Description
Former Lancia UK Press Car, rare and unique
Truly stunning Lancia Delta HF Turbo, well known in club and enthusiast circles, this is the oldest road-going HF Turbo in existence. Certificated by Lancia Classiche.
Originally one of a 25+ fleet of launch edition vehicles loaned to media and dealers from June 1984 to introduce the HF Turbo, this car has been recognised as a vehicle of significance for decades and was the precursor to sporting Deltas. At the time of launch, the iconic Martini stripes were offered as a free option to White Cars (Bianco Saratoga) to commemorate Lancia’s 037 winning the WRC in 1983 - a mere signal of things to come, Martini-clad Deltas would other win six back-to-back WRC’s!
Originally restored and preserved in the mid-1990’s (since when the car has covered only 7k miles) in the past 18 months the car has been subjected to a massive overhaul encompassing important works to mechanical, electrical, body and interior elements. Recent works undertaken amount to a huge expenditure (invoiced and documented) and often include the replacement of worn components with new-old-stock obsolete genuine parts. Speaking of which, the car will be sold with its own comprehensive spares pack incorporating NOS items that simply haven’t been available for 25+years in some cases.
Works carried out since Nov 2018 include (please contact for full list):
- water pump, thermostat, timing belt
- Revotec Radiator fan management system
- HT leads, Spark plugs, dist cap
- Oil, Fuel, Air filters
- All Brake pads, front callipers
- Drive shaft overhauls (inc NOS inner CV’s)
- Goodridge brake hoses (all round)
- replacement Genuine Alloy wheels
- 4 x tyres
- 4 x Suspension struts, bushes, springs, bump stops
- NOS rear beam
- camshaft and crankshaft sensor replacements
- complete gear linkage rebuild
- Entire Centre exhaust replacement
- NOS tail light clusters
- NOS Wing mirrors (one still to be fitted)
- massive cosmetic overhaul of engine bay (tinware, cam covers, hoses, pipes, wiring and detailing taken care of)
- vast number of rare interior trim items replaced
- NOS rear bumper painted and fitted, front bumper painted
- NOS Genuine Lancia Radiator Grille
- Various minor important preservative bodywork elements undertaken (roof, A-pillars etc)
Lots and lots more, this car has been properly refreshed and is ready for the summer show season. It starts, drives, stops, warms up and cools down as it should and is a pleasure (if something of a nostalgic throwback) to drive as recent press reviews by Auto Italia (March 2019 issue) and Modern Classics (Sept 2017) testify. I would add that the car is a far “tighter” drive now that when reviewed for either title having had linkage, suspension and braking upgrades.
The car is supplied with what can only be described as the most extensive history files(s!) I have ever seen. Besides press cuttings and media photos from the 1980’s featuring this very car and sister vehicles, there is a massive and comprehensive amount of ownership history, MOT, legal and maintenance documentation as well as a truly impressive photo archive evidencing the car’s utterly unique provenance. There are previous owner testimonies, an introduction from the former Lancia UK Head of PR along with restoration photos, show and event photos (the car was recognised at a Lancia Club Concours Event back in the late 90’s, with photos of the owner receiving the award) and numerous other unique and corroborating documents, photos and certificates.
I believe this really is a unique opportunity to acquire something that was rare back in the day but today is beyond rare - it is a one off.
Come and inspect it, test it, drive it. You won’t be disappointed. It was already a solid car when I bought it, but I have taken it to another level altogether. There are still bits of work to do to continue the continuous improvement this car has received by successive enthusiastic owners, but I have taken it as far as I’m prepared to and someone else can now enjoy it. I am a German car enthusiast (as any would-be buyers will see upon inspection of the car) and buying this Lancia was something of a departure but it’s been fun and it’s a really lovely little car that turns heads wherever it goes.
Update - Concours Class Win at Lancia Motor Club 2019 (August)
REDUCED TO £11, 500
Will consider German P/ X’s (Porsche / VW)
MOT until mid-December and only 81k documented and verifiable miles. Please, no time wasters or day trippers. Happy to renew MOT for buyer once deal is concluded.
To educate myself I joined the Lancia Motor Club in 2017 and would recommend any non-member buyers do the same - a genuinely decent bunch of people eager to offer support and knowledge.
Note: The car’s original Metric (TRX) wheels will accompany the sale, although due to complete unavailability of the Michelin TRX tyres, the wheels have been replaced with cosmetically identical 14” Lancia Cromodora equivalents and brand new premium tyres.
Please, please no more time wasters or dreamers
