Bought new 40 years ago, he inherits his grandfather's Lancia Delta HF: "I'll never sell it".

Some automotive stories go far beyond the technical data sheet or the price tag on the youngtimers market. This one, reported by Coachis clearly one of them. As a site dedicated to Italian cars, it seemed obvious to us to share this touching story about a Lancia Delta HF Turbo, inherited not from a collector, but from a passionate grandfather.

A Delta HF that tells a family story

For Simon Webling, this Lancia is not just a carefully preserved classic car. Above all, it's a direct link to his grandfather. Bought new in 1988, the Delta HF Turbo entered the family after he decided to part with his Lotus Esprit Turbo, deemed too expensive and unreliable. It was in this Delta that Simon learned to drive. Years of shared memories, of ordinary journeys that have become precious over time. So, when his grandfather died three years ago, the question of resale didn't even arise. "I couldn't see her go. There are too many memories in it," he says simply.

A surprisingly well-preserved survivor

Registered in 1988 and with only 56,000 miles (90,000 km) on the clock, the Delta HF Turbo has spent most of its life under cover, which explains its overall remarkable condition... at least by the standards of a Lancia of that era. A few rust blisters appear on the bottom of one door and around the fuel filler flap, but nothing dramatic. As is often the case with Italian cars of the '80s, certain details are a reminder of their strong character. The headlamp washer motors have disappeared after an unfinished repair, leaving visible openings in the grille. The front power windows no longer work. "But hey, it's an Italian," Simon says indulgently.

Before the Integrale, the HF Turbo was at the top

Before the arrival of the HF 4WD and above all the legendary Integrale, the HF Turbo represented the pinnacle of the Delta range. Under its hood is a 1.6 turbocharged four-cylinder producing 138 hp. On paper, this is still respectable, although Simon admits that the car used to feel livelier. Lately, the engine seems a little tired. A visit to a British Delta specialist is planned to get it back into top form. Nothing to worry about, rather a logical step for a car approaching four decades.

A Delta like no other

The famous Martini stripes might suggest a late customization. In fact, it was a factory option, introduced as early as 1984 to celebrate Lancia's success in the World Rally Championship with the 037. Side skirts, red HF logo on the front grille, then restyling in 1986 with a new grille incorporating fog lamps and eight-hole alloy wheels. But not everything is functional. Some air intakes are purely decorative, such as the lower grille, which doesn't cool the engine, or one of the two air intakes on the hood, which is simply closed.

The interior, however, holds a surprise: the car has been converted to right-hand drive by a Lancia dealer. A far from perfect operation. The electrical harnesses were not properly extended, and some cables became taut or jammed, causing electrical problems that have been known to occur on several models modified in this way.

Despite everything, the pleasure is intact

Simon has no shortage of beautiful machines in his daily life. He drives a Mercedes-Benz C350e, has fun on the track with a Subaru Impreza Turbo and owns a Ducati 848. Yet the Delta remains in a class of its own. Yes, the original suspension is showing its age, and the car shakes a little on its supports. Yes, the cabin vibrates and resonates, all the more so since Simon removed the pieces of foam his grandfather had slipped between the panels to calm the noise. But that's precisely what makes it so charming. "It's noisy, it moves, it lives... and that's exactly what I like," he sums up.

While some of today's Delta HFs fetch high prices, this one is not for sale. More than a desirable youngtimer, this Delta HF Turbo has become a family heirloom, a rolling witness to an era when cars had a soul, and sometimes even a story to tell. And that's precisely why, even forty years on, some Lancias still count for so much.