131mirafiori forum

The latest issue of Auto Italia magazine has their new section which they claim is "The Ultimate Italian Car Buyer's Guide!"

It has a short description of the 131 which on the whole is quite complementary even though it has the usual "most 131s rusted..." which, let's face it, is true  :'(

But what I think is wrong is the price guide. It says "All 131s are rare but a mint Sport is still probably not worth more than ?2000. Owners of genuine Abarths can name their price." Good point about the Abarth but a mint Sport for ?2000? I'll buy them all at that price and sell them on eBay for a very handsome profit! We've seen many Sports sold on eBay for a lot more money and they were nowhere near to "mint". Why is it that the Classic Car press refuses to accept that a good 131 is worth more money when many buyers are willing to pay a lot more money than the 'top' prices published in the Classic Car guides? I expected Auto Italia to be more understanding and get it right. Maybe it is I who is wrong...

No Theo, it is most certainly NOT you who is wrong! ::)

A truly mint 131 Sport will go for in excess of ?5,000, never mind ?2,000! Often they will fetch more than that. There was the recent case where a 131 Sport that had been stood outside for more than three years and had rot, even holes(!) in virtually every panel - sold for around ?1,200. It would have needed probably three times that spending on it just to get it roadworthy! :o

I am extremely disappointed that the Classic Car press continue to 'dream up' their figures in relation to the (once) more common Italian models. Owners and serious enthusiasts are the best gauge of price. Auto Italia should know better! >:(

Perhaps Theo it's time to drop Phil or Michael Ward a line to enquire who supplied these values! It certainly wasn't anyone that I have spoken to in the '131 World' in the last five years!!

The comments regarding Abarth values may well be true, but to be honest so few come to the market that an accurate measure of price would be difficult to produce. Generally though - in my opinion at least - good, useable Stradales go for upwards of ?20,000, more for the very good original/restored ones, with genuine Group 4 cars going for upwards of ?50,000.

But again, these prices can easily inflate if there is one car that two or more potential buyers are after! The same applies for the Sport too.

It's also worth noting that there are many 131 Abarth replicas about these days, very well executed in some cases. There are also certain people 'converting' Stradales in to Group 4 replicas (Guy Moerenhout in Belgium comes to mind). Gauging the value of these is extremely difficult - but they are certainly desirable to many - if not to me ;D ;D

The issue of prices will always be contentious - however generally the phrase 'it's worth what someone is willing to pay for it', whilst being a bit of a cop-out, holds true.

being a renault turbo 2 freak  the prices in some guides havent changed for the last ten years really a scrap car is worth what they say a good condition on the road model is worth dont know who makes em up  ::)