1992 Lancia Delta Integrale Evo I Hatchback Sedan

1982 was the final year that Lancia motor cars were sold in the United States, and was the same year as Lancia's introduction of the 037 model for competition in Group B of the FIA World Rally Championship. The 037 ultimately begat the Lancia Delta S4. The Delta family hatchback model had been introduced in 1979 and steadily developed over the years, into the HF and HF Turbo and, ultimately, the advent of four-wheel drive. The facelifted Delta HF Integrale 16-valve arrived in 1989, followed by the 'Evoluzione' iteration in 1991.

The void left when Group B racing came to an end in 1987 was filled by the Group A series which had a homologation requirement of 5,000 road cars, for which Lancia was ideally positioned. The Lancia Delta Integrale proved to be more than capable of handling the tarmac in Monte Carlo, the snow and ice of Scandinavia, or the unpaved roads in Kenya, winning the Group A Constructors Championship five years running—1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, and 1992. In celebration of its fifth victory, Lancia introduced a limited edition Delta Integrale Evoluzione 16V 'Martini 5,' with just 400 examples built.

This 1992 Lancia Delta Integrale Evoluzione 16V Martini 5 is serial number 131 of 400. Like all Martini 5 cars, it is liveried with the iconic Martini stripes running down each side, commemorative 'World Rally Champion' badging, Recaro seats trimmed in dark gray Alcantara with red stitching, and red seat belts. The odometer displays just 2,500 kilometers.

Just before this Lancia was exported to the United States, it received an engine tuning and gearshift upgrade at a cost of nearly 4,000 Euro.

By Daniel Vaughan | Jun 2023