GIO CLEMENTE'S 1989 LANCIA DELTA INTEGRALE 8V TURBO

Stunned silence. That, accompanied by open mouths struggling to articulate some form of primitive sound is the most common reaction you get from guys, especially the new age "tuner" types humble or curious enough to pull up and get a closer look at this outrageous little car that just handed them their asses down the strip. To our guests from Europe, the UK and Asia Pacific this car maybe cool but definitely nothing new.

Some of the more rally savy North Americans will immediately recognize it for what it is. And from those people come lots of questions, thumbs up and grins. For others it's completely alien, especially here on the streets of Vancouver B.C. where if it ain't sportin a disgusting rear wing and some form of plagerized Honda "Type R" moniker, it ain't normal. Frankly, this is not a car designed to blend with the rest and even without the "almost-as-loud-as-Rob's-mouth" yellow paint, this car is about as subtle and as mainstream as... well, a werewolf. And like an automotive equivalent of the crazed monster, it feeds on ricers and some big V-8s with an unmitigated voracity.

This 89 Lancia Delta Integrale 8V turbo is my brother Gio's latest acquisition and it definitely ain't a normal sight. To our knowledge there are perhaps fewer examples of these in Canada and in the US than you could count on one hand. Including this one we know of three examples here in B.C., one in the maritimes and beyond that, let us know. We'd certainly like to see more. Canadian enthusiasts seem to enjoy a bit of an advantage over our friends in the US with regards to bringing these cars into the country. In a nutshell, Canadian laws allow the importation of vehicles 15 years or older which can then be registered, insured, driven and sold if one wishes.

A word of warning to anyone contemplating such an importation; just because Canadian laws make it possible to do this does not mean they make it pleasant. Here's our political dig. Getting it from Italy to Canada wasn't a problem, pretty much smooth sailing from the moment the car was driven into the container. However, upon arrival getting the car through the littany of contrived inspections was worse than leaving it unlocked in a ghetto with a big sign on the windshield saying TAKE ME APART. One can appreciate the need for inspection but the carelessness of some customs officials and their disregard for damage caused as a result of their inspection is simply criminal. Oh and, did I mention you get to pay for that too. Twice in this case: once in Montreal and then one more extortion in Vancouver.

Anyway, back to the car talk. As stated the car uses a turbocharged version on the venerable Fiat/Lancia 8V twincam. Although not the same as the almighty 16V from the later Evo versions, it is nonetheless a very capable package. From the factory the intercooled 8V turbo produces 185 hp. This particular example has also had the addition of a computer chip pumping the overall output to just over 200 hp.

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