One of only 24 models ever made, this basically takes what you love about the Lance Delta Integrale and combines it with a Zagato suit
- Zagato’s Lancia Hyena uses the bones of the Lancia Delta HF Integrale.
- This is one of only 24 ever made and likely the only one in the USA.
- It is for sale at RM Sotheby’s with an asking price of $250,000.
The Lancia Delta HF Integrale is a legend among automotive enthusiasts, but not everyone is a fan of the boxy hatchback body. One man in particular, Paul Koot, saw the potential to redesign the rally-dominating Lancia into something sleeker.
The result was Zagato’s Lancia Hyena, a car that shouldn’t have existed. Yet it is, and now one of just 24 examples ever made could be yours if you have about a quarter of a million dollars burning a hole in your pocket.
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Koot was a collector and Dutch importer for Lancia. At the beginning of the 1990s he turned to Lancia and Zagato to build a sleek coupé in the style of the Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint Zagato. The result was a concept presented in 1992 and although it proved popular, production posed a serious hurdle.
Fiat (which owned Lancia) was unwilling to finance the project, so Koot instead bought running HF Integrales and then had them dismantled and rebuilt by Zagato. Understandably, this made the finished product quite expensive. According to RM Sotheby’s, a new hyena cost $75,000 in 1993. That would be equivalent to about $160,000 today.
Of course, beneath a coach’s sleek body lies a serious performer. When new, the Hyena produced 250 hp (186 kW), which is more than the Delta HF Integrale. It also weighed about 440 pounds less, meaning it could accelerate from 0 to 60 miles per hour (0 to 96 km/h), a full 0.3 seconds quicker than the Delta. However, this particular example offers even more power.
Photos Robin Adams / RM Sotheby’s
In 2021 it underwent a full restoration, including a new Grigio Alloy paint job and engine remapping to a claimed 320 hp (238 kW). In addition, the suspension and braking components have been improved to make it a more powerful car than ever before. At the time of cataloging, it only has 19,407 miles (31,234 km) on the odometer, so there are still plenty of miles left to enjoy while it sits. However, the price at RM Sotheby’s is a whopping $250,000.
What do you say, is this somewhat reasonable given its pedigree and rarity, or would you rather spend your hard-earned money on something else?