Lancia Integrale HF ex Herbert von Karajan | Including the original hood
Herbert von Karajan’s last car Hidden in a garage for decades Always stayed within the family Driven only 2.845 kilometers When Lancia introduced the Delta at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 1979, it was positioned as a practical and compact passenger car. Giorgetto Giugiaro’s design was characterized by clean lines and functional simplicity. That this model would later grow into a legendary name in rally racing was not yet obvious at the time. However, rally driving had already been an essential part of Lancia’s identity for years. Following iconic models such as the Fulvia, Stratos, and 037, work began on a new four-wheel-drive competition car for the uncompromising Group B class. This resulted in the Delta S4 in 1985 — a technically advanced machine with a mid-engine, turbo and supercharger, and impressive performance. However, the Group B era came to an abrupt end following serious accidents. From 1987 onwards, Group A became the new standard, using production cars as the basis.
Herbert von Karajan's last car
Hidden in a garage for decades
Always stayed within the family
Only driven 2.845 kilometers
When Lancia introduced the Delta at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 1979, it was positioned as a practical and compact passenger car. Giorgetto Giugiaro's design was characterized by clean lines and functional simplicity. That this model would later grow into a legendary name in rally racing was not yet obvious at the time.
Rally driving, however, had been an essential part of Lancia's identity for years. Following iconic models such as the Fulvia, Stratos, and 037, work began on a new four-wheel-drive competition car for the uncompromising Group B class. This resulted in the Delta S4 in 1985 — a technically advanced machine with a mid-engine, turbo and supercharger, and impressive performance. However, the Group B era came to an abrupt end following serious accidents.
From 1987, Group A became the new standard, with production cars serving as the basis. For this, Lancia developed the Delta HF 4WD, with 165 hp and four-wheel drive. The emphasis was on control and efficiency, which immediately resulted in a world title.
In 1988, the Delta HF Integrale followed, more powerful and visually recognizable by its wider body. This model grew into an icon and secured Lancia six consecutive constructors' world titles. At the same time, its popularity among enthusiasts also increased significantly.
On public roads, the Integrale combined sporty performance with everyday usability. The model offered a unique blend of speed, control, and versatility — a compact car with the character of a full-fledged sports car.
The example described here, finished in Grigio Metallizzato, has a special provenance. It is the last car of Herbert von Karajan. The conductor, known for his passion for technology and speed, received the car personally from Gianni Agnelli in the autumn of 1988.
During an early drive towards St. Moritz, freezing rain caused a brief moment of loss of grip. Shortly thereafter, Karajan had winter tires fitted — a detail that is still supported by the original documentation.
The car was used only a few times for trips between St. Moritz and his home in Anif. After his death on July 16, 1989, the Delta remained in the garage, where it fell out of sight over the years.
More than thirty years later, the vehicle was rediscovered. To the surprise of those involved, it turned out to be in exceptionally original condition, with a mileage of only 2.845 km. Even details such as the 1987 winter tires and the original license plate “EE 291 AA” have been preserved. This temporary registration was intended at the time for foreign owners without a permanent residence in Italy.
The slight traces of storage contribute to the authenticity of the whole. This example constitutes not only a rare piece of automotive history, but also a tangible connection to one of the greatest conductors of the twentieth century.