Delta Integrale: £15K Competition Update
With his £10,000 Adrian Flux prize burning a hole in his pocket, John Crook just needed the right car...
There's the why. Now the how. Over to John:
Candy Red paint unique to John's Integrale
"Since winning, many people have asked me why I covet an Integrale so badly. It's a hard one to explain to a non PHer! Ever since seeing them charging through rally stages, obliterating the opposition, I've wanted one.
"What I soon realised was just how rare these cars have become, and how expensive good ones now are! Luckily there is a great community behind the Integrale, who have been fantastic in my search. Every waking moment of the past four months has been spent looking for my perfect Integrale, speaking to as many people as possible and reading every piece of information I could get my hands on. My girlfriend will vouch for this. Sorry Katie for not talking about anything else!"
Tan Recaros also part of Dealer's Edition spec
"I knew it had to be an Evo 2 which, being the last ones made, are the most expensive. But then a Limited Edition seemed appealing too; savings have to be spent on something, right?
"Fate is a weird thing. I received an email from an owner who had heard I was looking for one, and owned the very Integrale I wrote my article about. It was a red limited edition model that lives nearby, one that I had seen (and shamefully followed!) in the past. I couldn't believe my luck! But the seller realised he couldn't bear to be parted with his pride and joy and told me he would be keeping it. Gutted! A few conversations trying to tempt him failed and I was back on the hunt.
"Many a weekend was spent on motorways going to view cars. My dad was great here, coming along every time and offering an unbiased opinion. Nothing much was to my exact liking until a mint yellow Giallo Ginestra model emerged in Guildford. I had no interest in yellow before but it was truly stunning. After a brief bidding war with a guy in Dubai this wasn't to be either though."
A long search, but the right car was 10 miles away
"Getting frustrated I didn't know where to turn next. However, fate stepped in once again to my aid. The owner of the original Integrale I nearly bought got back in touch to say he was willing to sell it. Quick as a flash I was round there, and after a test drive (trying to play it cool, not helped by a huge grin on my face) and going through what a mountain of paperwork a deal was done. After all the travelling I bought a car just 10 miles away!
"The great thing with such a rare car is that everyone in the community knows about each exact one, who's had it before, what work it has had done etc. The previous owner Eddie, who had owned the car for 12 years, talked me through every aspect of his Integrale. A big thanks to him for how well he's kept the car; it has clearly been very, very pampered!
Four months of research was worth it!
"The other group of people I must thank are those on the Evocorner forum. What these guys don't know about Integrales really isn't worth knowing.
"The Integrale went into a specialist (Auto Integrale) for a quick check over and a few little niggles fixed (door catch and minor misfire) and a larger job of a new diff before the seller was ready to hand it over. When it came out and was ready for me I was on holiday... Is it wrong to say I sat on a beach for a week waiting to get home and get the car? Probably, but I was about to get my hands on one of the cult cars of our time!
"Within a few hours of landing, I was round at the seller's home and signing the paperwork to my perfect Integrale."
It's running sweetly with a minor misfire sorted
"And as for the actual car? Wow! Does that sum it up? How about thrilling, electrifying, a dream realised? Better? Some people say don't drive your heroes. They're wrong; drive them! The Integrale is everything I thought it would be and more. It feels like I'm just about to head into the forest ready for the start of the Wales rally, even when I'm in Tesco's car park. Everyone seems to point, stare, smile, give their thumbs up. It makes others feel good, but none more so than me!
"I'm lucky enough to have one of the final Evo 2 models, called a Dealer's Edition. With only 179 made (and 34 coming to the UK), mine being number 143, this is one rare machine. It comes in its own special colour (Candy Red) with an OMP foot rest for the passenger, aluminium pedals, push start button and beautiful tan leather Recaro seats to set this model apart from the rest.
"Twice I've opened the garage just to look at it. I still can't believe that this is mine!
"Twice I've opened the garage just to look"
"I'll be honest when I say it's taking a while getting used to driving left-hand drive on UK roads but wouldn't change it as it just makes the car feel even more exclusive.
"Did I manage to adhere to my initial budget? In so many ways I'd love the answer to be yes, but it's not. Not even close in fact. I went significantly over what I had originally intended but then I do have one of the cleanest Integrales out there. I was told that there are two types of Integrales - the very good and the very bad. I went for the former, and it was the right decision. I would rather have the best of the best, compared to ones that appear cheap but would be receiving lots of calls from mechanics with eye-watering bills!
More to come from John soon!
"I can't wait to report on how I get on with the Integrale and how the dream pans out. For now enjoy the photos and if you see me give me a wave."
You can feel every drop of it from your article. I know that feeling when you have a look out the window to give it a glance
I once had a drive of an intergrale.....build quality, whats that ?? Could it move OH YES !!
Wish you lots of many hours polishing for the summer months, good on yer !!!
every time and is always an amazing driving experience.
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