The
brutal Lancia Delta S4 is one of rallying history's most
iconic and rare machines, the final explosive evolution
of the fearsome Group B era; and even more rarely does
one of the handful built ever come up for sale.
This example has been
listed on the website of prestige and classic car
seller, duPont Registry, which tags it as a "1986
Lancia S4 Martini Racing rally car for sale. Immaculate,
original, and very rare." According to the vendor's
website it is up for sale for US$850,000 or offers.
The Lancia Delta S4
was built to conform to the dramatic Group B rally
regulations and competed in the World Rally Championship
in 1985 and 1986 in the hands of the Martini-sponsored
factory Lancia team as well as being used by selected
privateers, until the Group B cars were banned from
competition by the FIA. The Delta S4 had replaced the
equally-successful Group B Lancia 037 Rally as the
Italian carmaker's front line rally machine.
The S4 took full
advantage of the Group B regulations, and featured a
mid-mounted engine and all wheel drive for superior
traction and handling. The car's 1759 cc four cylinder
engine combined supercharging and turbocharging to
reduce turbo lag at low revs. Officially the car
produced 550 horsepower (410 kW). Independent figures
show the S4 could accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph)
on gravel in just 2.3 seconds. An engine capacity
multiple of 1.4 was applied to forced induction engines
by the FIA and the choice of 1759 cc put the S4 in the
under 2500 cc class which allowed a min weight of 890 kg
(1,962 lb).
According to duPont
Registry: "All maintenance completed, including all
the mechanical parts (including oil and filter every
time), 3,000 km [on the clock, it] is in immaculate
condition. It was completely checked and re-tuned [in]
2009, (oil, filters, greasing, belts, clean injectors,
fuel pumps, etc.). Please note that spare parts for this
car are available, (these are also unavailable/very
difficult to find at the moment). Serious inquiries
only. Car is located in Italy. For the ultimate car
collector."