When Lancia finally ended its association with the World Rally Championship in a span that produced an unprecedented six consecutive Manufacturers’ titles, it had made a legend out of a small hatchback that was arguably behind the curve when it first appeared in the aftermath of Group B rallying.

While rival manufacturers argued with the FIA about whether Group B and its planned replacement, Group S, should continue, Lancia got to work with the Group A Lancia Delta, beginning with the HF 4WD. The rest is history, with consecutive World Rally Championships for drivers and the car’s manufacturer alike. As a result came increasingly powerful and advanced road cars to homologate the racers. At the request of the Japanese importer, Lancia allowed for several trips of Japan’s top customers to visit the factory and help contribute towards a special Japanese domestic market version of the Lancia Delta. The final result was the ‘Edizione Finale’, reserved solely for Japanese delivery and limited to 250 examples. The specification was impressive and reflected the considered approach Lancia had taken to pleasing its Japanese customer base.

The Evolution II package had served up the most potent Integrale yet, with 212 horsepower available from its 2.0-litre twin-cam engine courtesy of a new Garrett turbocharger and a reprogrammed ECU, but more was to come for the Final Edition. The most noticeable changes were to the aesthetics, thanks to a yellow-blue stripe over Rosso Amaranto (dark red) paint, inspired by the Fulvia HF. The car rode on special 16-inch Speedline ‘Monte Carlo’ aluminium wheels, finished in Anthracite, complemented by matte black vents and vanes all-round. Dark-grey painted wheels are apparent on closer inspection, together with black bonnet vents and mesh grille, a carbon fibre fuel cap to match the steering wheel centre, and special badging. Inside, there were aluminium pedals, a racing-style gear shift, carbon fibre trim, and an aluminium gear knob, plus a push-button engine start. This was complemented by a black Alcantara and cloth Recaro seating selection. The changes weren’t only cosmetic—of all the special editions, only the Edizione Finale received a rear OMP strut bar.

The example here finished production on 19 January 1995, according to the accompanying Lancia Classiche Certificato di Origine. In February 2023, the car was serviced at renowned UK Integrale specialists, Walkers Garage, with further refurbishment of the braking system, central locking system, and lower sump pan. The car passed a UK MoT test around the same time but was not registered in the country.

At the time of cataloguing the Lancia’s odometer reads 82,860 kilometres, though it still wears its protective plastic wrapping over the door trims. Unlike many examples of the breed, the car is unmodified other than upgraded exhaust system. Car number 244 of the 250 made exclusively for Japan and would surely be the jewel in any collection of road-going homologation specials.