Classic Car: Lancia Delta HF Integrale 16v

Lancia has found success in the World Rally Championship with its Lancia Delta HF Integrale. This car had 46 World Rally Championship victories and won the Constructors Championship six times in a row from 1987 to 1992. One of the most powerful, successful versions of the Delta HF Integrale is the Lancia Delta HF Integrale 16v. This version of the Delta HF Integrale won its debut race at the 1989 San Remo Valley. The Lancia Delta HF Integrale 16v was a Lancia like no other. When people think of the Lancia brand, they think of Lancia Beta and how badly it rusted. The Delta HF Integrale 16v was reliable and safe. This Lancia used a turbocharged that gave immediate response due to the reduction of the inertia in the turbocharger turbine. The highly efficient intercooler provided more power and greater reliability. Larger injectors provided higher output and efficient exploitation of the fuel feed at higher engine rpms. The car could run on unleaded fuel without modification.

I saw a Lancia Delta HF Integrale 16v at the July 2011 edition of Houston Cars and Coffee. This is the first Lancia I have seen in person. It looks like a hatchback from the 1980s, similar to a 1980s Volkswagen Golf.
Lancias are very rare in America since Lancias were officially sold in America from 1975 to 1982, when Lancia withdrew from the American auto market due to slow sales.

The Lancia Delta HF Integrale 16v is powered by a turbocharged 2.0L I4 engine, paired with five-speed manual transmission, that produces 200 hp and 224 lb-ft of torque. This car goes from 0 to 60 mph in 5.5 seconds and reaches a top speed of 137 mph. At the time I am writing this article, I saw one Lancia Delta HF Integrale 16v being sold on an internet auction for $15,795 with no bids.

Top Gear presenters did a segment on the Lancia brand, saying that Lancia has made the greatest number of great cars among any car brand, during Series 14, Episodes 3. The Top Gear presenters said that the Delta HF Integrale is like no other Lancia because it was safe and reliable. The Lancia Delta Integrale is playable in Sega Rally Championship, Sega Rally Online Championship, Dirt 3, Gran Turismo 2, Gran Turismo 3 A-Spec, Gran Turismo 4, Gran Turismo 5, Destruction Derby Raw, South Park Rally, Project Gotham Racing2, Project Gotham Racing 4, Choro Q HG 4, Test Drive Unlimited 2, vDream Racing, Shift 2: Unleashed, Motorstorm games, Colin McRae Rally games, Sega Rally 2, Sega Rally Revo, Micro Machines V4, Trash Rally, Rallisport Challenge, Drift Out '94, Grand Tour Racing '98, Deadly Racer, The Getaway: Black Monday, Stunts, WRC: Rally Evolved, WRC 4, Drift Out, Need For Speed: Pro Street, Forza Motorsport games, Super Chase HQ, Choro Q Park, Rally Fusion: Race of Championships, Shox, Choro Q Advanced, PC Rally, Enthusia Professional Racing, and Rally Masters: Michelin Race of Champions.

The Lancia Delta is the most successful Lancia ever built. It is safe and reliable. The Lancia Delta HF Integrale 16v is one of the most successful rally cars ever made. Unfortunately, Lancia had a nightmare with the backlash from rusted Betas. The Lancia brand was pulled out of several markets, including the American and British car markets. Fiat bought Lancia in 1969 and bought 30% of Chrysler in 2009 and as of June 3, 2011, Fiat owned 52% of Chrysler. Since buying part of Chrysler, Fiat has returned to the American market with the Fiat 500. Fiat plans to use Chrysler platforms for Lancia Vehicles. The current Lancia Delta would be sold as a Chysler in the British and Irish car markets. In America, a Chrysler-badged Lancia Delta was revealed at the 2010 Detroit Auto Show and there are rumors that the Delta would replace the Chrysler PT Cruiser.

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Photo taken from a camera phone