MOTOR CARS | 101The Rally-developed supercharged Abarth variant was also known
as the 2000 TC Compressore, only some 200 being produced as a
homologation special. Major updates to the mainstream models were
made in 1978 and 1981, and production finally ceased in 1984 by which
time a total 1,513,800 units had been produced in Fiat’s Italian plants.
This particular rally version features the 16-valve belt-driven twin-
cam power unit with fuel injection and appears in what is believed to
be Group 4 rally specification, with very lightweight aluminium and
glassfibre body paneling, and an extensively rally-adapted, stripped
and stark cabin interior with full roll-over cage and vinyl-covered
sponge block rear stowage for crash helmets etc when not being
worn on competitive stage sections. Preserved within the extensive
documentation file associated with this genuinely Group 4-specification
Fiat Abarth Rallye 131 is a registration document dated April 5, 1978,
Turin, registered to ‘SpA Fiat SAEASA’. The file also contains taxation
documents for the car valid to December 1988, then 1989 and 1990.
There is also an ownership-transfer document dated February 25,
1983, recording the car’s acquisition by Vittorio Carlino of Sassari
The car appears to be listed within this documentation file as having
been the machine driven by none other than Michele Mouton into 7th
place in the 1980 Monte Carlo Rally, headed only by such male stars
as winner Walter Rohrl in the sister works-team Fiat 131 Abarth – by
Bernard Darniche in second place with the Lancia Stratos HF – Bjorn
Waldegard third in another Fiat 131 Abarth, Anders Kullang’s Opel
Aascona 400, Per Eklund’s Volkswagen Golf GTI and Attilio Bettega’s
Fiat Ritmo. Her car was entered in that Rally by Ecurie Calberson and
carried competition number ‘12’.
We understand that as offered here the engine shows signs of
being seized and will definitely require a full strip and rebuild before
it can possibly be returned to running order. The clutch system is
operating and all gears can be selected, while the brakes are binding
but operational. Such condition is regrettable but not unexpected
in any car that has been on static museum display for many years
after what was plainly a very hard and demanding operating life. It
is a correct, full 16-valve dry-sump works-type Rally engine with
Kugelfischer fuel injection. The car interior features the works-style
dash array and leading British Abarth specialist Tony Castle-Miller,
upon inspecting the car for the first time, declared “It’s in great
condition for a rally car even if the engine is seized!”. Various spares
are also available with this Lot, including glassfibre front wing and
bonnet panels.Here is a car which will never lose the extra cachet of having been
the long-term Collezione Maranello Rosso example of its charismatic
World Rally Championship-winning type. It is plainly in need of a
sympathetic, understanding and technically capable new home in
which it can be restored once again to competitive order. In the right
hands it could become a front-running Historic Rally car that would
plainly turn heads and accumulate trophies wherever in the world it
might be campaigned.Please note this vehicle is subject to import tax should it remain in
the EU.
£35,000 - 50,000
€45,000 - 63,000