Following Audi’s lead, Lancia introduced a new four-wheel-drive World Rally Championship contender in 1985 - the Delta S4 - that bore more than a passing resemblance to its road-going namesake. The likeness though, was merely skin deep, the two cars having next to nothing in common mechanically. For whereas the Delta road car was a conventional, front-wheel-drive, five-seater hatchback, the two-seater S4 carried its engine where the rear seat passengers would have been and concealed a tubular spaceframe chassis incorporating fully adjustable all-independent suspension beneath its lightweight composite bodywork. The Hewland transmission drove all four wheels via central and rear differentials, while the 1,759cc, 16-valve engine broke new ground also, employing both supercharging and turbo-charging to achieve a maximum output in excess of 500bhp by the end of its development. After the required 200 Stradale (road-going) models required by Group B regulations had - allegedly - been constructed, the competition version made its first appearance in November 1985 at the RAC Rally, Henri Toivonen and Markku Alen finishing first and second respectively to record one of the most successful debuts in rallying history. The Delta S4 went on to score three more World Championship victories in 1986, securing Lancia second place in the Makes’ competition and second place for Alen in the Drivers’, before being compulsorily retired at the end of the year when FISA imposed Group A regulations for 1987. We are advised that this example had been on display in a Ferrari dealer’s showroom in Italy before being brought to the UK and purchased by the present owner circa 1989/90. Presented in virtually ‘as new’ condition in every detail having covered just 689 kilometres from new, chassis number ‘25’ has been kept in dry storage for the past 14-15 years and will require re-commissioning before returning to the road. The vehicle is offered with Swansea V5 registration document. A rare opportunity to acquire a hitherto under-appreciated, limited edition supercar created by one of the most illustrious marques in automotive history.
Following Audi’s lead, Lancia introduced a new four-wheel-drive World Rally Championship contender in 1985 - the Delta S4 - that bore more than a passing resemblance to its road-going namesake. The likeness though, was merely skin deep, the two cars having next to nothing in common mechanically. For whereas the Delta road car was a conventional, front-wheel-drive, five-seater hatchback, the two-seater S4 carried its engine where the rear seat passengers would have been and concealed a tubular spaceframe chassis incorporating fully adjustable all-independent suspension beneath its lightweight composite bodywork. The Hewland transmission drove all four wheels via central and rear differentials, while the 1,759cc, 16-valve engine broke new ground also, employing both supercharging and turbo-charging to achieve a maximum output in excess of 500bhp by the end of its development. After the required 200 Stradale (road-going) models required by Group B regulations had - allegedly - been constructed, the competition version made its first appearance in November 1985 at the RAC Rally, Henri Toivonen and Markku Alen finishing first and second respectively to record one of the most successful debuts in rallying history. The Delta S4 went on to score three more World Championship victories in 1986, securing Lancia second place in the Makes’ competition and second place for Alen in the Drivers’, before being compulsorily retired at the end of the year when FISA imposed Group A regulations for 1987. We are advised that this example had been on display in a Ferrari dealer’s showroom in Italy before being brought to the UK and purchased by the present owner circa 1989/90. Presented in virtually ‘as new’ condition in every detail having covered just 689 kilometres from new, chassis number ‘25’ has been kept in dry storage for the past 14-15 years and will require re-commissioning before returning to the road. The vehicle is offered with Swansea V5 registration document. A rare opportunity to acquire a hitherto under-appreciated, limited edition supercar created by one of the most illustrious marques in automotive history.
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
