how many 16v engines are out there ?

[106usj]

Just out of intrest, I know the 16v twin cam only came on the Abarth 131 and they are rare and expensive but how rare are they and how much would people be wiling to pay if one came up ?

[mirafiori76]

Hi 106,

The 16V set up was later used in the Lancia 037. The cilinderhead is exactly the same as from 131. I have one for my car and i paid 11.000 Euro's for it. For the complete head that is.
I don't know if the rest of the engine block is the same in 131 and 037.

[106usj]

Holy shit 11000 euro just for the head ?? i knew the 16V engine's were rare but thats GOLD DUST 

[mirafiori76]

The head was 8.000 Euro's. All other parts were 3.000 together. All new and real group 4 parts, not Stradale.
A complete Stradale engine was offered for 15.000 some time ago. That's about 140 BHP. The one i have should deliver about 230 then.

[106usj]

15000 Euro for a stradale engine which delivers 140bhp i can send my 8V 131 engine to  GUY CROFT i guess for about ?7k/?8 and he will do a complete strip down and rebuild to race spec engine with 150bhp !!
I can almost see where you are coming from with the group 4 one producing 230 but why would you spend that on a Stradale 16v when Guy can give you a mint high spec engine with more bhp for half price from an 8V ?

[mirafiori76]

In a way i can only agree with you. But then again, you still have an 8V engine. You know what i mean? It doesn't look that spectacular as a 16V engine.
I remember meetings here in Holland where i brought my Oliofiat Abarth replica and my Stradale. It was the looks of the replica, but certainly the engine from the Stradale. Especially when i fired it up. People came running to see and hear that engine.
I always had to open both bonnets of the cars. People didn't care for that "standard" TC, but the 16V just did it. At that time, i must say, it delivered 184 BHP.
When my Abarth is completed and i take it to places, people (those who only "know" the 131 Abarth) only will look at two things....the differential...and the engine. Just by looking they will admit it's a real Abarth.

Still, it's easier and cheaper to tune an 8V engine over an expensive 16V engine. You are certainly right.

[MTH]

Here in Aus you can pay around $20000 for them, thats if you find one... Things are worth what people are willing to pay, power doesn't even come into it.

I Agreed with mirafiori76- you might spend that on a 8v head, but its still an 8v head no mater how much power it makes

[Tas131]

The huge prices only reflect the rarity of the early Abarth heads. The later Fiat/Lancia OEM 16v heads are more readily found and much less expensive. And it would not be too difficult to get 150bhp while spending a lot less than 7-8k pound for an 8v.

[mirafiori76]

Yes Tas, but it's how you want your engine to look. Especially when you're building yourself an Abarth look-alike. Open the bonnet and show people what's original or have them turn their heads away from a Tipo/Brava/Bravo engine. But if you want power and you can't afford a 131 16V head, yes it's certainly an option.
I'm a purist, so i would never build in an engine that's not from a 131 in any of my cars.