Abarth 124 Rally Stradale
The Abarth 124 Rally was one of the most successful rally cars of the 1970s, and the road-going Stradale version was the homologation car that made it all possible. Built to meet Group 4 regulations, the 124 Rally replaced the standard Fiat 124's steel body panels with lightweight fiberglass, fitted an Abarth-developed 1.8-liter 16-valve twin-cam engine, and upgraded the suspension, brakes, and gearbox for competition use. The Stradale road car retained enough creature comforts for daily use while offering genuine rally car performance. On the stages, the 124 Abarth Rally proved devastatingly effective, winning multiple European and World Rally Championship events. Driven by legends like Markku Alén, the car could compete with and often beat more powerful rivals through its superb balance, responsive engine, and lightweight construction. The 16-valve twin-cam engine was a technological showcase, producing 128 hp in road form and over 170 hp in full rally specification — remarkable figures for a 1.8-liter engine in the early 1970s. Only 1,013 Stradale road cars were built to satisfy homologation requirements, making survivors highly prized today.
Verify authenticity — only 1,013 genuine Stradale cars exist. Fiberglass body panels don't rust but the steel structure underneath does. The 16-valve engine needs specialist Abarth knowledge for maintenance. Many have been converted to full rally specification, making unmolested road cars very rare. Check Abarth registry for verification.
Built by Abarth (Fiat's sporting division) to homologate the 124 for Group 4 rallying. The 16-valve twin-cam head was designed by Abarth engineer Aurelio Lampredi. Fiberglass body panels replaced steel to save approximately 150 kg. Rally cars produced 170+ hp. Production ran from 1972-1975 with 1,013 units built.