Legendary Group A rally homologation car with six consecutive WRC manufacturers' titles. Built on a simple Fiat Ritmo/Strada platform that was pushed to its limits with AWD and turbo power. The mechanical drivetrain is robust when maintained, but the body rusts from the inside out and can crack at stress points from stiffened suspension. Electrical gremlins are common but usually traced to dirty earth points. The 8v is more forgiving and reliable; the 16v and Evos are faster but more demanding. All cars are now 30+ years old and require specialist knowledge - budget for preventive maintenance or face expensive surprises. These are not low-maintenance classics.
Body rusts from inside out due to layered spot-welded construction · more· less
Even the best-looking Integrale will rust from the inside out. The Delta has a complicated structure with many welded pressed sections. The rear roof edge and boot floor have 3 metal layers spot-welded together, creating water traps. Common areas: rear wheel arches, roof trailing edge, sills, floor, suspension turrets, windscreen pillars, door bottoms, A/B/C posts, and the radiator panel (doused through bonnet vents). Complete restoration of a rusty shell can exceed €15,000. Some panels are now very rare or NLA (no longer available). Specialists like Walkers Garage offer repair sections for some areas.
Body shell cracking€1,500 - €5,000
Shell was designed for FWD family car, not 200+ hp AWD · more· less
The Delta was originally conceived as a simple front-wheel-drive family car (based on Fiat Ritmo/Strada). The higher-performance AWD versions push the shell to its limits. Check carefully for stress cracks at: corners of the windscreen, bulkhead around chassis leg attachments, perimeter of rear turrets, top of A-pillars, and door bottom areas. Cars with stiffened aftermarket suspension are particularly prone - uprating springs and dampers without a rollcage or shell stiffening panels will hasten cracking. Proper repair requires seam welding and strengthening plates at known weak points.
Timing belt failure€1,500 - €3,500
Critical maintenance item - failure destroys engine · more· less
The cambelt must be replaced every 40,000 km (24,000 miles) on 16v engines, or 60,000 km (36,000 miles) on 8v engines. A snapped belt causes catastrophic valve/piston contact. High-lift aftermarket cams reduce this interval further - some knock out a belt in just 32,000 km. Correct tensioning is vital: a slack belt jumping teeth causes more damage than a tight one breaking. Parts cost approximately €150-250 for complete kit with tensioners; specialist labour adds €500-800. Many owners don't realize the balance shaft belt also needs replacement at the same interval.
Gearbox synchro/rebuild€2,500 - €5,000
Synchros wear on 2nd/3rd; 16v boxes prone to diff pin issues · more· less
The Integrale's five-speed gearbox is fundamentally strong and will last 150,000+ km before needing attention. However, abuse causes synchromesh wear on 2nd and 3rd gear first - feel for baulking during test drive. The 16v gearbox has a tendency for diff pins to come loose and destroy the crownwheel - listen for nasty noises under load. Excess power from modifications can strip teeth. Some bearings are now NLA (no longer available), making proper rebuilds difficult and expensive. Full rebuild swallows "a few thousand pounds" at specialists like DeGraaf or Tanc Barratt.
Turbocharger failure€1,500 - €3,500
Garrett T3/T34 turbos can leak seals; new OEM units no longer available · more· less
Factory Garrett T3 turbos for 16v/Evo are no longer available new - only rebuild services exist. The T34 (Evo 1) and T3 (Evo 2) can develop oil seal leaks, causing smoky exhausts and oil consumption. Rebuilt units with upgraded 360-degree bearings and hybrid impellers are available on exchange basis. Garrett now offers "Classic" replacement turbos with modern engineering and direct-fit installation. Overboosting from aggressive maps will blow head gaskets if a competition gasket isn't fitted. Blue smoke and power loss indicate worn turbo seals or valve guides.
Clutch replacement€800 - €1,200
Major job due to AWD complexity; replace master cylinder at same time · more· less
Clutch replacement on the Integrale is labour-intensive due to the four-wheel-drive system - "budget at least €600 if it's slipping" is common advice from specialists. Parts (Valeo OEM 3-piece kit) cost approximately €150-250. The 16v, Evo 1, and Evo 2 use hydraulic clutch actuation; 8v models use cable actuation. Always replace the clutch master cylinder when doing this work. A slipping clutch is obvious; juddering indicates worn or contaminated friction surfaces.
Upper sump gasket oil leak€300 - €600
Standard cork gasket gets blown out by crankcase pressure · more· less
The standard specification upper sump gasket has problems from crankcase pressure pushing the cork gasket out, resulting in an oil leak. On 8v engines, this leaks directly onto the exhaust manifold - a fire hazard. The fix is an uprated composite gasket (approximately €40) that's 2mm thick and far better at sealing. "Normal Integrale sump gaskets will start leaking sooner or later" - this is virtually guaranteed on high-mileage cars. Oil consumption of approximately 0.5L per 1,000 miles is considered normal.
Electrical gremlins€100 - €500
1980s Italian wiring plus age equals intermittent faults · more· less
One owner famously noted: "Mechanically they were absolutely bulletproof. Electrically they were a complete nightmare." Common issues: dashboard instruments, rear wash-wipe, heated rear screen, central locking, and fuel pump circuits. The good news: "electrical issues are almost always down to dirty earths" - cleaning all earth points often resolves problems. Key earth point under the air box. Wiring becomes brittle with age; check connectors at crank sensor, cam sensor, WTS, ATS. Some senders (low oil warning, Evo speedo) are now NLA.
Camshaft wear (16v)€1,500 - €3,000
Worn cam lobes cause noisy idle and power loss · more· less
Listen for a noisy idle - some 16v cars develop worn cam lobes. This can be caused by valve shims set too tight or oil starvation on extended right-hand corners (oil pickup is on the right side of the sump). The 8v engines are generally stronger and less prone to this issue. Specialist camshaft manufacturers like Guy Croft offer replacement cams with heat treatment and hardening to race spec. If cam wear is detected, the cylinder head needs removal for proper inspection and machining.
Suspension bush wear€500 - €1,500
Bushes need replacing approximately every 32,000 km · more· less
Rattles and clonks indicate worn suspension bushes - a common issue on these cars. The Evo's rose-jointed anti-roll bar links are particularly prone to wear. Full Powerflex polyurethane bush kits are available (approximately €300-400 for complete set). Original rubber bushes for rear trailing arms are NLA but Powerflex alternatives exist. Worn bushes affect handling precision and accelerate wear on other components. Some original rear trailing arms are no longer available.
High maintenance, but mechanically robust when cared for
The Integrale's reputation for fragility is overstated - owners report daily driving with proper maintenance. "Keep on top of them they can be very reliable, but let it get on top of you and you could end up with an expensive nightmare." Budget €2,000-3,000 per year for preventive maintenance. The drivetrain is fundamentally strong; rust and electrical issues are the main concerns. Find a specialist you trust - these are not DIY cars for most owners.
Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
General checks
Service history Complete specialist service records essential. Check cambelt replacement dates and mileages carefully.
Cold start Engine must be completely cold. Listen for unusual sounds in first 30 seconds.
Test drive Minimum 30 minutes including varied speeds. Feel for gearbox synchro issues on 2nd and 3rd.
Body condition Check for rust, accident damage, paint mismatch, and filler.
Specific for this vehicle
Rust inspection - wheel arches
Check all four wheel arches inside and out. Paint bubbling indicates corrosion starting from inside. Rear arches are most vulnerable.
Rust inspection - roof and pillars
Examine rear edge of roof (prone to bubbling and disintegration), A-pillars at windscreen corners, and B/C posts at base.
Body shell stress cracks
Check for cracks at windscreen corners under rubber, bulkhead around chassis leg attachments, and rear suspension turret perimeter. More common on cars with stiffened suspension.
Gearbox synchromesh test
Feel for baulking or crunching when shifting into 2nd and 3rd gear. These synchros wear first. Listen for whines under load.
Differential noises
Listen for nasty noises from front or rear differentials under load. 16v gearboxes prone to diff pin loosening and crownwheel damage.
Cambelt service verification
Confirm when cambelt, tensioners, and balance shaft belt were last replaced. Must be within interval (40,000 km for 16v, 60,000 km for 8v).
Oil leaks - upper sump
Check for oil leaking from upper sump gasket onto exhaust (8v) or ground. This is extremely common and a fire risk on 8v models.
Turbo smoke test
Watch exhaust under hard acceleration. Blue smoke indicates turbo seal wear or worn valve guides. Either is expensive.
Evo authenticity check
Verify the car is genuine - unscrupulous sellers sometimes dress up 8v or 16v models to look like Evo or Evo II. Check VIN and documentation.
RHD conversion check
All Integrales were built LHD. If RHD, verify dealer-conversion provenance. Avoid cars with Regata steering racks (wrong ratio).
Recalls and Technical Service Bulletins
No formal recalls in European databasesN/A
Known factory updates: oil cooler, sump gasketVerify with specialist
The Delta Integrale predates modern digital recall databases. Lancia issued various technical updates during production but these weren't formal recalls. Consult a marque specialist (Tanc Barratt, Walkers Garage, DeGraaf) to verify whether known updates have been applied. Critical items: uprated upper sump gasket, oil cooler replacement on rebuilt engines.
Warranty Status
Factory warrantyExpired (30+ years old)
Classic car insurance optionsAgreed value policies available
Parts availabilityGood via specialists
All Integrales are now well outside any manufacturer warranty. Specialist parts suppliers (deltaintegrale.com, Walkers Garage, ProJoe) maintain extensive stock of service parts, with many items sourced from OEM manufacturers in Italy. Some parts are NLA (no longer available) but specialists can often source alternatives or manufacture replacements. Consider agreed-value classic car insurance given current market values of €25,000-€100,000+ depending on model and condition.
This report is for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Estimates may be inaccurate. Always have a qualified specialist inspect the vehicle before purchase. We accept no liability for decisions made based on this information.