The classic car market is always changing, with nobody being able to predict where it will go. A car that’s been steadily growing in popularity is the Lancia Integrale. The public’s appreciation for the vehicle was confirmed at a recent Silverstone auction, with three Integrales soaring past their pre-sale guide price.
The first car, a Delta HF Integrale Evo, once driven by four-time World Rally Champion Juha Kankkunen, sold for almost double the estimated price of £120,000. When the car was announced, a fierce bidding war broke out. Multiple room, phone and online bidders battled it out, each determined to own the Evo. The bids quickly passed the £200,000 mark, until a room bidder pledged £225,000.
It wasn’t long before two more Evos were sold. A 1994 version previously owned by Jamiroquai frontman, Jay Kay, was sold to an Australian bidder for £42,118. The third car sold was a yellow 1993 Evo, which went to a phone bidder for £33,750.
Overall, modern classics did extremely well at the auction, helped by low-mileage. A 1991 Vauxhall Lotus Carlton with only 4,500 miles surpassed its estimate of £20,000 to sell for £55,125. A 1973 Ford Escort MK1 Mexico also sold for £34,313.
The Silverstone auction could be a sign that modern classics are going to become extremely valuable over the coming years. In the case of the Lancia Integrale, it does raise an interesting debate on whether a car is more valuable because it was owned by a celebrity.
The Lancia Integrale is an impressive vehicle, but it could be argued the prestige of the cars sold at the auction were raised by their previous ownership. It still points towards Lancia Integrales being one of the most popular classic cars on the market right now.
