The Automobili Amos Delta Integrale Safaristi

• A rallying thoroughbred
• The Safaristi by Automobili Amos

If like me, you’re a toddler of the eighties, I’m fairly certain you’ll have seen a Lancia Delta on the street in some unspecified time in the future in your life. The boxy hatchback was a reasonably frequent sight, a minimum of in Europe so far as I do know, and somebody in my neighbourhood had a darkish blue one with a tan inside. Even right this moment I can visualise it after I take into consideration the Delta. It’s after all made well-known by its rally heritage, because it just about dominated the World Rally Championship for a number of years on finish. By now they’ve just about vanished from the streets, however they’re nonetheless extremely wanted by a loyal group of individuals. Folks equivalent to Eugenio Amos and Carlo Borromeo, maintain it very a lot within the eye of the automotive-minded public, with automobiles such because the unbelievable Automobili Amos Delta Integrale Safaristi!

A rallying thoroughbred

The Delta was Lancia’s small 5-door household automotive produced between 1979 and 1999, after which once more however with a very totally different design between 2008 and 2014. It made its debut on the Frankfurt Motor Present in 1979 with a pointy and boxy design by Giorgetto Giugiaro and was voted Automotive of the Yr in 1980. Fairly early on, performance-oriented fashions can be launched, beneath the identify of Delta HF Integrale. And this might launch Lancia into but once more an period utter dominance on the very best stage of rallying, the World Rally Championship.

Lancia has left a big mark in rallying means earlier than the Delta, most notable by legendary automobiles such because the Fulvia, Stratos and the 037. Within the Nineteen Sixties and the early Seventies, the Fulvia was a pressure to be reckoned with, profitable quite a few rallys and titles throughout its life. It’s alternative, the Stratos, was a revolutionary wedge-shaped sports activities automotive with a transversely mounted 190bhp Dino V6 within the again and drive to the rear wheels solely. The Bertone designed machine proved an immediate winner when taken off-road and received the World Rally Championship in 1974, 1975 and 1976. A few years of drought would observe after the Stratos’ retirement, however a alternative masterpiece would observe quickly; the 037!

Constructed beneath Group B laws, the 037 confronted a real David versus Goliath battle however got here out on high. When launched within the early Nineteen Eighties, its light-weight development and nimble dealing with meant it may stand greater than an opportunity in opposition to the rising new tech of four-wheel drive from the likes of Audi and Peugeot. A lot so, that it might go on to win the 1983 Constructor’s World Rally Championship within the fingers of Markku Alén, Attilio Bettega and Walter Röhrl. Quickly after although, the all-wheel drive competitors discovered their groove (actually) and would blitz the little 037 on just about each stage.

Lancia’s saving grace was the Delta 4S although, which was a full-blown purpose-built rally automotive, and one of many quickest ever constructed. The comparatively free rulebook of the Group B championship gave approach to a automotive with a 490bhp turbo- and supercharged 1,759cc inline-4 engine within the again! The wild aero equipment was meant to maintain the automotive considerably planted at insane speeds, and the Delta 4S would win three occasions within the 1985 and 1986 seasons of WRC. With the demise of Group B although, Lancia switched to the changing Group A championship with the front-engined all-wheel drive Delta HF Integrale for the next years. This paid off huge time, because the mighty Delta would declare a record-breaking 6 constructor’s championships in a row between 1987 and 1992, scoring 46 general wins, and changing into probably the most profitable automotive within the historical past of WRC.

The Safaristi by Automobili Amos

With such an immense legacy behind it and the present reputation of high-end restomods and such, it’s no surprise individuals would flip to the Lancia Delta as soon as extra. One of the crucial notable firms to take action is Automobili Amos, based by Eugenio Amos and Carlo Borromeo in 2016. Their mixed artistic and entrepreneurial minds determined that “what was on the street… simply wasn’t sufficient” and got down to construct the perfect Lancia Delta ever constructed. And boy did they succeed!

The Automobili Amos Delta Integrale is available in two flavours; Futuristi and Safaristi. The names are fairly self-explanatory because the Futuristi (under, left) primarily does what Singer does with the Porsche 911. Carry a classic automotive as much as fashionable high-end requirements, with a couple of aesthetics and quite a lot of engineering tweaks! Assume carbon fibre physique panels, upgraded suspension parts, a greater and extra highly effective engine, fashionable lights, a refreshed inside with leather-based or Alcantara-clad seats and all of the facilities you would possibly want, and so forth… However, and this can be a enormous endeavor, Amos additionally removes the rear doorways!

Futuristi…

Safaristi…

The Safaristi in flip (above, proper), takes that idea and runs off-road with it within the literal sense of the phrase. Automobili Amos’ objective with the Safaristi is to supply “a non-competitive expertise to soundly attain the boundaries of each driver and automotive” within the spirit of the rally legends of yesteryear. The automotive itself is far more centered on performance, and a bit much less for consolation and aesthetics. However, it’s an amazing-looking machine! Beginning with a donor Delta, Automobili Amos leaves no nut and bolt unturned and strips the automotive right down to the naked necessities. Every thing is repaired, strengthened and upgraded the place wanted after which constructed again as much as the corporate’s imaginative and prescient.

The outside is once more transformed from a 5-door to a 3-door configuration, which is drawn up in carbon. A full roll cage is put in to boost the automotive’s rigidity and the suspension is raised and upgraded to a totally adjustable system to deal with even probably the most difficult terrain. The entrance and rear bumper have additionally been reshaped and raised to extend the automotive’s floor clearance. Below the hood (or bonnet) is a totally upgraded engine with a brand new cooling system, Motec ECU, an anti-lag system to make the turbo spool up sooner. This sends near 400bhp by means of the sequential five-speed gearbox, which sounds greater than sufficient to have some enjoyable on and off-road. However principally off-road, as that’s the place the Pirelly Scorpion tyres will seemingly really feel at residence probably the most. Slowing down or stopping, when you ever have the necessity, is finished with high-performance Brembo brakes throughout.

On the stripped-out inside, you get carbon racing buckets with full racing harnesses. The Sabelt steering wheel, Tilton adjustable pedal field and Motec instrument panel are excellent to fulfill all of your rally needs, with a digital show exhibiting you the gear you’re in smack bang within the centre. Rpm’s on the left and pace on the proper, plus shift lights within the high are all you should blast the Safaristi throughout the dunes of Dakar or the icy roads of Sweden, all of the whereas channelling your interior Juha Kankkunen or Miki Biasion. Efficiency figures equivalent to high pace or zero-to-100kph occasions aren’t talked about, and it feels extra becoming to consider drift angles and bounce lengths as a substitute! Given the substances for this spicy Delta Integrale Safaristi, it may well maybe be greatest described as visceral!

Now, speaking cash is at all times a sensitive topic with such projects as they’re usually obtainable to solely the wealthiest amongst us. The Automobili Amos Delta Integrale Safaristi isn’t any exception as the bottom worth for the whole conversion is a whopping EUR 570,000. And that excludes the donor automotive, which prices a reasonably penny too if you would like a mint Delta HF Integrale to start out with. Solely 10 will probably be constructed, with each configurable as you please. So… Martini, anybody?

For extra data, please go to AutomobiliAmos.it.

Editorial Observe: The pictures and knowledge portrayed and used on this article are sourced from and used with permission of Automobili Amos until said in any other case.