Tuesday 27th October 2015

Delta Integrale: £15K Competition Update

It's been a busy summer of fun for John and the Integrale; now the hibernation prep begins...

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So now we're up to date with Matt Purdon and his Capri, now it's the turn of John Crook and his Delta Integrale. You will remember that John's hunt for an Integrale was time consuming and therefore he has less competition reports than Matt. Here he details his summer with the Integrale including a PH Sunday Service, finally sorting the spoiler and why it might just be sticking around after all... Enjoy!

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As the sun seems to have set on our summer, I have found myself looking fondly over some days spent with the Integrale.

Early 90s look pretty good from here

As you may recall from the last update I was contemplating selling the Integrale to move onto something different, at the time a E46 M3 CS. I still find myself going through the PistonHeads classifieds and lusting after one but then I glimpse the Integrale and find myself just as torn as I was months ago! It's a nice problem to have I guess, so I won't complain.

With the few weekends of nice weather we did experience over summer, I made sure that I was in the Integrale driver's seat to enjoy them, windows down of course! The one thing that's certainly improved in cars over the past 20 years or so is air conditioning....

I attended an Italian car and bike show very close to home in Tunbridge Wells. It turned out to be a great event, with around 200 cars and 10 Integrales turning out in force from Club LanciaSport (a lovely bunch of people too). There's nothing they don't know about Integrales, and spending the day chatting to them made me want to stay part of this rare ownership club I find myself in. A big thank you should go to Richard, a fellow Integrale owner, who very kindly has given me the adaptable spoiler brackets so I can finally get the spoiler up into its full WRC attack mode! You wouldn't think they were hard to find as each car came with a set in their tool bag but most have gone missing over the years as the car has moved from owner to owner.

Convoy to an Italian show a real highlight

We had a great day and got to see many other Italian exotica too, including an F40 (one can dream!). However I was still more than proud to be driving home in my Integrale; it never gets old slipping into the Recaro seat and pushing the starter button. Even better when you're in a convoy of Integrales. Parked in traffic with a Integrale ahead, me sitting in mine, with another in the rear view mirror was a sight to behold!

The next event I attended with the car was one of my favourites - a PistonHeads Sunday Service. This time it was at Brands Hatch, one not to miss out on. A lovely early morning drive meant the Lancia could be properly driven. Arriving at the circuit with a grin on my face, it soon turned into a big smile as we could see all of the varied and exotic cars turning up. We ended up parked next to a Cobra replica and a Lotus Carlton, a great introduction to the morning.

I'm a huge fan of the Sunday Services as they're a great way of seeing some very rare machinery and chatting to fellow enthusiasts. I love the diversification that you get; where else would you find a Jaguar XJR-15, an original BMW CSL and a Clio on throttle bodies?!

That spoiler will be at full attack soon!

Having driven to various events, it felt like the car was getting faster on each run. I worked this out to be that the more you drive these the more you learn how they want to be driven and subsequently get the best out of them. Some modern cars seem to be easy to master, but I respect the Integrale for the fact it's not one of them, and it takes time to learn how to get the best out of the car. It becomes a much better feeling when you are behind the wheel and everything comes together. I've never driven a car that has taken as long to master!

I think the Integrale has overheard me discussing potentially selling up as it has been running perfectly all summer. Always starting first time and never missing a beat has made me realise I've bought an even rarer Integrale - one that's, dare I say it, reliable! I knew the car had been pampered it's whole life but even with that I expected more hiccups than I've experienced.

With PHers in the sun at Brands Hatch

The other thing that has made me think about keeping the car is the amount of interest that emerged when I mentioned selling, including the previous owner getting in touch to let me know he'd be interesting in having it back!

So I'm in a similar position to last time. I've enjoyed a great summer with the car and I'm now beginning to think about preparing it for hibernation. But what will be there in the spring? For now I'm agreeing with a quote a fellow Integrale owner told me - that there's something about Integrales that you can't define. They get under your skin like no other car.

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Previous updates:
It took a while but John finally found his dream Lancia
Is it living up to the hype? Hell yeah!
MoT'd and ready for a summer of fun
There's an issue... with the fuel cap
It's a Sega Rally hero made real!
Oh no! Integrale on the side of the road
Integrale now behaving itself, time to enjoy it

 

[J B L]

Great car! Don't sell it, it might be one of these you'll regret.

[grale23]

Think I've said this before.....you will regret it ! On my fourth. As soon as you sell, within 6 months you'll be after another. Keeper now.

[olliete]

I wouldn't sell - Italian, 4 seats, rally history, appreciating asset and...reliable?! Too good to be true some would say!

[sandman77]

If you want something that will depreciate get the M3.

[Richair]

Great write up and glad you've been enjoying the car; I found the CLS people a really great bunch during my period of Integrale ownership.

With regards to you considering selling it for something else I feel your pain. I really enjoyed owning mine and it was always a joy to take on social meets/shows/drives, people will always respond positively to someone turning up in an Integrale! But for me the driving experience lost its edge quite quickly; sure the steering and handling was lovely but they're very sure-footed and I much prefer a car that moves around underneath you. That's what clinched the sale for me, as I'm more of a driver than a polisher.

Don't expect an M3 to anywhere live up to the 'ownership experience' of an Integrale, but the driving experience will probably be a lot more fun particularly if you want to go on track. It's a tough call and I think in an ideal world we'd all have a 'grale in our dream garages! Just don't take the decision lightly, but it sounds like you're taking your time over it which is always the right thing to do when it comes to cars as nice as yours.

[Vee12V]

Wouldn't sell it either. When push comes to shove get yourself a cheap rwd beater. Better to have 2 very different cars than 1 compromise.

[Pereldh]

I've had 7 different italian cars - all have been reliable.
(None of them were Alfs's tho..)

[hondansx]

grale23 said:

Think I've said this before.....you will regret it ! On my fourth. As soon as you sell, within 6 months you'll be after another. Keeper now.

I need this car.

[originalwhoosh]

Use it in the winter and you'll find out what it's all about... Sell and you'll be rich - but will forever regret it! 3 since '88 - more fun than a pension.

[only1ian]

With regards the 90's a/c issue. I recently fitted a modern toyota camry a/c compressor to my E30 BMW and its made it through the 48'c summer here in abu dhabi as my a daily driver! Surprisingly easly job

[sege]

I love reading about this car! So glad you decided to keep it, and have enjoyed it so much since.

My feelings about these stem from two major things.
1. First Integrale I ever saw in the metal was parked up at Brands Hatch on one of my 3 visits to the track. That was the first time I discovered petrolhead heaven: The car parks and fields of racing tracks. All of the coolest, most exciting cars you've ever read about there in the metal (or composite) together in a combined sea of coolness. That's one of my most cherished car memories, and an Integrale was the catalyst for it.
2. A Fast Lane Magazine test of an Integrale vs the Escourt Cosworth. Being of a certain age the Escort is another dream car for me. At the time I would have taken the Escort, because it was faster, had a better handling balance, and the biggest baddest rear wing ever (and because I was an impressionable yoof). The Author noted those things but pointed out the Integrale had miraculous steering feel and feedback, and that looking at the two cars side by side there was just something about the Integrale that reached out and grabbed you the most. That's still my favourite car magazine road test ever. Now older, wiser and more more sentimental, I'd take the Integrale obviously!

I'm amazed these cars are still relatively affordable. Compared to Ferraris and other big ticket exotics and classics they are so very very cool. With the rallying pedigree, Lancia name, looks etc, its hard to think of a car with more petrolhead credibility than an Intergrale. Plenty of things that equal it, E30 M3, 2.7 RS etc, but nothing that surpasses it.

If you ever do sell it, you'll just have to accept that yes, you're going to regret it down the track, and move on. I wouldn't though!

Edited by sege on Wednesday 28th October 06:46

[crookie]

Thanks for all your comments guys - see there is mutual feedback regarding not selling the Integrale. I too fear the regret I will feel when I see it driving off into the sunset!

grale23 - your white Integrale looks epic!

Richair - I think your right, the Integrale and M3 are very different animals. Shame I can't have both

only1ian - not a bad shout. There is such limited space in an Integrale bay but wonder if another unit might fit in... As long as it's no larger than the original I guess it should with some modification work.

sege - you summed it up perfectly! Cossie is an awesome car as well. There is something about the Integrale though. With regards to prices, they have been moving quickly over the last couple of years. It would be sad if they all end up with collectors rather than actual enthusiasts.