In the late ’70s, Lancia wanted something to grab some of the market share from the popular VW Golf. A Giugiaro-penned, four-door was the result. By the ’80s there was the Delta HF; a “Hot Hatch,” turbocharged, front-wheel drive version.
At the time, the Delta 037 was competing on the world rally stage in Group B, even winning a World Championship, but it was rear-wheel drive and everything was going four-wheel drive. So Lancia created the Delta S4. An all-wheel-drive, mid-engined 500-hp racer, but it never was able to snatch the laurels away from the Peugeot 205 T16.
Group B was high speed, highly competitive, highly popular and highly dangerous. A number of accidents sounded the death knell for this form of rallying in 1986. The formula was then changed to Group A. Production-based cars requiring a minimum of 5000 units to be built to qualify.
So for 1987, Lancia took the front-drive HF Delta and gave it four-wheel drive and won the World Championship. Did it again in ’88. In 1989, Lancia thought the car might need a shot of power, so late in the season it brought out a 16-valve head and again won the championship. Did the same again in 1990. In 1991, thinking the competition was getting too close for comfort, Lancia brought out the Evo 2… guess what? They won again.
By 1992, Lancia likely thought “This is just too easy—maybe we don’t need to produce a works entry.” So Lancia supplied cars to Martini Racing, which won the championship that year. Six straight years and six World Championships made the little Delta HF Integrale the most successful rally car of all time.
Now, with the 25-year rule for importation, we finally get a chance to experience these rally wonders on our own American roads.
The car just feels right when you strap yourself in. The Recaro seats hold you firmly in place, ready to let you get your drift on. The Momo wheel is in the proper Italian position and ready to help you direct the quick steering machine. The pedals are perfectly placed for heel and toe driving—BUT—one thing, you better have decent peripheral vision, as your tach is on the far left, going clockwise starting at 9 o’clock, and your speedometer is the far right going the same way and starting at 3. But, on a rally stage, who is watching the speedo?!
On the road, the two-liter, 4-cylinder turbo gets you rocking at around 3000 rpm and gives you boost right up to redline. The four-wheel-drive system puts 53 percent of the power to the rear and 47 percent to the front; that can change, depending on demand. That and the amount of suspension travel gives you road-sucking grip. The shifting can be a bit clunky, but you adapt and overcome. One thing that is very hard to overcome is the squeak-and-rattle coming from the dash; the cheap plastic and lack of dampening material makes for quite a racket, but I wouldn’t kick it out of my garage for that little transgression. Still, it is Italian and there are a lot of electrics, so things can happen. You don’t love an Integrale because it’s perfect, you love it because it has loads of character. You can’t help but grin when you drive it.
The Integrale comes from a place in time when all things came together to create a stellar package and gave the faithful something to cheer on; something that would live on into the future. A little car with a big legend.
Thank you Mark Everett for giving me a rally good time. “I know, I know.”
— Sean Smith
Specifications
Length: 3900 millimeters / 153.5 inches
Width: 1770 millimeters / 69.7 inches
Height: 1365 millimeters / 53.7 inches
Wheelbase: 2480 millimeters / 97.6 inches
Curb weight (without driver): 1340 kilograms / 2954 pounds
Engine manufacturer: Fiat Twin Cam 831E5.046
Engine type: spark-ignition 4-stroke
Fuel type: petrol (gasoline)
Fuel system: indirect injection
Charge system: turbocharger
Valves per cylinder: 4
Additional features: Weber IAW, Garrett AiResearch T03 1.0 bar, intercooler, DOHC
Emission control: 3-way catalyst, Lambda-Sensor
Cylinder alignment: Inline 4
Displacement: 1995 cc / 121.8 cid
Bore: 84 millimeters / 3.31 inches
Stroke: 90 millimeters / 3.54 inches
Compression ratio: 8 : 1
Horsepower net: 155 kW / 211 PS / 208 hp (ECE) / 5750
Torque net: 308 Nm / 227 lb-ft @ 2500
Performance
Top Speed 142 mph
0-60 mph 6.6 sec.
Mileage 24 mpg
VALUATION
Excellent $190,000
Good $85,000
Fair $50,000
