131mirafiori forum

Went to the New Forest today to have photos taken for a feature in Classic Cars magazine, and it rained all day! :-\ Consequently I didn't take that many photos myself, but I took a couple of all of the cars together to give you all a taster.

Met up in a wet car park in the centre of Lyndhurst, Hampshire, and the gathered drivers all grouped around my Abarth like bees around honey ;D It was great to be with people who recognised the car for exactly what it is - a three time World Rally Championship winning rally legend. ;)

The photographer reckons he had taken over 2500 images during the day :o of which about 600 will be burned to CD for the magazine's editorial team to select about 20 ::)

Still, I'm sure the article will be filled with glossy pics far better than any I can take ;D

The journo drove all of the four cars and was singing the praises of the RS 1800 very loudly........before he drove mine. 8) Lets hope his article reflects that truth :-X

Nice 1 Si - Great to see the 131 getting the recognition it deserves - It's days like these that make the occasional pain of classic car ownership worthwhile.  ;)

Looking forward to the article and no doubt you will let us know when it is out.

your car was the winner there today simon,
looks the bizz ;)

I think they are all great cars. The Chevette and Sunbeam are rare just like the 131 and underated.

I'd like to drive all the 4 cars! All great machines. Of course we love Si's Abarth but I am als a fan of Talbot Lotusses ;D

They all look good but the 131 just looks so mean.
any chance of more photos of all four cars, maybe the magazine could forward some to you.

The weather was horrible so I didn't get many pics myself but apparently the photographer took over 2,400 images  :o so I'm sure some will find there way here. ;D

There weren't everso many pics taken of all the fours cars together other than a long winded arty shot for the opening page of the article, but there are many of the cars in different pairs, so I'm hopeful that I'll get some of those too.

the abarth outshines them all, a totally underrated car,

Well guys the latest issue (August 2009) of the English publication Classic Cars is now out on the news stands (and other good newsagents 8)) and it features the article on my Abarth. ;D Very well it reads too, with some great pics, especially considering that it rained for the whole day :-\

I particularly like the following paragraph quoted from the article....

"I've always had a deep-seated yearning for a Fiat 131 Abarth and I'm relieved to find it drives as fantastically as its pumped-up styling promises. Its alert chassis, accomplished ride and soulful engine make it the most complete and, therefore, the best car here."?

No further comments are necessary ;D ;D ;D

The mag also features articles on the 'staff car' 124 Spider Abarth Stradale and Steve Pearce's immaculate Mk 1 105TC Strada.

Just to say congratulations Simon.Well done ;)Eugene

Congratulations Simon. Your car finally got the well deserved recognition for the great car it is. I got the magazine this afternoon but haven't had a 'proper' read yet. The car looks great in the photos but you look a bit too serious  ;D ;D

Thanks Eugene.

Theo, I wouldn't say 'serious', I'd say 'concentrating'. ;D We are asked to drive at high speed along a narrow, winding and very wet road, so that the photographer could get the best 'action shots' of the cars. Sometimes we were single cars, and others we were driving very close together in pairs, and if I was the rear car I needed all of my skill not to run into the other slower cars ;) whilst remaining 'in shot'.

What do you think of the article?

The last time I had a car featured in a classic car magazine was my black 131 Sport JPD969V in the August 1992 edition of Classic and Sportscar - so I've only had to wait 17 years ::)

Hi Si - I picked up my copy yesterday - Some great shots of the 131 and definitely a "keeper".

Yes you do look to be concentratring quite hard in some of the shots.? ;)
 
Nice to see the pictures picked up the forum website stickers and 3MA stickers - I acknowledge that the magazine may have contacted you through the Fiat Motor Club? ??? but at the end of the article where websites are listed, it would have been nice if the journalist had picked up on this specialist website rather than the Fiat Club where mentions of 131s are rare enough these days. The website sticker couldn't have made it more obvious.

Please add some more photos when you get them from the magazine.? :)

Congrats Simon, I await the mag. Prob be around end of July for us down here.

Just got the mag today.the 131 abarth  looks the business compared to the others,
and the others are well up my wish list.

The car is a credit to you Simon more pictures would be nice if possible.

Thanks for your comments guys. ;D

I'll try and get some pics out of the photographer and post up any I get. :)

Had any luck Si?

Don't think it will be a problem but haven't got round to emailing the photographer yet ::). Will do it soon and let you all see the results ;D