Lancia Delta Integrale HF ex Herbert von Karajan | Incl the original hood M1078
Lancia Delta Integrale HF ex Herbert von Karajan | Incl the original hood M1078
Manufacturer: Metropole Classics BV Meubellaan 1 6651KV DRUTEN, NL 0031653328817 http://www.metropole.nl sales@metropole.nl
Herbert von Karajan’s Final Automobile
Stored away for decades in a private garage
Continuously retained within the family
Documented mileage: only 2,845 kilometres
When Lancia introduced the Delta at the 1979 Frankfurt Motor Show, it was positioned as a practical compact car. Designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro, it featured clean, angular lines and a strong focus on everyday usability. At the time, there was little indication that this unassuming four-door model would evolve into one of the most celebrated names in rally history.
Motorsport, however, had long been integral to Lancia’s identity. Following the achievements of the Fulvia, Stratos, and 037, the marque sought to develop a new all-wheel-drive contender for the extreme Group B category. This resulted in the Delta S4 in 1985 — an engineering tour de force featuring a mid-mounted engine, both supercharging and turbocharging, and formidable power output. The Group B era, though groundbreaking, was short-lived due to a series of fatal accidents that led to its discontinuation.
In 1987, Group A regulations replaced it, shifting the focus toward production-based vehicles. Manufacturers were required to build at least 5,000 units within a year. Lancia responded with the Delta HF 4WD, producing 165 horsepower and combining traction with precision. The approach proved immediately successful, securing a World Championship title in its debut season.
The evolution continued in 1988 with the introduction of the Delta HF Integrale. With increased power and a more aggressive stance defined by widened bodywork, the Integrale became synonymous with rally dominance. Lancia would go on to win the World Manufacturers’ Championship six consecutive times, while the model itself gained significant popularity beyond the competition stage.
On public roads, the Integrale offered a rare balance: high performance paired with everyday practicality. It was a compact car with the capabilities of a true sports machine, embodying a level of engineering character that remains distinctive to this day.
The example presented here, finished in grigio metallizzato, carries exceptional provenance. It was the final car owned by Herbert von Karajan. Renowned for his appreciation of speed and technology, Karajan personally received the vehicle from Gianni Agnelli in the autumn of 1988. Their longstanding friendship and proximity in St. Moritz added a personal dimension to the occasion.
During an early journey toward St. Moritz, icy conditions led to a brief loss of traction. As a precaution, Karajan promptly arranged for winter tyres — an episode still documented by the original invoice.
The car was used sparingly for a small number of trips between St. Moritz and Karajan’s residence in Anif. Following his passing on 16 July 1989, the Delta remained in storage, gradually becoming obscured over time as items accumulated around it in the garage.
More than thirty years later, the vehicle was rediscovered during a clearance. Remarkably well preserved, it emerged with an odometer reading of just 2,845 kilometres. The originality extends to details such as period-correct winter tyres dating from 1987 and its original registration plates, “EE 291 AA.” The “EE” designation referred to temporary export plates issued to non-residents in Italy, valid in this case until October 1989.
Aside from minor signs consistent with long-term storage, the car remains in an exceptional state of preservation. These traces only reinforce its authenticity and narrative. This Lancia Delta HF Integrale stands not only as a rare automotive artefact, but also as a unique link to one of the most influential conductors of the twentieth century.
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