This 1976 Fiat 131 Abarth Rally Stradale is one of 400 Group 4 homologation specials built. This example sounds to have led a pampered life with various collectors, and has reportedly traveled the metric equivalent of just 31k miles. Walter Röhrl drove a works 131 Abarth to the 1980 WRC championship, but even without their enviable motorsports history, these are seriously desirable little cars, packing a low-production, 16-valve version of the famous Lampredi twin-cam four, factory flares, and independent suspension in place of the well-located live axle in standard Mirafioris. This car also sounds to retain its original, homologation-spec, close-ratio 5-speed manual crash box, which is frequently swapped for synchronized units. The car looks awesome in photos, with limited, well-judged modifications like multi-piece wheels, a Jolly Club sticker, harnesses, period Sparco race buckets, and some rally timing equipment. Find it here on mobile.de in Goldbach, Germany for 149k euros (~$174k USD today). Special thanks to BaT reader Kyle K. for this submission.
These were offered in a limited selection of primary colors including blue, yellow and red, all of which were pure, bright shades that really highlight the cars’ chunky, aggressive, toy-like proportions. The bodykit is made of fiberglass, and although white Bertone markings are aftermarket, the scoops they adorn are not.
Bertone played a big role with the 131 Abarth, plucking part-assembled two-door examples off the Mirafiori plant line (for which all 131s are nicknamed) and then shipping them to their own facility. Excluding the aforementioned Bertone decals, Jolly Club sticker on the air dam, adjacent driving lights, and incredible looking wheels, the exterior remains standard, including Abarth badges, trunk markings, and bumper deletes.
The interior features period Sparco seats, along with Abarth branded floor mats, aluminum pedals and a foot brace for the passenger/co-driver. Various timing equipment is seen near the glovebox, but the steering wheel, shifter, and pretty much everything else looks to be standard.
Here’s the 2.0 liter Lampredi, wearing twin Weber 34 ADF carbs and a 16-valve head, both standard for Stradales–some race versions ran Kugelfischer fuel injection. Originally advertised as capable of 140 hp at 6400 rpm and 127 lb. ft. at 3600, this one’s said to make 177 hp, though modification details are not provided unfortunately.
The ad lists a “sport” 5-speed transmission, presumably referring to the original crash box. This routes power to the Abarth-specific independent rear, which replaced the relatively primitive (albeit very well-located and effective) solid axle seen in standard 131s.
