To get the 131 Abarth homologated for Group 4 competition and to replace the aging 124 Abarth, Fiat produced a roadgoing version in a few hundred units. Launched at the 1976 Geneva Motor Show, the 131 Abarth Rally got the same engine as the competition version, but a little “civilized,” with the 4-cylinder, 2.0-liter, 16-valve engine developing 140 horsepower, which gives this car, weighing less than a ton, enviable performance. Other changes from the touring model included body parts in plastic, a modified suspension with independent rear wheels and a sporty interior. In its competition version, robust, light and with a max power of over 200 hp, the Fiat 131 Abarth won the World Rally Championship three times, in 1977, 1978 and 1980. These successes helped to improve the image of the Italian manufacturer.
The car presented here has the advantage of possessing an exceptional French history. As a valuation report supplied with the car explains, it is understood that only four 131 Abarths were sold new in France. This car is one of these exceptionally rare models, most of which were used by Fiat France. It is thought that this 131 was a test mule, notably driven by Jean-Claude Andruet. This information was obtained by the previous owner when he bought the car from Fiat France in 1983. It had, moreover, already been prepared for this purpose, as can be confirmed when examining the car today. It is fitted with a roll cage, a map-reading light and a Tripmaster, and it appears that it has a mildly tuned engine from the period.
This car’s appeal lies in its original condition, but also in its history, as it had only one owner from 1983 to the 2000s, when it joined the collection of a family of French rally enthusiasts. It is therefore one of the last surviving original French Fiat 131s.
Knowledgeable enthusiasts should seize this opportunity, as most of these homologation models, produced in limited numbers, have already been acquired for major collections.
