He had a teddy bear named Teddy and he drove a yellow Mini MK III: with these two details you will have guessed who we are talking about. Mr. Bean has been the most popular role of Rowan Atkinson, an actor known in the motor world for being a ‘petrolhead’ who competes and collects models, among which are some of the most iconic. Today the protagonist is the Lancia Delta Integrale Evo II, which he bought a couple of years ago.
Rowan Atkinson not only has a collection that any fan would sigh for, he has also participated in various competitions. we have seen him at the Mille Miglia, at the Goodwood Revival and at some events that have taken place at Brands Hatch: there he has been at the controls of a Renault 5 Turbo and several Aston Martins (DB2, V8 Vantage Zagato…).
The most popular specimen in his personal collection is the McLaren F1, that he bought in 1997 and with which he had a serious accident in 2011: they say that the invoice paid by his insurance company for the repair (which lasted for 18 months) was 1.07 million euros, the highest in the United Kingdom . Rowan Atkinson sold it in 2015 for about 10 million euros.
The British model was not alone in the actor’s garage. He was accompanied, among others, by a Mercedes SLS AMG, a Jaguar Mark VII, a Rolls-Royce Ghost… and a Lancia Delta HF Integrale Evo II, that he bought in May 2021. Yes, it is the model that will go up for auction next month.
two peculiarities
The Frankfurt Motor Show was the appointment chosen by Lancia to, in 1979, present the Lancia Delta. A model whose popularity is intrinsically linked to the World Rally: The compact five-door didn’t grab all the spotlights until the late 1980s, when it won six consecutive manufacturer’s titles: from 1987 to 1992. A record that, to this day, is still owned by the Italians.
The Lancia Delta Evoluzione came to light at the end of 1991 for the reason that you are all imagining: it was the approval model so that the units that were part of the racing team sponsored by Martini would meet the essential requirements to compete in the World Rally Championship.
Rowan Atkinson’s is a Lancia Delta HF Integrale Evoluzione II from 1993: it was registered in June and it sports the Lord Blue finish, an unusual color, combined with the beige of the interior. It is powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine that produces 215PS and has a maximum torque of and 310Nm. It has another peculiarity: although its first destination was Japan (it headed for the United Kingdom in 2011), the steering wheel is located on the left side.
estimates
When Rowan Atkinson bought this Lancia Delta HF Integrale Evo II, the car had covered 87,000 kilometers and now he parted with it with just under 90,000: It doesn’t look like it’s been used much.
According to estimates, the auction price will fluctuate between 65,000 and 75,000 pounds (74,200-85,600 euros). A figure in line with the market value of this type of vehicle: according to Classic Analytics, they move in a range of 50,000 and 80,000 euros. Yes indeed, Silverstone Auctionsthe British house that organizes the bid on February 25, 2023, expects a higher amount thanks to the popularity of its last owner.