The Lancia Delta HF Integrale was an absolute legend in the world of motorsports. Forged in the fires of Group A rally racing, the boxy Italian compact collected a number of wins throughout its career, earning the respect and adoration of countless racing fans. Eugenio Amos counts himself among those fans, and from his passion, he’s created the Lancia Delta Futurista, a restomod that elevates the legend to an all-new level, all while keeping in the spirit of the original.

The Lancia Delta Futurista was designed and built by Amos’ company, Automobili Amos, a customization shop out of Italy. The restomod project is similar to the Jag E-Type-based Eagle Speedster and 911-based Singer Porsches we’ve seen before, mixing high-level modernization and performance with old school, nostalgia-inducing cues. Amos likens the Lancia Delta Futurista to a “romantic vision” that breaks from a world perceived as “too aseptic, too fast, that runs like the wind, superficial and intangible.”

Continue reading to learn more about the Lancia Delta Futurista.

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Lancia Delta Futurista Exterior Styling

Any fan of the Lancia Delta HF Integral Evo will instantly recognize the way this thing looks.

However, to this iconic aesthetic, Amos then added a host of upgrades that give it that little extra bit of X factor.

The design upgrade was put together by Borromeo de Silva from Milan, and includes all-new body panels added on top of the original Delta Integrale chassis. The panels themselves are made from aluminum, and are a bit wider than those found on the original car. The use of aluminum means less weight, not to mention less rust as well - a known issue for Lancias from that time. To that end, the Delta Futurista uses a good deal of carbon fiber as well, with extra composites added to the front end, the hood, and the rear end.

Up front, we find that classic rectangular nose, with a squared-off top intake and a prominent lower splitter element. The corners of the fascia incorporate upgraded headlights as well, with modern lighting elements used to illuminate the way forward.

The fenders are quite wide as well, jutting out at 90-degree angles from the rest of the body, swallowing the upgraded tire and wheel package. Speaking of which, the rollers use a custom design from EvoCorse, with a turbine-esque look that once again resembles the original’s, while still going one step further.

Moving to the rear, the Futurista is still very square, with upright taillight housings and broad styling elements that enhance the car’s natural width. Similarly, the aero was tweaked to resemble the original thanks to a flat, broad roof spoiler added to the top of the hatch. Underlining it all is a subtle diffuser element, while a dual exhaust set-up spits out the good noises.

Finally, the whole thing comes covered in an enticing shade of green, which is apparently dubbed Verde Brinzio as a tribute to a town near Amos’ home. It’s the same place he learned to drive, not to mention the place where he fostered his love for rally racing, which makes it quite appropriate for this nostalgia-driven project.

Lancia Delta Futurista Interior Design

As you might expect, the Lancia Delta Futurista comes with a brand new interior that matches the freshened exterior bits.

As for seating, passengers will enjoy the relatively practical 2+2 layout. Holding folks in place is a pair of adjustable bucket sitters from Recaro, which come covered in a ruddy brown upholstery. The material was also added to the steering wheel, as was a yellow top-center mark, while the shift boot and parts of the door panels get the reddish-brown treatment as well. Meanwhile, black and grey Alcantara was added elsewhere in the cabin. Taking responsibility for the re-skin was Aras, a company from Turin, once again underlying the Italian influence this machine brings to the table.

Indeed, one glance at this thing will confirm the Lancia Delta Futurista definitely still feels like it came straight out of the ‘80s. That said, its also got a good deal of modern touches as well. For example, the thick-rimmed three-spoke steering wheel gets a set of buttons added at thumb’s length, and the reddish brown upholstery is offset by swaths of composite bits as well, including paneling for the transmission tunnel and the door panels.

A tachometer is on the right, while smaller readouts for the temps and boost are right next door.

And check out that dash and center console - that’s all-new switchgear you see, looking quite tasty indeed against all the other old-school elements.

Speaking of the switches, there’s a rather tempting red button with the picture of a rocket ship on it in the dash. No word as to what exactly that button is supposed to do, but if we were to guess, it probably engages the overboost function. Oh yeah, baby - who doesn’t love more boost?

Finally, the Futurista comes with a number of modern comforts, such as electric windows. There’s also an integrated rollcage, which was built to the same spec as the WRC Group A competition vehicles.

Lancia Delta Futurista Drivetrain And Performance

For example, Podium Advanced Technologies from Turin did the engineering work, while the engine internals were done by Autotecnica Motori. Magneti Marelli Motorsport also had a hand in the final product.

Providing the motivation is a turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine - just as you’d expect in a project like this. However, to this base line, the engine was then upgraded with a new water cooling system, which is critical for the sake of modern reliability standards. On the performance side of the equation, the car’s breathing was freed up thanks to a new intake and a new exhaust system, while the intercooler was swapped out to keep the charge air extra chilly.

To take advantage of the upgrades, the car’s ECU was swapped out and tuned up. The car also sports all-new wiring, which is a smart upgrade considering the electrical issues the older models would experience from time to time.

Amos declined to give any specifics on acceleration numbers, but if we were to guess, we’d say a low-four-second run to 60 mph would make sense, given the older car’s 5.7-seconds run to 60 mph with 130 less horsepower and extra weight (more on that latter bit coming up).

Routing it all is the car’s original transmission, which is now reinforced to handle the extra engine output. Amos also added in a rebuilt differential to help translate the ponies into go through the updated AWD system.

As for the car’s bones, you’ll find that the Lancia Delta Futurista is based on an original Delta 16v chassis underneath all those upgraded aluminum body panels. It certainly makes sense to source a Delta 16v rather than an original Integrale HF Evo, considering the number of examples of both lying around.

Not only was aluminum used for the body panels, but the alloy was also put to use with the suspension bits. Mated with all the carbon bits, the Lancia Delta weighs in at just 1,250 kg (2,756 pounds), which represents a rather hefty 90-kg (198-pound) weight savings compared to the original car.

“It took a ton of work from some very talented people but we managed to cut away all the fat and leave only what really matters to me.”

Putting it all together with extra power, modern suspension, and substantial weight savings, the Lancia Delta Futurista is sure to be quite a fun little hatch to sling around in the twisties.

Lancia Delta Futurista Pricing

Amos and his team brought the Lancia Delta Futurista out to the Grand Basel motor show for its big public debut in 2018.

The team plans to produce just 20 examples, or 21 if you count the example kept by Amos himself.

Each will carry a price tag of 300,000 euros, or $347,834 at current exchange rates (09/2018).

Amos himself admits that’s pretty damn expensive, but assures us each will come with loads of customization options to justify the cost.

Final Thoughts

Fans of the original will undoubtedly love this thing, as it not only holds onto the spirit of its inspiration down to the smallest of details, but it comes stuffed with modern features as well.

The performance specs are pretty impressive too, but according to Amos, this thing is much, much more than just speed bragging rights. “In the end the numbers really mean nothing in this context. Because I’m talking about passion and nostalgia and euphoria and these feelings are not measured in numbers,” says the car’s creator.

“I long for a bygone, idealized time when men, values and substance were at the core of a product,” he continues. “Therefore this car is pure, analogic , raw and essential.”

But the question is - why this car in particular?

“I chose the Delta because it’s the car that made me fall in love with cars in the first place,” Amos confesses. “I was 7 years old. My father had a beautiful Giallo Ginestra. I don’t know why it made me feel special. This memories are made of smells, of that soft Alcantara touch, of confused noises.”

Indeed, I think we can all relate to that longing to go back to the genesis of our love affair with cars. In that sense, the Lancia Delta Futurista is truly a dream come true.

Further Reading

Read our full review on the 1985 Lancia Delta S4 Stradale.

Read our full review on the 1982 Lancia 037 Stradale.