Automobiliac in Italia

Last week I found myself wandering the streets of Padova, wondering the whole time where the temperate Italian weather I had expected was to be found.  On the contrary, the air was suffused with a damp chill that cut to the bone.  But on rounding the corner into one of the town's many historic Piazzas, I saw something that improved my circulation:  This Lancia Delta HF Integrale c. 1989.

As hot hatches go it doesn't really get much better than this.  First, I had never really seen one in person before, since only a handful exist in the states - brought in through gray market channels.  The car has a compact, powerful stance, and its boxy features are so blunt and brutal that they combine to impart a rather thuggish beauty.  And that's just the beginning of the story, because these little cars were created mainly to Homologate Lancia's all-conquering Groupe A Rally cars.  Featuring 4 wheel drive and a 2 Liter 16 valve 4 cylinder offering 185hp unmodified --modified turbo cars can be bumped all the way up to 750hp-- they could sprint to 60 mph in about 6 seconds, which was quite fast for the time.  This car was probably one of the best and most exciting cars Italy produced during the 80s.  A genuine Rally car for the road. Wish I could take one home with me...

Click the photo to see the rest of the shots.