131 Volumetrico (Supercharged)

[kev131]

This has always been the most mysterious model in the range to me, having never seen one nor seen a brochure or spec sheet. The only information that I have on the model has been gleaned from spotting them for sale at various times.

What I believe to be fact is that there were at least 2 versions sold to Joe Public. The first was based on the 131 Racing with the following changes/additions : 14inch Pirelli Plus One alloy wheels, triple supplementary guages where the radio normally sat, a rear badge scripted to say volumetrico,? and ...the engine...obviously. One seller told me that his interior was a dark green, although from the photo I could not say. All the models that I have come across have been Gunmetal Grey and I assume that that was the only colour available. From what I have seen of the Italian market for 131 Racings, this is by far the most common colour and may have influenced Fiat in their choice of colour offering for the Vx. Somehow I just cant see the Orange cars appealing to the normal Italian's sense of style!

The second version was based on the series 3 Supermirafiori 2000TC. The same wheels and guages were fitted and the markings on the standard dials were green to match the central guages. Again a rear badge (and sometimes a grill badge saying Vx) and the engine...and I dont think a lot else. Again on colour it seems to have been restricted to one colour, this time silver (Argento?). One point that I'm also not sure on is that roughly the same number of cars that I've seen have the 131 Racing grill and headlights fitted, leading me to think that Fiat may have offered both headlight styles???

I think that the bhp was 135 but may have been as high as 140. I have no idea of the performance figures but would be very interested to know what Fiat published them at. Also what were the production dates and volumes?

As usual here are some photos to go with the post - All sourced from various advertising sites on the web.

This is a low mileage car now in Hungary and is being renovated. It has also had a replacement engine about a year ago. (This is the one with the "green" interior!)



This car came up for sale last year at ?3900 - It also has had an engine replacement but this time without the supercharger.



This car is in Thailand but thats all I know about it.



This seemed to be a well presreved series 3 Vx - Think the price was ?5500.

















This car was sale by a Fiat specialist in the UK a few years ago at ?3500.



The last car is the most special in my opinion. It is a real hybrid and quite famous. The creator I believe was a guy called Tim Vacarro and the basics were a 131 Vx as a base with Abarth arches, Abarth Stradale 15inch wheels, a series 3 central console, a rally inspired custom dash, bucket seats and a reupholstered interior and more.

















A real stunner of a car in my opinion. Reading some of the American Italian car forums it seemed to be an accepted fact that the car would never be sold, so attached was it's owner to it...until one day a blank cheque was offered!!!? and it found a new proud owner!

[kev131]

And as if the cosmos was waiting for a thread on this very subject, 2 volumetricos come up for sale within a few days!!? - At vastly different prices too . The one in Ravenna looks like a bargain - Someone grab it quick!?

http://www.autosupermarket.it/auto.xhtml?detail_redirect=1&knd=speed&mar=34&mod=131&stato=0&clickspaceUD=N894439

http://eng.autoscout24.com/home/index/detail.asp?ts=7205288&id=hh4ibyhngjy&sc=&make=28&eurofrom=0&euroto=0&zip=

[131 Lover]

Hallo Kev 131!
I saw an ad here in Sweden with this text,,? 131 motor Abarth volumex,037 volumex...

There was no price on it ,can this be a real 131 volumetrico?
I have never seen any  volumex exept for spiders here in Sweden

[Thotos]

Presumably the ad was for two different cars as an 037 is a Lancia 

[kev131]

Yes I think you are right Theo - Two cars mixed up..., unless it is the engine of one in the body of the other..?

For the 131 Volumetricos, I think that the cam covers usually have Abarth stamped on them and therefore the engine is often referred to as an Abarth engine.

[bellamacchina]

I can tell you a lot more about Volumetricos if you like as I own a few ones and even have the official brochures from the 2 and 4 doors. They had 140 hp, the Racing was cearlier but never ordered through the network, only on special delivery. The 4 door was a small serie of under 200 . They are all numbered on the bonnet, my blue car has number 158. The highest number we saw was 185. This cars were sold through the network for 8 months in Italy  in 1981. I also have the partspricelist for this cars from Abarth! ASK!

Greetings,  Bellamacchina  Albert

[131panorama]

My Volumetrico Supermirafiori is number 138.

I was told (by an Italian) that of the Racing version only 50 were build and was only for peoply from the Abrath company. And indeed of the Supermirafiori version 200 were build.

[bellamacchina]

Hello members

Nice to know also the number of your car Henk. My  silvergrey Supermirafiori Volumetrico doesn't have a number because of a former frontdamage sadly. Indeed the 4 doors are build in a small serie, some say only around 100 but it's more likely to be around 200, for sure not more. Actually the Racing version was earlier as the code for a Racing Vx is A1V1 while a 4 door has A2V2. The brochures I have tell that it is a vettura studiata, so a studycar. Some books tell a bit more but it's likely that the Racing was indeed never a real serie. Numbers of built Racings Vx are not clear, I can tell you why. The only official serie was the 4door Supermirafiori Volumetrico in silvergrey. Abarth offered the conversion to Volumetrico to everybody with a TC engined 131. That means that every Giuseppe could bring his car to do a conversion  at Corso Marche. You could do the full stage but also only parts of it, so brakes, springs and so on. I saw once a 1600TC with the same blower. Of course there were also blokes who privately converted a TC with Lancia compressor but that one is smaller than the one used on 131's (and also on the Lancia 037) The 131 ones have an Abarth inscription and are each numbered at the top. The story I heard in Italy about Racings is the following: IN 1981 it was quite difficult to sell Racings in Italy so a little part was moved to Abarth at Corso Marche. When people ordered a car in Italy they could choose how to have it. As a normal Racing or converted partially or fully to Volumetrico. Know also that a "real"Volumetrico has an engine nr 232R10 and that much more at the engine is done than putting a compressor. Most of this cars were ordered by people working at Abarth (for a discount price?) Most of this cars are registered in Torino. That it took a while to sell(or give them away) is now quite hard to believe but my car is first registered in 1984! And I know of at least 1 more which is registered the same year. Racings VX are the most common in gunmetal but I have pictures of 1 orange car and 2 in silvergrey of which 1 has blue bumpers.
Hope to hear you again Henk, and all other interested fans of course!

Bella macchina,  Albert

[kev131]

I find this information fascinating and valuable being that to me, the supercharged 131s are the most mysterious.

Keep up the story if you know any more Albert - That's the most data I have ever heard before! 

What are they like to drive, are they less reliable. etc?

Also if you can scan the documents you have it would be great to see them.

Cheers

Kev

[Thotos]

Yes, very interesting indeed. Thanks Albert.

[bellamacchina]

Hello again. On your request I made pics from documents of 2 of my cars as well as the partspricelist and the 4door brochure. In my last story was 1 mistake. The Racing Volumetrico code is not A1 V1 but AK V1, the 4 door is correct A2 V2!
First 2 pictures show documents of the  silvergrey 4 door I own for restoration, the second 2 the Racing Volumetrico. The partslist show that there is a lot more different from the normal production Racing and Supermirafiori. Interesting for a later part.

[bellamacchina]

This is the Racing Volumetrico's one

[bellamacchina]

Volumetrico parts price list and a page from the Volumetrico workshop manual

[bellamacchina]

Volumetrico parts price list

[bellamacchina]

The Supermirafiori Volumetrico brochure