Sell your children and kidneys - A Lancia Delta S4 is for sale

Lancia is still to this day the most successful manufacturer in rallying history - concluding proceedings in 1992, it managed 16 WRC titles. The weapons used to accomplish such a feat were the Fulvia, Stratos, 037 and Delta, with the last of those cars taking the majority of the titles.

Although the road-going Delta Integrale is very much the poster boy for Lancia's homologation specials, the Group B-derived Delta S4 is a twin-charged monster that was produced in miniscule numbers in comparison.

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Only 200 'Stradales' were built to meet homologation criteria, and this specimen going under the hammer at RM Sotheby's Villa Erba auction on Saturday is expected to reach between €450,000 - €550,000 (£387,360 - £473,440).

With less than 1600km on the clock, this 1985 S4 has certainly lived an easy life. And with all the paperwork and service books coming with the car, you can be assured that this Delta is as close to new as physically possible.

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Using a 1.8-litre four-cylinder engine boosted by both a dual-stepped Volumex supercharger and a KKK turbocharger, the Delta S4 in full rally spec was claimed to produce around 480bhp, with many sources claiming that figure was something more akin to 600bhp. This power was divided up to the wheels via a central differential that split 60-75% of the torque to the rear wheels.

Power outputs for the Stradale seem to be a bit of a mystery, with claims ranging between 200-300bhp. Whatever the output, the twin-charging will mean turbo lag is significantly reduced, blasting the S4 up any road or rally stage quicker than anything short of a stripped hillclimb car.

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Sadly, the excessive Group B and S era came to a close before the marque got to try out its savage works project, the Delta ECV (Experimental Composite Vehicle). Using Carbon Fibre and and Kevlar throughout the car, the replacement for the S4 weighed just 930kg and used the 600bhp tune from the twin-charged unit.

With the ECV only making it to concept form, the aforementioned Delta S4 for sale is at least a glimpse into what the Group S monster could have been.

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Do you think this sub-£500k rally legend is a bargain waiting to be snapped up? Or would you be looking to an Audi UrQuattro or 205 T16 to whet your homologation appetite? Comment with your thoughts below!