When this particular Lancia Delta S4 Stradale arrived at our facility, it wasn’t just another car arriving – it was a rare chapter of automotive history pulling up at our door. Built between 1985 and 1986 as a road-legal counterpart to the S4 rally monster, the Stradale was intended to meet homologation requirements for Group B World Rally Championship. Officially 200 units were to be produced, but enthusiasts and historians now estimate that the real number is far lower – likely fewer than 100 ever left the factory as genuine road cars.

What makes the Stradale special goes beyond mere scarcity. Under its sleek, ellipsoidal bodywork lies a mid-mounted 1.8-litre four-cylinder engine employing twin-charging – both supercharger and turbocharger – delivering roughly 250 PS for road use. Alongside that performance, the Stradale retained the advanced all-wheel-drive and three-differential system of its rally cousin, combining road-car practicality with race-born engineering.

Inside, the Stradale diverged sharply from its bare-bones racing sibling: lush Alcantara, finished surfaces, sound-deadening, a suede steering wheel, even air conditioning and a trip computer — making it one of the most polished, usable homologation specials of its era. Today, surviving examples are coveted by collectors worldwide: few are maintained in original condition, and when one does surface at auction or sale, it draws intense attention (and often seven-figure valuations).