Derek Tam(Hyphen)Scott has waited for years for the chance to school Jason Cammisa on the importance of Lancia.

Now reduced to little more than a badge-job, Italian-market joke, Lancia was once an automotive powerhouse. Derek speaks with interest and precision about Lancia's storied history — as if he was there, personally.

It's a fascinating story that demonstrates just how incredible this Italian Automaker once was — and how resilient its spirit was. Once a champion of front-wheel drive rally cars, Lancia became part of the FIAT Group and was stripped of much of its core value. However, its desire to be a technical pioneer remained, and so Lancia continued to be untouchable in its racing efforts.

WRC (the World Rally Championship) might not be as popular in the United States as it is and was abroad, but Lancia's dominance here is unmatched.

When the ability of its front-wheel drive cars were threatened, Lancia created the first car ever to be purpose-built for Rally Racing and then adapted for street use. The mid-engined Lancia Stratos became an instant legend due to its immediate success.

However, when that success threatened parent-company Fiat's WRC standing, it was killed off so that Fiat could campaign its Fiat 131 WRC.

Lancia's never-dimmed spirit rose again with the outrageous 037, which was the last rear-wheel-drive car to ever win the World Rally Championship.

Left ultimately with an uncompetitive fwd corporate economy hatch, the Delta, Lancia set about creating a legend: the Delta Integrale would grow to become one of the most successful race cars in history, winning SIX consecutive World Rally Championships — something no other car has ever managed, before or since.

And this is just scratching the surface of Lancia's incredible history.

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The Carmudgeon Show stars automotive journalist Jason Cammisa and walking encyclopedia Derek Tam-Scott, and is part of the Hagerty Podcast Network.

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