Fiat 131 Abarth Rally

Fiat 131 Abarth Rally

The Fiat 131 Abarth Rally is one of the most successful rally cars ever built and represents the golden age of rear-wheel-drive rallying. Built to satisfy FIA Group 4 homologation requirements, the road-going 131 Abarth was a purpose-built evolution of the humble Fiat 131 Mirafiori family sedan, transformed by Abarth into a competition weapon that would win the World Rally Championship Manufacturers' title in 1977, 1978, and 1980.

The standard Fiat 131 was a conventional, competent but unremarkable family sedan. Abarth's transformation was comprehensive. The engine was replaced with a purpose-built 2.0-liter DOHC 16-valve inline-four, derived from the Fiat/Lancia twin-cam family but extensively modified with four valves per cylinder, Kugelfischer mechanical fuel injection, and a strengthened bottom end. In road-legal homologation form, the engine produced 140 horsepower, but in full Group 4 racing specification, output exceeded 240 horsepower.

The suspension was perhaps an even more significant change than the engine. The standard 131's live rear axle was replaced with a fully independent rear suspension using MacPherson struts and coil springs, a layout that provided dramatically better traction and handling on the loose surfaces of rally stages. This was a major engineering undertaking that required significant modification to the rear body structure and subframes.

The bodywork was subtly modified with wider wheel arches to accommodate wider wheels and tires, a front air dam for improved cooling, and various aerodynamic detail changes. The body panels were constructed from lighter-gauge steel where possible, and some panels (hood, trunk) used aluminum or fiberglass. The interior was stripped of luxury items, with lightweight Abarth-branded bucket seats and a simplified dashboard.

In competition, the 131 Abarth was spectacularly effective. Driven by legends including Markku Alen, Walter Rohrl, and Jean-Claude Andruet, it dominated the World Rally Championship in the late 1970s. The car's balanced handling, punchy engine, and excellent reliability made it the benchmark for Group 4 rally cars. Rohrl, in particular, used the 131 Abarth's precise balance and adjustable handling to devastating effect on asphalt rallies.

The 1977 WRC season was the 131 Abarth's breakout year, with the car winning the Manufacturers' Championship for Fiat. It repeated the feat in 1978 and again in 1980, an extraordinary run of success that established the 131 Abarth as one of the all-time great rally cars. Individual rally victories included the Monte Carlo, Acropolis, Finnish 1000 Lakes, and Portugal rallies — a testament to the car's versatility across all surface types.

Approximately 400 road-going homologation examples were built, the minimum required by FIA regulations. These road cars are instantly recognizable by their wider arches, Abarth badging, and the distinctive howl of the 16-valve engine. Many were subsequently modified or converted to competition specification, making original, unmodified road cars quite rare today.

The Fiat 131 Abarth Rally holds a special place in rallying history as one of the last great rear-wheel-drive rally cars. With the arrival of Audi's quattro all-wheel-drive system in 1981, the era of RWD rally dominance was ending, making the 131 Abarth's achievements all the more remarkable.