The first-series Delta is not yet, in this form, one of the most sought-after Lancias on the market. That is precisely why an example like this deserves attention. The 1300 carburettor version belongs to the quieter, more ordinary end of the original range, but today it is far harder to find a car like this than a more celebrated version that has already been restored or rebuilt. The interest here does not lie in the absolute rarity of the model, but in the fact that this one appears to have survived almost untouched, with a degree of continuity that is often rarer on ordinary cars than on prestigious ones.

This example is described as having remained with the same owner for 42 years, always garage-kept, and the listing focuses on details that genuinely matter: black plates, original registration booklet, duplicate keys, owner’s manuals, service book, assistance booklet, unused spare wheel and tool kit. The seller also highlights the rare 5-speed gearbox, listed as an option at the time, together with the Bianco Saratoga exterior colour. The photos suggest exactly the sort of coherence one hopes to see in a well-preserved car: a very clean interior, an orderly engine bay, uniform presentation throughout, and an overall impression closer to that of a carefully kept original car than a refurbished one. Even the satin aluminium strip across the tailgate, noted as an early first-series feature, helps give it a more precise identity.

The key point is this: a first-series Delta 1300 does not make headlines in the way an Integrale does, but an untouched example like this is now much harder to find than the model’s reputation might suggest. Precisely because it was never an obvious collector car, many were simply used up, modified, poorly repainted, or lost altogether. Here, by contrast, there appears to be that unusual combination of moderate use, documentation, complete factory equipment and coherent preservation that gives the car real meaning. The underside, the originality of the finishes and the mileage claim would still need to be verified in person, but on paper and in the photos the base looks unusually strong. Find it for sale at €10,500 (today $12,200) here in Pescara, Italy.