For sale: Lancia’s greatest hits

What is likely to be most impressive and significant collection of racing Lancias ever assembled is being offered for sale for the first time this year.

The six-car collection reads like a greatest hits album for the famous Italian marque, with some of its most famous race, rally and endurance offerings being represented – all bedecked in the glorious Martini livery.

The collection is the work of regular historic racer and car enthusiast John Campion, who has accrued it over several years. It is being sold privately, rather than auctioned, and is offered as a single lot for a combined asking price of $7.5 million.

Headlining the collection is a 1983 LC2 Group C car that contested the World Sports Car Championship during one of its most evocative eras, and was a factory entrant during that year’s Le Mans 24 Hours. Other race cars include the LC1 Group V1 sports car which Teo Fabi, Michele Alboreto and Riccardo Patrese took to victory in the 1982 Nürburgring 1000km. Completing the racers is the Beta Montecarlo Turbo Group V that won the World Sportscar Championship title for manufacturers in 1980 and 1981 before returning the brand to Le Mans in 1991.

The rally contingent is just as illustrious, featuring the Delta HF Integrale Group A machine that Miki Biasion took to two World Rally Championship victories, which has been fully restored back to its 1988 Rally Portugal-winning condition. The 037 Rally Evo 2 Group B car is one of just 20 made and had been driven by talents such as Markku Alén, as had the S4 Corsa Group B machine.

The full collection, all of which has been certified by the Lancia factory, was shown in public during the recent Palm Beach Cavallino Classic event. The sale is being handled by London-based specialist Girardo & Co. For more information on the cars’ histories, see girardo.com