Fiat 124 Abarth Rally
The Fiat 124 Abarth Rally was the competition-bred derivative of the Fiat 124 Sport Spider, developed by Abarth to compete in international rallying during the early 1970s. Like its later sibling the 131 Abarth, it was built in sufficient numbers to satisfy homologation requirements while being a genuinely capable performance car in its own right.
The heart of the 124 Abarth Rally was an extensively modified version of the Fiat twin-cam engine, enlarged to 1,756 cc and fitted with a 16-valve cylinder head developed by Abarth. With twin Weber 44 IDF carburetors and a tuned exhaust system, the road car produced 128 horsepower — the competition version would see outputs exceeding 180 hp. The engine was renowned for its willingness to rev and its distinctive, hard-edged exhaust note.
Based on the Spider body shell, the Abarth Rally featured a hardtop as standard equipment, flared wheel arches, a front air dam, and various weight-saving measures. The interior was stripped to essentials, with lightweight bucket seats, a small-diameter steering wheel, and minimal sound deadening. A close-ratio five-speed gearbox provided the right gear for every rally stage.
The suspension was uprated with stiffer springs, competition dampers, and stronger anti-roll bars. Disc brakes at all four corners provided confident stopping power, and wider alloy wheels fitted with rally-specification tires gave the grip needed to exploit the car's handling abilities.
In competition, the 124 Abarth proved highly successful, winning numerous European rally events in the Group 4 category. It excelled on the tight, twisting roads of Mediterranean rallies, where its compact dimensions, responsive engine, and balanced handling were ideal. Notable victories included events in Poland, Portugal, and multiple Italian national championships.
The 124 Abarth Rally represents the peak of rear-wheel-drive rally car development within Fiat, before the company transitioned to the larger 131 Abarth platform. Surviving examples are rare and increasingly valuable, prized both as collectible competition cars and as the embodiment of Abarth's engineering genius.
Authentication through Abarth records is essential given high values. Check for rust throughout — particularly the sills, floors, and the area around the rear axle mounts. The twin-cam 16V engine is a jewel but requires expert maintenance and Weber carburetor setup. Many cars have been used in historic rallying — inspect for hidden crash damage and structural repairs. Flared wheel arches should be checked for filler. Original hardtops are valuable and often missing. A complete, documented car with known history commands the highest premium.
Approximately 1,013 road cars were built for homologation purposes. These were constructed by Abarth using 124 Spider body shells supplied by Fiat. The cars underwent extensive modification at Abarth's Turin facility before being sold to private teams and enthusiast buyers. Competition versions were further modified with engine outputs exceeding 180 hp and various rally-specific equipment.