An elusive Lancia Hyena Zagato coupe from a small production batch will be auctioned off during a Monterey Car Week auction on August 18. With only two owners in the title and low mileage considering its age, it could well sell for $300,000 or even $400,000.
Zagato’s custom take on the Lancia Hyena was based on the legendary Delta HF Integrale Evoluzione chassis, but topped with an original aluminum body and Zagato’s signature Double Bubble roof. The Italian marque’s importer in the Netherlands had originally intended to bring 500 such cars into the country, but ended up only finding buyers for 24 units in 1992–1994.
The car on sale was number 18 to be made. It had spent around a decade sitting in a warehouse before someone finally bought it in 2002. Over the 19 years that followed, the owner had put 30,000 km (18,600 miles) on it, regularly taking it to public events and the marque’s 100th anniversary celebration in Turin, Italy.
The second owner immediately handed the car over to Italiamotorsport Parussini for a complete restoration and modernization. Once there, it was fully rebuilt, repainted and had its seats retrimmed with turquoise Alcantara. The turbo engine, originally rated at 250 PS (247 hp / 184 kW), was tuned to 320 PS (316 hp / 235 kW). The brakes and the suspension were also upgraded along with the exhaust system, which made the car sound not unlike like a Groupe A Lancia Delta Integrale.
It is now on sale with 31,199 km (19,386 miles) on it in total and just around 100 km (62 miles) post-restoration. The estimations are so high, among other things, because this is the first-ever Lancia Hyena Zagato to go on a public auction in the United States.