Many great road cars have been created to meet homologation requirements; the Lancia Delta Integrale Evoluzione is one such car. Lancia developed the Integrale for 1988 to leverage their technological developments during the Delta HF 4WD’s productive 1987 debut season. These developments included larger brakes and an updated suspension including new front springs, dampers and struts. The Integrale retained the proven 200 bhp turbocharged 2.0-litre inline four-cylinder engine that had allowed the Delta HF 4WD to dominate Group A rally.

Group A homologation rules stipulated that the rally car had to be built using the underpinnings of the production cars, making those road-going cars excellent, if raw, performers on the street. In addition to featuring the cutting-edge technology found in Group A, the Delta Integrale road cars featured the same aggressive, race-derived body used by the rally cars.

In 1991, Lancia issued an updated version of the Integrale, the Evoluzione. These first Evoluzione cars were to be the final homologation cars for the Lancia Rally Team. The body of the Evoluzione was radically altered to comply with the new Group A regulations and to accommodate a wider front and rear track. The wheel arches were extended and additional ventilation added to the bonnet and grille. A rear spoiler was also added to the top of the tailgate to improve airflow.

Whilst retaining the four-wheel-drive layout, under the newly shaped body many changes were introduced to the brakes and suspension to increase endurance and stress tolerance. The brake callipers were fixed and featured twin pistons instead of the single piston, floating callipers used on the earlier models. Other changes included smaller yet more powerful elliptical headlights, changes to the instrumentation, a front aluminium strut brace, a larger steering box and a modified engine that produced 210 bhp.

The car offered here is an excellent example of the desirable ‘pre-cat’ Integrale Evoluzione. A four-owner car specified by its first Italian owner with full Nero leather trim to match the Nero Metallic paint. The car was imported to the UK in 1998 and was accompanied by an extensive service history documenting the 98,000 km from new. This sale represents a unique opportunity to own an original and unmodified example of this rally classic in a desirable specification.