1986 Lancia Prisma 4WD – Rare and Original Example

The Lancia Prisma 4WD is a four-door, five-seat saloon built with a steel unibody construction. Power comes from a transversely mounted 1995cc fuel-injected engine producing 115bhp and 163Nm of torque, paired with a five-speed transaxle gearbox. The car features fully independent suspension with anti-roll bars front and rear, and disc brakes all round — a sophisticated setup for its time.

The power unit was shared with the Fiat Ritmo and formed the basis of the legendary Fiat 131 Mirafiori rally car, which won the World Rally Championship in 1977, 1978, and 1980. It was later succeeded by the supercharged Lancia 037, itself a world champion in 1983. Driven in period by rally greats such as Markku Alén and Walter Röhrl, the Prisma 4WD can be considered an eight-valve Lancia Delta with a boot — blending performance heritage with everyday practicality.

This example is finished in Champagne Metallic with a brown and beige interior, an unmistakably period-correct colour combination. It presents in remarkable, time-warp condition, showing just 53,000 km from new. There are a few age-related marks, but with minimal effort this car could easily reach show-winning condition. Impressively, it even retains its original dealership plastic protection on the door cards.

The car has an excellent provenance: the previous owner (since 2019) is a long-time Lancia enthusiast and active club member. Before that, the car was owned by Richard Thorne of RTCC, and prior to its UK import it spent most of its life in Evian, France, serving as a holiday home vehicle — hence its superb preservation.

Our research indicates that only five examples are currently registered in the UK, and this may well be the only roadworthy one, making it an exceptionally rare find.

The history file is extensive, containing documentation for servicing, repairs, and maintenance over many years, along with the original service book, owner’s manual, sales brochures, and French road tax discs.

At £11,995, this is outstanding value for a truly unique and collectible Lancia — a perfect conversation piece at any classic car show and a rare opportunity to own a piece of rally-inspired history.