1994 Lancia Delta Integrale Evo 2

Originally a Japanese-market car, this Integrale was imported to the UK by Moto Cars Ltd. in 2010. Sadly, not a lot is known about its history in Japan, however it did receive an auction rating of 4 (the third highest exterior rating – the top two usually for new cars) and a B rating for its interior (the second highest). It appears to remain in a very similar, exceptional condition over a decade later. That’s mainly due to its first UK keeper seeing it as an investment prospect and keeping it in storage.

That speculator sold the car in 2014 to the vendor, who only used this Integrale on very special occasions. It’s been his dream car and even prompted him to write a letter to Lancia head honcho (at the time) Sergio Marchionne, which was posted on CAR magazine’s website (copy in the history below). However, having chosen to use it only sparingly, the vendor has decided now’s the time to fulfil another dream by purchasing a correspondingly special replacement.

Finished in an unusual shade of Bianco (white to you and me) you need only squint a little to imagine those competition Martini stripes. White shows imperfections almost as badly as its spectral opposite number (black) so any nasties in the bodywork have nowhere to hide. Thankfully there’s very little to report here. Those flexing, flared arches appear almost spotless and the vented bonnet is just as good. There’s a tiny fleck of paint that’s lifted from the very top offside corner of the bonnet and a pin dent near the filler cap but really, that’s about it. As a Japanese model, the aerial for the FM/cassette deck is found in the offside rear wing – rather than on the roof like European Evo IIs – plus the side repeaters differ.

The usually peppered front end on this slab-nosed rally beast appears uncharacteristically clear of gravel rash. If we’re being extremely picky (and you’d no doubt expect us to be) the mesh grilles surrounding the headlamps and to the side of the indicators have lost some of their black paint. The alloy wheels all show light contact from kerbs, none of which is really an eyesore. Oddly, it’s the offside rear that has taken the brunt, yet all remain highly presentable. Tyres are an excellent, and matching, set of Michelin Pilot Precedas. The only modifications, if you can call them that, are a set of Euro standard front lights and an exhaust backbox described by the vendor as a ‘tasteful deviation from the original’.

The Recaro pews in this Evo II cling to its occupants, with 215bhp served to all-four wheels and a chassis that decimated the WRC, that’s a really good job. These fabulous driver’s cars tend to be used in anger and their cabins often show any lack of care first. This one however, appears to be the exception to that rule. All its seat fabric looks taught and free of any marks. The door cards, headlining and carpets all seem to have survived just as blemish-free. We’re not sure if the gear knob is an Evo II item, though it’s certainly an Integrale part.

The only trim we found even slightly out of place was the very trailing edge of the boot carpet, where it meets the tailgate rubber. The glue seems to have given up its hold on the corner and the carpet is lifting ever so slightly as a result. We’re really nit-picking here, of course. The rest of the boot area appears nearly as new and the car comes complete with its tool roll, (unused) spare tyre and stock parcel shelf. The latter remains firmly in place and has survived to the present in an unmolested state (no nasty speaker cut-outs here).

The rare optional Evo II air-con system is not only present, but it works having been serviced in the past six months.

This Integrale’s underside appears nearly as good as its top side. There’s plenty of underseal and cavity wax visible all over. As a result, corrosion has been relegated to some very minimal surface rust to the front suspension components, driveshafts and fixing bolts for things like the plastic splash guards. The front anti-roll bar drop links have been replaced recently as have the rear suspension dampers (see history below). Oh, and the offside front brake flexi pipe.

The engine bay looks honest and clearly isn’t trying to hide anything. There are no signs of any fluid leaks, past or current – just the usual accumulated traffic grime. The eye-catching and Evo-II-specific red crackle paint on the engine rocker cover remains where it should be. On our brief test drive, the mechanical components felt strong and performance was as exciting as the figures suggest.

As already mentioned, this car was originally shipped to Japan before being imported to the UK by Moto Cars, which is really where the history begins. Said importer sold the car to its first UK owner in 2011. He returned the car for an oil and belt service in Feb 2012. The following year a couple of bulbs needed to be replaced for an MoT test pass, but despite this, the opportunity was taken at the same time to give it another fluid and belt service – having only covered 493kms in the intervening 12 months.

In the ownership of the vendor by 2014, trusted and well-known specialists Auto Integrale in Berkshire were tasked with changing the cam and balance belts at 50,261km (now 59,490). While there, the car had a health check that revealed a need to replace the rear discs, clutch slave cylinder, ARB drop links and an offside front brake flexi hose – all of which were replaced. Some minor cosmetic work to the tailgate was also undertaken. A year later another trip to Auto Integrale saw a bill for £684.49 spent on a service, a replacement alloy wheel, new number plates and a puncture repair.

Into the more important recent history era, this car has been pampered with several return trips to Auto Integrale. The first is a big bill (£2425) comes from 2017 and includes invoices for a cambelt- and balance-belt replacement, gaskets for the rocker cover and sump and a full-service including transmission fluid change. The steering was sharpened up with a new offside rack arm and track rod. Wear and tear was addressed with a new fuel-tank breather plus a new indicator stalk. A year later, the chassis was brought back to its best with another £960 spent on replacement rear shock absorbers, bump stops and a pair of front anti-roll bar drop links.

The most up-to-date care comes in the form of another large invoice for £2049 spent in July last year. The cambelt and balance belt was swapped yet again (before it was due) and some genuine European market headlamps were added. The air-conditioning was also re-gassed at the same time so that’s now blowing ice-cold.

We include an online HPI report run at the auction start which shows no finance outstanding and no insurance markers for theft or damage.

With a focus on keeping this car in factory condition – not just in its overall fit and finish, but also resisting modification – this Evo II makes for an extremely appealing ownership prospect. Its condition appears to be as good as any we’ve seen in recent years and the low mileage and frequency of servicing (since import) means this should be one Italian thoroughbred that you can actually rely on.

Though we’re sure the next keeper will struggle to resist the temptation to get out and drive it, they will benefit from the fastidious care of this car’s previous keepers. There are plenty of European Integrales that certainly haven’t been as lucky. The Japanese climate has played as much of a role in its preservation as those aforementioned careful owners. As a result, we expect this superb slice of motorsport royalty to reach between £61,000 and £75,000.

Inspection is always encouraged (within Govt. guidelines of course), and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; to arrange an appointment please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.