24 years later, this owner had to sell his Lancia Delta Integrale Evo "I called in a psychologist".

Twenty-four years. That's how long Richard Webber has been driving his Lancia Delta HF Integrale Evo. An entire motoring life, made up of memories, journeys, sacrifices... and now a heartbreak. The British journalist from Autocar magazine has made a painful decision: to sell the car he has long considered much more than a car.

A dream born in the golden age of rallying

Like many enthusiasts, Richard Webber fell in love with the Lancia Delta Integrale during its rallying heyday in the late 1980s and early 1990s. A legendary car, dominant in Group A, which became an absolute benchmark for sportiness and efficiency. Back then, a Delta HF Integrale Evo cost around £25,000 new in the UK. But in the late 1990s and early 2000s, the market for youngtimers was still virtually non-existent. Prices had collapsed, offering a unique opportunity to enthusiasts. In June 2001, Richard Webber travelled to Italy to test drive a Delta Integrale Evo 1 in a sublime Giallo Ferrari hue. A few weeks later, the car crossed the English Channel to Dover, before becoming his daily car in Scotland.

A car, a life

For several years, the Delta Integrale has been an integral part of his daily life. An almost unreal experience, made possible by the open, winding roads of the Scottish Borders, not far from the old RAC Rally stages. The car is not a collector's item stuck in a garage, but a companion on the road. Then life changed. Richard Webber's career took off, notably at Autocar. The family grows, priorities change. The Delta was driven less and less. In almost fifteen years, it covered only around 9,000 additional miles. Above all, its value skyrockets.

When passion meets reality

The market has changed radically. In 2017, a near-new Delta Integrale Evo Giallo Ferrari sold for £142,000 in New York. In 2022, another example topped £100,000 in the UK. Richard Webber's car, with 87,000 miles but perfectly maintained, is now estimated at around £60,000, or almost 69,000 euros. A considerable sum. Almost unhoped-for. A "windfall" for a growing family, especially in view of the high maintenance costs of a car that is now too rare... and too precious to be really used. For years, he was told never to sell it. His answer was always the same: "unless I have no choice". That time has come. And he's not about to pretend it's easy. In fact, it did sell for £61,640 in August 2025.

"It's not logical, but it's painful".

Richard Webber admits: selling this car keeps him awake at night. Far more than any other motorcycle or car he's sold in the past. For here, it's not a question of logic, but of emotion. To try and understand this almost irrational connection, he even consulted a psychologist, Dr Christian Jarrett. The diagnosis was clear: a phenomenon of "object attachment". A mechanism well known in psychology, where certain material possessions become extensions of our identity. The memories, smells, sounds and moments of life associated with the car reinforce this bond. For some enthusiasts, a car doesn't just accompany memories: it is the memory.

A final stroll before saying farewell

On the psychologist's advice, Richard Webber takes his Delta Integrale out for one last time. A summer evening, alone, on a road he's particularly fond of. No passengers, no distractions. An intimate communion with the machine. The ritual is intact: key without remote control, central locking, transponder, start-up, waiting for the lights to go out. Then the magic happens. The Garrett turbo awakens, the 210 horsepower expresses itself, the chassis absorbs irregularities with an ease that reminds us why the Delta has become a legend. Despite its flaws, its roll, its costly maintenance, all is forgiven. As so often in life, emotions wipe out the bills.

Mourning... and looking ahead

When the sale was finalized and the Delta was taken off the production line, the shock was real. And yet, against all expectations, Richard Webber confides that the pain is less violent than expected. The anticipation was heavier than the reality. He knew he no longer had the time to drive it. And, paradoxically, he may not have time to regret it either. One day, perhaps, another Delta will come back into his life. In the meantime, he'll make do with his family car, a Volkswagen Tiguan diesel. As the song he quotes says with a touch of irony and resignation: "If you can't be with the person you love, love the person you're with."

Article based on Richard Webber's original testimonial published on Autocar. Photos of the advert on The Classic Valuer.