Forcing manufacturers to homologate racing cars does two things that benefit the consumer: the company doesn’t devote their racing experiences to just some one-off machine, but instead figures out how to make a production vehicle perform better, which benefits the product and in turn the consumer buying the product, and the consumer gets a very potent machine to purchase for their very own. They might only exist in limited numbers, but they are dream machines that give the brand something to reach towards for their lesser cars. Case in point is the Fiat Abarth 131 Rally. Based on the pedestrian Fiat 131, the Rally used the two-door sedan bodyshell, which was sent to Bertone for mudflaps, plastic hoods and trunklids and a modification to the structure that allowed an independent rear suspension to be fitted in place of the live axle. Once painted and trimmed out, the cars went to Fiat’s Rivalta plant where the Abarth goodies were put into place. Using a 16-valve DOHC 2.0L four-cylinder that was fed by a Kugelfischer fuel injection system, the Rally was good for 138 horsepower in homologation mode, but the racing cars themselves were something else. Running in Group 4, the Rally proved to be a great platform, claiming the WRC championship three times (1977, 1978 and 1980) and winning twenty events between 1976 and 1980. Light, nimble and packing a hell of a punch for their weight, about 240 horsepower in a car that, before cage, weighed in at 2,500 pounds at the heaviest.
Wearing the eye-catching Alitalia livery and fresh off of a complete restoration, this Rally, formerly driven by Markku Alén is as it was brand new. No dirt, no mud, no snow, no kisses from rocks, trees or berms. It’s wound tighter than a drum and is ready to be driven by Matt from The Smoking Tire. One thing to note: listen to just how geared down this beast is. Think of all of the footage you’ve seen of old rally cars, then realize that he can read the tach for MPH and RPM in fifth gear: 5500 equals about 55 MPH. Yikes!
Memories……… while Nissan/Datsun & Mitsibishi were beating their collective chests over a few Australian rally wins.
Fiat & Lancia owned the World Championship