of the '80s and '90s. Designed in an era where box arches were all the rage amongst some of the best manufacturers, such as Audi with the Quattro and Volkswagen with the Rallye Golf, the Delta Integrale was Lancia’s road going version of what would become a dominating car in the World Rally Championship.

For those who fancied something a little different from the hot hatches of the '90s, the Lancia was perfect. As you probably know, it outperformed most of the hot hatches available at the time.

They are now becoming very rare and, let’s face it, if you are of a certain age, when you would have wanted to own such a high-performance car, there would have been the hefty insurance premium which came with it, rendering it unaffordable for many. Luckily, as we age, insurance becomes more reasonable, making this the perfect opportunity to take ownership of a two-owner, very low mileage Delta HF Integrale 16v.

This particular very low-mileage Delta seems to have led a pampered life, spending much of its time in storage. While servicing is said to have been carried out according to the mileage covered, it underwent extensive recommissioning in 2020 at 46,991 km (just 287 km ago) at a cost of over £3,700. A recent advisory-free MOT carried out on 28th August 2024 means it is ready to go and enjoy, taking you back to the '90s in this iconic rally-bred machine.

History and Documentation

• UK registered 22nd March 1991
• Two previous keepers
• V5C is present and in the owner's name
• Owner’s manuals and folders
• A recent MOT was carried out on 28th August 2024, passing with no advisories
• Sales advert from local newspaper dated 1993
• Some previous invoices are present for parts and work carried out
• Thought to have spent over half its life in storage but with servicing carried out in accordance with the mileage
• Over £3,700 spent on recommissioning in 2020
• HPI check was carried out on 29th August 2024 and is clear
• Two keys

Interior

• The original condition of the interior presents very well for the age of the Lancia
• The Recaro seats are finished with light grey bolsters and multi-coloured striped centres
• There is a very small amount of wear on the lower section of the driver’s bolster and a small patch on the passenger front seat base
• The rear seat has a small 1 cm tear in the striped material on the passenger side
• All four door cards are in good condition with no damage noted
• The dashboard is free from any splits or cracks
• Sitting behind the three-spoke steering wheel, you are faced with a collection of yellow and black instruments which are reportedly working correctly; the two additional gauges which sit to the right of the main binnacle are also said to work correctly
• The odometer shows a reading of just 47,278 km (29,377 miles)
• A Pioneer radio cassette is fitted and can be hidden with a push-on cover (‘90s security at its best!)
• It doesn’t get much more ‘90s than an in-car telephone; an after-market addition, this lights up but has not been tested
• All of the switchgear looks to be in good order, and everything is reported to work correctly
• The headlining is in good condition with no noticeable sagging or staining
• Light-coloured beige carpets are fitted throughout the cabin and are in excellent condition
• There is a set of factory over-mats fitted, which have a couple of age-related stains but only a light amount of wear, mainly to the driver’s side
• The boot is fitted with a dark grey carpet that is clean and tidy
• Spare wheel and cover present

Exterior

• Following the trend of box-arched classics, the Lancia Delta is a true icon from the late '80s and early '90s era
• Finished in Grigio Quartz Metallic (649), the paintwork is in excellent condition, with just a couple of minor chips on the driver’s side
• All of the panels appear to align as they should, with equal panel gaps
• The grille and headlight surrounds are in good condition with no splits or cracks
• Fog lights and indicators are free from any damage; there is a small amount of corrosion inside the driver’s side headlight
• A new windscreen has been fitted. The rest of the windows bear the Lancia etching, and no noticeable scratches were noted
• All windows, door seals and side skirts are in good condition with minimal signs of perishing or distortion
• The boot badges are in good order, along with the Integrale 16v side skirt badges; there is a small amount of fading to the Lancia badges, in keeping with the car’s age
• Looking at the underside, this was undersealed when the vendor purchased the car in 2015. There is a small amount of surface corrosion to the suspension components and edges of the sills
• The original 15-inch alloy wheels are fitted and are in excellent condition. These are finished in metallic grey with a diamond-cut rim
• A new set of Accelera tyres has been fitted, which have covered just a few hundred miles

Mechanical

• 2.0-litre inline four-cylinder 16-valve turbocharged
• The Delta Integrale produces approximately 207 bhp and 210 lb-ft of torque
• Five-speed manual gearbox with a 4WD drivetrain
• The engine bay presents well and is in relatively original condition
• The car fires up without hesitation and runs with no issues reported
• The timing belts and water pump were replaced in 2020
• Various water and boost hoses were replaced during the recommissioning in 2020, which is detailed in the documents section
• A new factory-specification exhaust system has been fitted from the front pipe back to the twin chrome tailpipes
• Various brake hoses and pipes have been replaced, and the car stops in a straight line with no juddering through the pedal
• The car handles as expected, with no knocks or bangs from either corner
• On the road, the seller tells us that the car performs effortlessly, pulling strongly through the gears, helped by some good old-fashioned boost!

Summary

Just take a step back and look at this marvelous box-arched wonder from the 90’s – it’s no wonder performance cars from this era have gained a place as icons. They are superb-looking machines.

It's not just about the looks, though; there’s the performance, too. A 2.0-litre turbocharged 16-valve engine producing just over 200 bhp was not to be sniffed at in 1991, and when you place yourself behind the wheel of this example, you will agree it’s also not to be sniffed at now. This will, of course, be confirmed when you hit full boost, as the grin across your face matches the sweeping boost gauge.

There aren't many left in this condition, with just two previous keepers and only 47,278 km. Go on, enjoy some nostalgia; you know you want to!

To arrange a viewing, please request this in the Q&A section. You can click through to the seller's profile and use the 'Email Me' function to arrange a viewing privately. This seller is located in Lichfield, Staffordshire.