When it comes to used hot-hatch buying advice, few people are more qualified to give their opinion than Ben Collins. The former Stig himself has gone and bought a Lancia Delta Integrale, and that alone threatens to send hordes of Top Gear fans into a frenzy, browsing the classifieds for something similar.
As detailed in the latest Drivetribe reveal, Collins had been considering a European hot hatch for some time. The shortlist was narrowed down to the Lancia and a Peugeot 205 GTi, with the Italian stallion winning out due to its value and a perceived quality of unattainability.
Collins’ example was purchased at auction for £28,000 ($35,000 at current exchange rates) and was originally a Japanese-market car. As such, it’s been babied with the typical care received by most classics from the land of the rising sun and, as a bonus, gets the nice addition of air-conditioning.
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There’s no visible rust, the body is straight, and the interior remains immaculate, with the only concern being a sagging headliner. In fact, the only mechanical bits that needed attending to were the usual rubbers, belts, and a dodgy clutch.
Out on the road, Collins marvels at the chassis. His example is a “regular” 16-valve version of the Lancia Delta HF Integrale, as opposed the more lauded Evoluzione or Evo II. However, there are benefits to the 16V. While the narrower track width may not be beneficial for outright grip, it makes the chassis “dartier” and more chuckable around a British B road. There’s also less sound deadening, making for a more visceral experience behind the wheel. And finally, it’s less than half the price of the Evos, and yet retains the trick all-wheel-drive system that made the car so special, upping the value proposition.
The Lancia Delta HF Integrale joins a 997-generation Porsche 911 Turbo and an ex-military Land Rover Defender 90 from 1998 in Collin’s stable, making for what we think is a pretty spot-on three-car garage.
