Everlasting discussion point

[simon131]

I have multiple 131s - so does that make me a hoarder in your eyes Roger? Most people would call me an enthusiast collector.

Owning a 35 year old Abarth isn't about how fast it goes! Any current Euro-box / hot hatch can beat it away from the lights.

For my part - I'd never possess a 'fake' anything - but my chosen watch is a TAG-Heuer

[TOAD]

I have multiple 131s - so does that make me a hoarder in your eyes Roger? Most people would call me an enthusiast collector.

Owning a 35 year old Abarth isn't about how fast it goes! Any current Euro-box / hot hatch can beat it away from the lights.

For my part - I'd never possess a 'fake' anything - but my chosen watch is a TAG-Heuer

Lets see,

   Take the Abarth first;  as a rare valuable object, that was built to enjoy being driven, and by that I mean driven like Italian like to drive,  FAST


I think it shows shows a great strength of character and perseverance to take on the upkeep and preservation of such an object that will be passed on for many years to come.  I for one am a G force junkie and need the speed, it must be very hard to keep the speed down to more sanitary levels, required to drive suck a car responsibly, I couldn't do it for very long, so I'm sure we can all applaud your ownership's responsibility's.

Hoarding; I have no idea how many 131 you own, I would guess the Abarth, your S and Roo (the green one) as a spares car??   Are you keeping cars for profit? only you know that one, but I doubt it.

Owning a Fake;  Hmm, well I see it like this, if I tell you I have an Abarth because it looks like one, its a fake, on the other hand, if there is no intent to pass the copy off as an Abarth, there is no faking at all because it was never titled as Abarth in the first place, the most put down that could be listed would be representation, not even as used everywhere,  COPY. So what should you say, how about its a sport/two door? with an Abarth style body kit, how hard does it have to be.   This only really matters to those with delusions of grandeur they should have.
  We all know or can find out what is and Abarth and what is not, a copy of Toad would be flattering not insulting, so why do Abarth owners begrudge other people less fortunate or not wanting to risk the genuine car with some fast driving,  seem's a bit selfish to me.  

Owning 35yr old car;  absolutely I agree, so I take it you also see a place for updated versions, rebuilds, what people call copies or replicas.     so there is a place for all after all.

 
enthusiast collector;  are you collecting for monitory gain?  I would think NOT, and apart from parts cars do you use them?  I would think so.  



Never possess a 'fake' anything - but my chosen watch is a TAG-Heuer;  
  Shows the character of the person really, just a plan tee shirt, or has to be a Lacost tee shirt,   we use them as rags in the workshop around here, every one to there own I suppose.

Again here is my frame of mind and intentions =  

  Roger....

[simon131]

For the record Roger, most of my t-shirts and clothes are most certainly NOT fashion labels - more like George at Asda and Marks and Spencer in actual fact.

Yes I own a TAG watch which I was given as a 40th birthday present by the wife - nothing else I own has a 'designer label' - that's not me. I do not and have not ever owned fake - doesn't mean that I buy "branded" or "designer" either.

I too enjoy driving - hence the Abarth - and every attendee to any 3MA will testify it gets driven by me in the way that the Italian designers intended.

I don't "begrudge" anyone making a replica of anything, Abarth or otherwise, provided people don't try and pass it off as genuine.

Yes, I believe there is most certainly a place for everything (provided it's legal of course ) but it's my choice to only buy 'non-replicas'.

[kev131]

You beat me to it with some of your comments Robert...most of which I whole heartedly agree with.

I especially support the view that there are some DULL AS DISHWATER 131 versions out there and that the basis for Dave's conversion is probably the king of them ie the series 2 L whether in 2 or 4 doors. A car that even when new was far less common than all other versions, especially in 2 door format. Why is that? It's because no one wanted them then....and unsurprisly no one wants them now either...at least in their original state...other than to do what Dave and others have done. Personally I'd prefer to see someone's interpretation of a modified 131 (we can call them replicas too) to that of an unloved 131 version.



I'd say that no two replicas are alike either so it might be stretching it a bit to actually use the term replica for many of these projects.

Where Sports are concerned I also applaud anyone who takes a rusty wreck and transforms that into a "Replica" or similarly modified car. What causes me a little difficulty though is to see a perfectly good Sport/Racing lose its originality in the pursuit of an Abarth likeness. I believe that happened to this car and to me the car world is a slightly poorer place as a result.



Having said all of that I fully understand the desire to have an Abarth lookylike. On the evening before 3MA07 when three shiny Sports and one less shiny Abarth were lined up in my back garden, the visitors who knew nothing about 131s and even less about Abarths (and as a result even less again about replica Abarths) , all gravitated towards Simon's car and declared it their favourite. It must have a certain "Je ne sais quoi"!



Thanks for starting a lively Christmas discussion Mike....

[Fiat 131 Abarth#2]

Yes Mike you make it also two times! 
but it's possible that mine next 131( 2 door) remains a 131 
OK i am one of them those wrecked racing's to make Abarth replica but i like Theo's word:  Every person is entitled to his or her personal preferences and tastes.

And it's always a question how it looks and what do you need it for?
i saw a lot of horrible Abarth replica! and i build mine to race with it, 
i would it not do with an original Abarth Gr.4

Enzo 

[TOAD]

Simon,

  I just responded to what you put on here, I makes no difference to me whether some thing is genuine, fake or copy, I didn't Wright "I wouldn't have a fake anything".

  And with all these fast 131 around, we must have a track day   see which is faster, the genuine, or the modified cars.  I would consider ether Toad as unfair as there not road legal, but just the same I would like to bring one (Little T) to get Douglas some practice track time in.

  And from the other posting, I would look over an Abarth to see how Abarth had designed stuff, but I would drive away in the sport on the grounds that there no so valuable for having my sort of fun with.

Hot hatch faster;  when Toad was a road car 328 beemers and 1.9 205 Pugs were easy prey then along with allot of others on the county roads,  Up's forgot the BDA Escort that tried to out corner Toad at a high speed until he realised I had shoved the nose up the side of him before backing off, lovely high speed slid beside him.

Never did get bested in Toad as a road car.

P.S  straight roads are for pussy's,


   Roger...............

[bellamacchina]

Yes, this is always a nice discussion and the ever-ongoing one I think and expect.
Yes, for sure there are dull 131s in the opinion of a lot of people, as there are extremely a lot dull cars around at all.
But only looking at last 3MA showed me that actually all types of 131 are loved. Most dull should be a 1300 basic Familiare, but everybody loved Heini's fantastic example by it's clean and original looks, as they did love his superb 1st series 1600. So, I think that brings another question, what is really dull? Simon also really loves 1st series cars very much although he knows a lot of other cars very well. And what's more dull? A 1st series 1300 2 door or a 3rd series 1600TC Super with plastic around and the grey interior?? The 131 was simply designed to carry people and luggage from A to B like a Fiat 124, Toyota Corolla, Ford Taunus, VW Passat, Opel Ascona, Austin Maxi etc.
Lucky us it was a terrific base for the more exciting versions we all love so dearly.

The most people here know my opinion about replica's. Everybody can do of course with their car what they want but for me it's a shame to destroy a good original car for that. When someone makes a proper and good repro out of it I can understand it(maybe) but most repro's are less than good or not finished at all before the owners loose interest. There are more halfly built repro's for sale as proper original cars. And yes I prefer an original Racing highly.

[mirafiori76]

Thanks for starting a lively Christmas discussion Mike....

You're welcome, Kevin  I didn't think this topic would follow that much response already in just one day 
Wonderful. Let's see if there are more members who would like to share opinions. 

[jasonh131]

Yes, this is always a nice discussion and the ever-ongoing one I think and expect.
Yes, for sure there are dull 131s in the opinion of a lot of people, as there are extremely a lot dull cars around at all.
But only looking at last 3MA showed me that actually all types of 131 are loved. Most dull should be a 1300 basic Familiare, but everybody loved Heini's fantastic example by it's clean and original looks, as they did love his superb 1st series 1600. So, I think that brings another question, what is really dull? Simon also really loves 1st series cars very much although he knows a lot of other cars very well. And what's more dull? A 1st series 1300 2 door or a 3rd series 1600TC Super with plastic around and the grey interior?? The 131 was simply designed to carry people and luggage from A to B like a Fiat 124, Toyota Corolla, Ford Taunus, VW Passat, Opel Ascona, Austin Maxi etc.
Lucky us it was a terrific base for the more exciting versions we all love so dearly.

The most people here know my opinion about replica's. Everybody can do of course with their car what they want but for me it's a shame to destroy a good original car for that. When someone makes a proper and good repro out of it I can understand it(maybe) but most repro's are less than good or not finished at all before the owners loose interest. There are more halfly built repro's for sale as proper original cars. And yes I prefer an original Racing highly.

Yes there are some dull versions off the 131   which nobody would want ,just like my taty old 1.4 series 3 but  
 it gets me in shows and our club trips and yes i like to modify it , and its rarer than any other 131 the only one in the UK  

[mirafiori76]

Since i started all of this i think it's time to tell you what my ultimate choice is. left alone my group 4 Abarth, which is for keeps and not for any racing or rallying, i would really love to have me a basic 2 door from 1975. You know, with the small square headlights, no head rests, little chrome, 1300 cc engine and no right mirror. Preferably in the light green. So, if anybody got one in mint condition? wanna trade for my Walter Rohrl Racing? 

[williefiat]

Hi All.
Back again for more well Mike if i could find one i would do a trade ;)I agree with Theo about technology
can make a 131 go faster i know i had one but it still was not genuine so Simon as far as i am concerned
your car is still to be Admired .Great FORUM THIS IS and don't forget without Theo Simon and last not least young Kevin we would not have such a great Site to talk to each other.Enough of my ranting.
    Willie.

[daverwd]

if anyone finds a 1975 2 -door 131 ring me cause it needs some arches to look good ..

[kev131]

if anyone finds a 1975 2 -door 131 ring me cause it needs some arches to look good ..

Ha - Did you think the debate was dying down Dave...? 

[daverwd]

A sure just giving it a gentle stir ..

Didn't realise you had some pic's of the 2 door i bought ..i dont have any proper shoots of the car before i
started to strip it .. can you pm me some more pic's if you have any ..?

[williefiat]

Hi All.
Without Mike starting this Topic what would we be doing as for me i would be in bed waiting for Santa .
     Willie.