Updated on 13/04/2019: The sale values were added.
It's not every day that we have the opportunity to find them for sale in the same place. all Lancia rally models that dominated the discipline , but that's what will happen at the next RM Sotheby's auction in Essen, Germany.
To be held on April 11th and 12th, the auction will concentrate more than 200 cars, mostly of European origin, highlighting the strong presence of German cars, corresponding to more than half of the total.
What makes this handful of Italian rally legends stand out, and what's more, integrating all the Lancias that enriched and also dominated rallies since the late 60's.
Lancia Fulvia Coupé Rallye 1.6 HF ‘Fanalone’, 1970
After Formula 1, the return of Lancia to competition would happen with Fulvia, in rallies. The beginning of a triumphant story.
It's not the only Fulvia in this auction, we can also find a Fulvia that belonged to Prince Rainier III of Monaco, and another one, a Rallye 1.3 HF ready to compete, which has already participated in several historic rallies.
For this unit, the Fulvia Coupé Rallye 1.6 HF “Fanalone” , not much information was provided. It was delivered new in Italy and has since had only four owners, and has never been restored. It is one of 1258 units built between 1969 and 1970, being an evolution of the 1.3 HF, receiving a new and bigger V4 with 1.6 l and 117 hp of power.
Estimated sale price: 60 000 euros to 70 000 euros.
Sold for: 69 000 euros.
Lancia Stratos HF Stradale by Bertone, 1975
Even today futuristic. The Stratos broke all barriers on what would be a rally car.
Fulvia would be replaced by the radical and iconic Stratos. Instead of changing a car from production to competition, Lancia started by creating a competition car, adapting it as little as possible so that it could be legally driven on public roads.
Even so, 500 units of the road model had to be produced in order to compete — in the end, according to the best estimates, it fell to 492 units,
This unit of the Lancia Stratos HF Stradale is one of them, with chassis number 829AR0 001832 — it maintains the Azzurro color, the “Sereno” mats and the seats upholstered in Alcantara, as shown in Lancia's records — registered in February 1975 in the name of Guido Bignardi. He kept it for 30 years, until 2005, the year he sold it to Carlo Pungetti, who would only sell it in 2015 to the current owner.
This Lancia Stratos has never been restored and is considered to be one of the Stratos in best original condition with just 11,800 km on the odometer.
Estimated sales price: 480 000 euros to 520 000 euros.
Sold for: 545 000 euros.
Lancia 037 Rally Stradale, 1982
Partially based on Beta Montecarlo, the 037 was Abarth's creation.
The first group B of Lancia would appear in 1982, and once again, to get homologation it would be necessary to build 200 units of the road model. However, 217 units would be manufactured from the 037 Stradale Rally, based in part on the Beta Montecarlo.
This unit of the Lancia 037 Rally Stradale is chassis no. 0022 and although the year of manufacture was 1982 — the year of manufacture of all 037 Stradales — this unit would only be registered in May 1984 by Francesco Pio Bignardi, a well-known figure in Italian rallies.
In 2005 it would be purchased by Carlo Pungetti, who never registered it, having stored it along with his remaining collection. He would sell it in 2015 to its current German owner. Chassis No. 0022 of the Lancia 037 Rally Stradale was never restored, having covered only 3500 km, making it one of the units with the fewest known kilometers.
Estimated sale price: 350 000 euros to 400 000 euros.
Sold for: 770 000 euros.
Lancia Delta S4 Stradale, 1985
When we talk about Group B monsters, it's cars like the Delta S4 we're talking about.
If the 037 Rallye was the last rear-wheel drive to win a championship in the WRC, what came next could only be accused of being a true monster. With four-wheel drive and a supercharger and turbo engine, the Lancia Delta S4 was brute force, delivering over 500 hp.
The road version, the Lancia Delta S4 Stradale , was much more “shy” with 250 hp, but no less spectacular. Built in 200 mandatory units, Lancia had some difficulty selling them all, with some not finding an owner until the late 1990s — considering their value today, what a lost opportunity for a “Chinese” business.
This unit is only 2196 km long and records show that it was originally delivered in Italy, later found a new owner in France and Germany, eventually returning to Italy.
Estimated sales price: 450 000 euros to 550 000 euros.
Sold for: 1 040 000 euros.
Lancia Delta HF Integrale Evoluzione ‘Martini 5’, 1992
Simply domineering. Six consecutive championships have given Delta Integrale legendary status.
Lancia's last chapter in rallying took place with the Delta HF Integrale, under group A regulations, after the excesses (and tragedy) of groups B ended. And the Lancia Delta dominated like few others — it is still the car today most successful ever in the WRC, having won six consecutive championships from 1987 to 1992.
Lancia officially retired in 1992 and to celebrate their fifth consecutive victory (1991), they created a special series of 400 numbered “Deltona” units, the Martini 5, in the iconic colors of the Martini Racing.
This unit of the Lancia Delta HF Integrale Evoluzione ‘Martini 5’ the auction is number 111, built in February 1992 and registered in September of that same year by Alvaro Nanni. It remained with him for 20 years, selling it to Giannantonio Bussinello, and would pass it on twice more.
It is in original condition, having received a maintenance service in 2015, which included changing the timing belt and reconditioning the turbo.
Estimated sale price: 120 000 euros to 140 000 euros.
Sold for: 120 000 euros.