Jonny Smith discovers the reworked classic Lancia Delta Integrale

Jonny Smith heads to the Netherlands and discovers what could be the best restomod car in the world, and not just because the original was born in the same year as Jonny.

Based on the Lancia Delta, the Integrale high performance version was developed to go rallying in the 1980s. Today, Dutch company Maturo Competition Cars takes an original Delta Integrale and turns it into a 400bhp Stradale evolution that is just as much a revolution. It’s also a revelation for Jonny as he takes to the road in one of the iconic cars from his childhood. Should Jonny meet this particular hero? Oh yes, as he discovers that Maturo doesn’t just give the Integrale a makeover and more power. There are 2000 unique parts that go into creating this subtle masterpiece, including Formula 1-spec drive shafts, a carbon fibre body, and changing a line on the boot by a mere 14mm so it lines up perfectly with the corresponding crease in the rear lights.

This sort of attention to detail means it takes 1500 hours to build the Maturo Stradale. It also means you’ll need to budget at least £300,000 to buy one. Jonny reckons that’s good value for a car that drives so impeccably and swiftly, helped by its Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tyres that get the very best from the Lancia’s rally-bred four-wheel drive system.

The only problem Jonny finds with this thorough reworking of the classic Lancia Delta Integrale is he’s not allowed to drive home in the Maturo Stradale.