BaT Bargain of the Week: 1991 Lancia Delta Integrale Evo 1

• The Lancia Delta Integrale Evoluzione 1 capped off the AWD hot hatch’s rally historic conquests
• You can get one of these icons right now on Bring a Trailer
• This 1991 Lancia Delta Integrale Evo 1 is a rare rally legend—and it’s a bargain

1991 Lancia Delta HF Integrale Evoluzione 1 on Bring a Trailer article highlights:

• The Lancia Delta Integrale Evoluzione is the penultimate version of one of the most successful rally cars and best hot hatches ever
• A professionally-refurbished example is currently available on Bring a Trailer
• At its current $25,000 asking price, this 1991 Delta Integrale is a true bargain of a vintage rally icon

Few cars demonstrate ‘great things come in small packages’ better than the hot hatch. They turn humble commuters into grin-inducing pocket rockets, and in some cases, hardcore racing machines. And sometimes, automakers temper those race cars for street use, creating some truly special hatches. But you don’t have to wait for the Toyota GR Corolla to drop to get a taste of that. Instead, you can place your bid on some bargain hot hatch royalty on Bring a Trailer: a 1991 Lancia Delta Integrale Evoluzione 1.

The Lancia Delta Integrale Evoluzione 1 capped off the AWD hot hatch’s rally historic conquests

Lancia Delta HF Integrale Evoluzione | National Motor Museum/Heritage Images/Getty Images

It’s virtually unknown outside of enthusiast circles in the U.S., but Lancia forged a legend overseas through rallying. And the lion’s, or rather elephant’s share of that legend stems from one car: the Delta HF Integrale. Lancia still holds the record for the most World Rally Championship Constructors titles at 10—the Delta won six of those.

If you’re a fan of the GR Yaris, GR Corolla, or any other turbocharged all-wheel-drive hot hatch, you have the Lancia Delta Integrale to thank. It basically codified the formula in 1988, when it won the WRC one year after the HF4WD also won. Over the next few years, Lancia steadily refined the formula, adding power, tweaking the AWD system, and bumping up the suspension travel. And it reached its zenith, at least in racing form, with the 1991 Delta HF Integrale Evoluzione, aka the Delta Evo 1.

Compared to the earlier cars, the Lancia Delta Integrale Evo has wider front and rear tracks as well as wider, stronger wheels. This also explains why it has such wide fender flares. In addition, to better fuel and cool the more powerful engine, Lancia redesigned the front end with more air-intake space. Also, it put an adjustable spoiler in the back. And Lancia was so hell-bent on increasing suspension travel that it welded on shock-tower extensions. These things are so tall that they barely fit under the new hood bulges—and the strut-tower brace doesn’t help.

By 1991, the Delta platform was well over a decade old. Yet the Integrale Evo still slaughtered the competition on the rally stage and on the road. And it’s still impressive all these years later. The Drive called it “the pinnacle of all cars.” Its steering is tight, precise, and ultra-communicative. Together with the rear Torsen limited-slip and center viscous differentials, it makes the Integrale feel like it’s on rails. Yet it’s also easy to rotate and remarkably comfortable. Plus, the shifter is a breeze to use.

Little wonder many consider the Lancia Delta Integrale Evo 1 to be the ultimate hot hatch. And now, you have a chance to get one.

You can get one of these icons right now on Bring a Trailer

Now live at BaT Auctions: 1991 Lancia Delta HF Integrale Evo 1. https://t.co/lSgLfNgZbV pic.twitter.com/sJIjSrhtSF

— Bring a Trailer (@Bringatrailer) August 9, 2022

By the time the original Delta went on sale, Lancia was in the middle of pulling out of the U.S. market. But now that the hottest Deltas are over 25 years old, they’re slowly trickling over here through importers. And one of these cars, a 1991 Evo 1, is up for grabs this week on Bring a Trailer.

As an Evo, this 1991 Lancia Delta Integrale has an adjustable rear spoiler, wider bodywork, vented hood, and 210-hp engine. It also has Recaro front seats and a bench rear seat, both upholstered in Alcantara; the headliner is Alcantara, too. Furthermore, it has four-wheel disc brakes with ABS and front Brembo rotors. Plus, this car has a rear wiper, locking glovebox, leather-wrapped steering wheel, front fog lights, and power windows. And like all HF Lancias, there’s an elephant badge on the grille for luck.

This 1991 Lancia Delta Integrale Evo 1 also has a few modifications. For one, it rides on aftermarket Integrale-style 17” wheels. Secondly, it has an aftermarket alarm system and speakers. And the sale includes a spare Momo steering wheel, as well as a plethora of service records and literature.

Speaking of service, before this 1991 Lancia Delta Integrale arrived in the U.S. in 2019, it was refurbished by Prestocar’s John Morton in the UK. Morton repainted it, renewed the interior, and rebuilt the engine. Also, just this year, the seller replaced the brake pads, adjusted the hood latch, and replaced the hood cable. And they replaced the following in preparation for the sale:

• Water pump
• Camshaft belt
• Timing belt and tensioners
• “Multiple” fluids and filters

This 1991 Lancia Delta Integrale Evo 1 is a rare rally legend—and it’s a bargain

As of this writing, this 1991 Lancia Delta Integrale Evo 1 is listed at $25,000 with four days left in the auction. That’s below average for a Delta in this condition, both for BaT and the market overall. Usually, Evo 1s sell for over $50K on BaT; some even approach the $100K mark. In short, this is a genuine classic bargain.

Given that it is a classic high-performance car, getting a pre-purchase inspection is a good idea. But given how much work this Delta has already received, bidders shouldn’t need to worry about rust or worn belts. This means the lucky winner will have a stellar rally-style hot hatch that’s ready to rip up the road.

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Keyword: BaT Bargain of the Week: 1991 Lancia Delta Integrale Evo 1