He still drives his Lancia Delta Integrale, even though it has 447,000 km on the odometer.

At a time when many Lancia Delta HF Integrale spend more time under a cover than on the road (like this one, which had been left wrapped in its original factory cellophane for 30 years), this one has chosen a radically different path. This Lancia Delta HF Integrale Evoluzione II now has 447,000 km on the odometer. In particularly good condition, it’s still on the road—and not just for leisurely drives to classic car shows.

The YouTube channel PURE BM recently took the wheel on the mountain roads of the Black Forest in Germany. This terrain is far more suited to an Integrale than an air-conditioned garage. Despite its impressive mileage, the Italian sports car is driven there with enthusiasm, accelerating, taking turns, and revving the engine.

447,000 km for a true icon

To put that number into perspective, 447,000 km is more than eleven times around the Earth. That’s an impressive distance for any car, but it takes on a whole new dimension when it comes to an Italian sports car that’s over thirty years old and has become particularly sought-after by collectors. This Delta is, in fact, an HF Integrale Evoluzione II, one of the most desirable versions in the lineup.

Still 215 ch and all-wheel drive

Under the hood, the Evoluzione II is powered by the famous 2.0-liter turbocharged 16-valve four-cylinder engine, which originally produced 215 ch and 314 Nm. Paired with the all-wheel-drive system that played a major role in the Integrale’s reputation, it enabled the car to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in about 5.7 seconds and reach a top speed of 220 km/h.

Its performance is still respectable today, even if the Delta’s appeal lies primarily elsewhere. Its turbocharger, compact size, handling, and traction give it a personality very different from that of modern sporty compacts. And on a mountain road, it’s hard to forget its heritage. The Delta remains inextricably linked to the dominance of Lancia In the World Rally Championship, the brand won six consecutive manufacturers' titles between 1987 and 1992.

That doesn't mean it's indestructible

Seeing an Integrale approaching half a million kilometers might make one want to tout it as a testament to absolute reliability. That would be jumping to conclusions. Such high mileage necessarily requires particularly meticulous maintenance and likely numerous repairs over the car’s lifetime. There’s no way to say for certain that every mechanical component in the car today has covered all 447,000 km. But this particular car does show just how far a properly maintained classic car can continue to run.

While some Integrale models are now held as investment assets, with prices for certain examples now exceeding €300,000 (even Racing driver Fernando Alonso bought one recently), it has clocked more than eleven trips around the world and continues to tackle mountain roads. Its 447,000 km are, after all, not a weakness to be hidden, but perhaps its greatest badge of honor. Watch—and above all, listen to—the video below (no commentary).