Castle Combe Autumn Classic - Collectors Road and Competition Cars Auction - 21st Sep 2024 from 2pm
Estimate £75,000 - £85,000
1978 Fiat 131 Abarth Stradale to Group 4 Rally de Portugal Specification
Registration Number: J51131
Chassis number: 131AR2040106
Recorded Mileage: N/A
At first glance, the standard Fiat 131 might seem like just another ordinary family saloon, with the characteristic quirkiness typical of Italian cars. However, Fiat's bold decision in 1975 to enter the Group 4 Rally Championship with the 131, coupled with strategic collaborations with Abarth and Bertone, transformed this unassuming vehicle into a rally legend. This move not only brought the company immense success but also catapulted the 131 into the international spotlight. Fiat’s involvement in rallying led to an impressive haul of titles, including the FIA World Rally Constructors' Championships in 1977, 1978, and 1980, along with the World Rally Drivers' Championships in 1978 and 1980. To the delight of enthusiasts, Fiat’s rallying success also resulted in the production of 400 “Stradale” road-going versions, built to meet FIA Group 4 homologation requirements.
The transformation from a bland saloon to a formidable competition machine was nothing short of revolutionary, beginning with the chassis. Abarth’s engineers made significant modifications, replacing the rigid rear axle with a fully independent MacPherson strut suspension system, dramatically improving the car's handling and versatility on all surfaces. The heart of the 131 was also reimagined, with the development of a 2.0-liter twin-cam, inline four-cylinder engine featuring a lightweight alloy 16-valve head. This powerplant sent its output to the rear wheels through a 5-speed manual gearbox. In the Stradale version, the engine breathed through a Weber double-barrel carburetor, producing a claimed 140 BHP, a significant leap for the time.
Bertone’s contributions were equally critical, with special bodywork designed to optimize the car’s performance. A fiberglass bonnet and aluminum doors were fitted to reduce weight, while flared wheel arches were added to accommodate larger wheels and wider track width. Additional air intakes for cooling and spoilers for downforce further enhanced the car's capabilities. The result was nothing short of spectacular - a cohesive design that transformed a mundane two-door shopping car into a 1970s road-rocket, a vehicle as capable on the tarmac as it was on the rally stage.
The 131 we present here is an authentic Fiat 131 Abarth Stradale, that has been meticulously developed into a Group 4 replica in the livery of Markku Alén's victorious 1977 Portuguese Rally car.
Chassis number 131AR2040106 has a storied past, having been owned by the same rally enthusiast since 1986. Originally purchased as one of the 400 homologation Stradales (bearing the UK registration number UYY 272S) from the late Barry Waterhouse of Italtune, it was subsequently transformed into a Group 4 spec rally car. This transformation involved the use of numerous ex-Abarth Works components, with a stroke of fortune in Kenya leading to the acquisition of a 40-foot container filled with Abarth rally parts - including the rare straight-cut ZF dogleg 5-speed gearbox. Additionally, an ex-Abarth Works differential is included in the spares package.
At the heart of this Abarth lies a ferocious 1995cc Fiat twin-cam engine, featuring all-steel internals and a lightened and balanced bottom end. The engine breathes through an Italtune-ported and gas-flowed 16v cylinder head, equipped with Alquati “Forest” camshafts and twin Weber 48IDF carburettors, producing a thumping 210 BHP. The roar of this powerplant, especially when those Alquati cams hit their stride, delivers a truly adrenaline-pumping experience, accompanied by the unmistakable symphony of those massive Weber carbs.
The transmission is an ex-Abarth Works straight-cut ZF dogleg gearbox, paired with a standard Abarth Stradale differential. Set up for Tarmac and asphalt competition, the car features Group 4 McPherson struts with rose-jointed Bilstein shock absorbers up front and a fully independent rear suspension system, also with Bilstein shocks, mirroring the Abarth configuration.
The chassis has been seam-welded for added rigidity, with lightweight fiberglass wings, boot, and bonnet, along with aluminum door skins. The car’s underside has been stripped of underseal to save weight in the quest for all-out performance.
Stepping into the cabin is like traveling back to 1977, where you become Markku Alén, ready to tackle the Portuguese Rally. The Sparco Evo2 bucket seat, Sabelt 6-point harness, and the distinctive whine of the Abarth Works straight-cut gears create an immersive experience. The cacophony of the twin Weber 48s and the howling 16v engine makes for a visceral connection, it possesses a genuine rally patina that tells the story of a car built for one purpose: to race, rally, and be thoroughly enjoyed.
Interested parties should note: This Lot is offered with a Channel Islands registration, as such is liable for historic import duties at the prevailing rate for your destination country.
