1977 Fiat 131

The Abarth 131 was introduced at the 1976 Geneva Salon, replacing the 124 Spider Abarth as Fiat's rally-car. The Abarth 131 was a Group 4 'homologation special' and was fitted with an independent rear suspension setup developed on its forbear. Power came from a twin-cam, sixteen-valve engine offering 140 horsepower in Weber-carbureted road trim and 225 horsepower on Kugelfischer fuel injection as installed in the competition Rallye derivative.

During its 1976 debut season, the 131 Abarth scored a single World Championship victory. The following year, it earned Fiat its first World Championship of Makes. It would repeat the trick in 1978 and 1980. Works driver Walter Rohrl won the Drivers' title that year, thus establishing the 131 Abarth as the dominant rally-car of the late 1970s.

This car, originally registered 'TO P35976' in Turin, is an ex-works Fiat 131 Abarth that was first raced by Marrku Alen/Ilkka Kivimaki in the Sveitsin Rally in 1977 and contested two further events that year: the Rally of 1000 Lakes, driven by Hannu Valtaharju/Miikka Anttila and the Rally Portugal with Fulvio Bacchelli/Francesco Rossetti. The car was then used as a reserve car by the works team in 1978 at the Alitalia Rally di Monte Carlo and the Rally Tour de Corse.

In 2012, the car was offered for sale at Bonhams Auction in Monaco. It had an estimated value of $200,000 - $220,000. Bidding failed to satisfy the vehicle's reserve and it would leave the auction unsold.

By Daniel Vaughan | Jan 2013