60 auto italia
2.8 was announced, with little fanfare, in
November 1970. Visually indistinguishable
externally, significant changes had been
wrought under the bonnet, not only realising
more power – 160hp at 5800rpm – but also
to cure the hot starting problems that had
bedevilled the early cars. The power
increase came by way of a higher 9:1
compression ratio, a freer-flowing exhaust
manifold and bigger Weber 45DFC carb,
replacing the 42DFC.
Plans for a more extensively revised car,
with a significantly bigger engine, were
already underway. There would be no
significant sheet metal changes to the
saloon; those looking for a prettier and less
formal car would have been invited to
consider the new Fiat 130 Coupe, launched
at the same time as the 3200 saloon in
September 1971. The only way of telling a
2.8 130 saloon from a 3.2 was the discreet
'3200' badge on the bootlid and the fact that
the plastic Fiat badges on the front wings
had been banished.
Fiat says production figures for the 130
saloon have been ‘lost’, but it is thought that
around 3000 2.8-litre saloons were built
between 1969 and 1971, and around 15,000
saloons in total up to the end of 3200
production in 1976.
puts you at ease and there is superb vision
all round. Even the 3.2-litre 130 was brisk
rather than fast, but the 2.8 still feels crisp
and entirely adequate. It sweeps imperiously
along, with a refined growl from the engine
and a throaty rasp from the twin-pipe
exhausts. The smooth willingness of the
engine masks the car’s under-gearing, and
neither the slightly jerky Borg-Warner
automatic, nor the powerful but spongy-
feeling brakes were ever the best thing about
these cars. The dampers feel a little tired on
this example but there’s plenty grip and
composure, and a supple ride. Certainly the
definitive 3.2-litre 130B was a better car but
it’s surprising how complete, sophisticated
and well-built the 2.8 feels.
In the world of 130s, it’s the beautiful
coupe that gets all the attention but for me,
the saloon is the original concept, and all
the more fascinating in this rare 2.8 form.
Handsome, luxurious and technically
excellent, the minor tragedy of the 130 was
that it was released before being fully
mature, by a company that was on
uncertain ground when it came to creating
big, expensive cars. Even if the 1970s fuel
crisis had not sealed its fate, an expensive
saloon with a Fiat badge was always going
to have a lot to prove. IIIIf not quite unique in the UK, then Thomas
Du Capite's early 2.8 saloon is certainly very
rare. It has an early chassis number and the
sober black paintwork tends to suggest it
started life as a ministerial vehicle. Trimmed
in something close to West of England wool
cloth (leather was extra), it has superbly
comfortable seats, lavish rear legroom and a
fully adjustable driving position (steering
column reach and rake, plus seat height).
The main visual difference compared to
the 3.2-litre 130 is the dashboard, with its
220km/h ribbon speedo, a dated touch at a
time when the trend was very much back to
circular dials. Even so, it’s rationally laid out
and fully instrumented with a rev counter
(yellow-lined at 6000rpm), separate oil
pressure, water temperature gauges and a
self-seeking radio incorporated into the
dash. Fiat thought long and hard about the
130's heating and ventilation, with a fully
engineered and integrated system designed
to allow separate upper and lower air
streams. The centre console houses a
chrome gear selector and ‘PRND21’ quadrant
flanked by cold start and hand throttle
controls. The rheostat-adjustable
windscreen wipers have a Mercedes-like
'clap-hands' action.
Underway, the commanding driving positionENGINE: 2866cc 60-degree V6
BORE X STROKE: 96mm x 66mm
COMPRESSION RATIO: 8.3:1/9.0:1
POWER: 140hp @ 5600rpm/
160hp @ 5800rpm
TORQUE: 218Nm (162lb ft) @
3200rpm
TRANSMISSION: 3-speed automatic or
5-speed manual
WHEELS: 6x14
TYRES: 185/70 HR14
WEIGHT: 1494kg
TOP SPEED: 112mph/115mph
0-62MPH: 14.1sec/13.5secTECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
FIAT 130 2.8Many thanks to Thomas Du Capite and to Paul Duce at
Classics and Cabriolets (www.classics-cabriolets.com)