131mirafiori forum

As some of you probably have noticed i'm very much into the Abarth version of the 131. Always searching down the internet for nice pictures and yesterday i found this one. Perhaps it was already displayed on the forum, but if not...here it is.
This is the very first 131 Abarth group 4 car in action. This is in Italy 1975.
There's also a number 2 car in red. Haven't found a picture of that one yet. If somebody has a picture...gimme, gimme, gimme :D :D ;D ;D

Hi Mike,

Here the pic's

Enzo  ;)

Thanks Enzo,

Great pictures to my collection.

Hi Mike,

i have one from this 131 Prototipo Abarth with a STRATOS in the back i thik it was 1974 on test track.

Enzo  ;)

Hi Enzo,

Wonderful pictures. Thanks again. However, i think it was 1975. But don't matter.
Perhaps there are more pictures too find... :)

...and of course everybody knows this picture.

Hi, Enzo!

This 131 Abarth Rally Prototipo was Gr.5 (because in its test, not homologated Gr.4) in 1975.
2 red coloured prototipos entered ELECA Rallye delle Valli Piacentine (6-7, Dec. '75).
#2 - Verini, Maurizio/Rosetti, Francesco (this photo) - retired
#4 - Bacchelli, Fulvio/Scabini, Bruno - 1st overall

First (debut) was white one, in Rallye 100,000 Trabucchi (25-26, Oct. '75)
#1 - Pianta, Giorgio/Scabini, Bruno - 11th overall

Hi Romano,

This is very nice info. Thanks. Do you also have information about 035?
Thanks,

Mike

Mike,

Sorry ! I do not have about SE035.

Romano

Romano,

Since you know very much about the prototypes could you tell if this one is also one?

Mike

Mike,

This was made from 4-door body.
Probably, not by Abarth.
I do not know for further information.
Is this photograph taken in Italy ?

Romano

Hi Romano,

It could be in Italy. I got three pictures of this car taken from an Italian site. Because of the round wheel arches I tink this car can be from around the same time as the ptototipo's.

Mike

Hi Mike I got it from a French site (I think at least that its French ;D):
http://www.italian-cars-club.com/italian-cars-club-forum/viewtopic.php?f=47&t=20414

"The next 131 prototype - the 131 035 Abarth was fitted with an early Volumex supercharger based on a 16valve 1995cc Twin Cam. The capacity of the engine was also varied according to the regulations for its intended class. In the first instance the car was tested with a 1995cc capacity engine, but to keep within the 'under 2 litre' motorsport categories, forced induction engines carried a capacity penalty - so the capacity most often quoted for the 035 is 1452cc. This car also sported streamlined lightweight panels, and the car produced 290bhp with a top speed of 175mph. Made in 1979, it was entered for practice in the 1980 Le Mans 24 Hours race ? driven by Pianta, but was not entered for the race itself. This was not as odd as may first appear, as it was relatively easy for Abarth to take the car, amongst the Lancia transporters and the Beta Montecarlos entered for the event for additional testing with the team already on hand.

The 035 also stands astride two eras in Abarth history. It was clear to the designers that the next generation of world rally winners would need a 50% power increase from the same capacity engines - as it looked very likely that the performance loop-hole of using the old Group 4 rally/sports prototype category would continue in some form. This inevitably would mean using forced induction.

Within the Fiat Group there was a debate about the means to achieve this. But as so often within the Group there was a political as well as engineering dimension to all of it.

Following the Stratos years, Lancia had been excluded from competing in the world rally series while the Fiat 131 Abarth was 'in play'. Instead Lancia chose to build its brand by entering the Sports and Endurance world race series. In going head to head with the likes of Porsche, some of these Lancia sports-racers used naturally aspirated engines, while some successfully adopted smaller capacity engines with turbochargers. Furthermore, in 1981, Lancia's motorsport team found a sponsor in Martini who's distinctive livery and commitment was to last over a decade.

So the debate over performance and reliability for the next world rally winner was between Abarth and their Volumex supercharger design, and Lancia with a form of the KKK type turbocharger familiar to their race team. Some technical doubts over the durability of the turbo and engine management coupled with a bigger Works design of Volumex supercharger meant Abarth won the design debate. However it was to be installed in the Lancia 037 in 1981/2 - also the Abarth SE037. For more detailed discussions of the 037 see the Lancia 037 Model page. Abarth pulled together all their experience from the X1/9 prototipos, with a similar mid engined rally car design, to ensure the 037 was readied in record time. The two cars, the Fiat 131 035 Abarth, and the Lancia 037 Abarth represent the link between the normally aspirated Fiat twin cam and the Group B Lancia turbocharged 4 wheel drive eras. It was also the last two wheel drive World Rally Champion rally car."
Hope it helps...

Thanks Stathe,

Good story. I already knew this but it's nice info for the rest of us on the forum. Something that's interesting me is the mechanics of the SE035. I have some pictures from the engine but like to know the rest as well. How about the drive line? What does the interior look like. What's in the trunk? Why is there a big air intake in the trunk lid? Somebody have info or pictures?
Thanks,

Mike

Here are the other two pictures. Looking at the registration plate it seems it's not an Italian one. The rims seem to be the same type like the ones from the 031, only smaller. Also pictures seem to be taken before the previous one. There is no Abarth bonnet and no Abarth trunk lid yet.

Mike,

It seems to be a Spanish registration plate.

Definitely "Madrid" (M)

Okay, now we know from what country the car is from. Leaves the question if it's a prototype or not. Wondering about the engine.

I love this old pic's,  i have never seen so much CIBIE or Carello's like on this Car's  :D

Enzo  ;)

Spain. Then it could be a SEAT. It looks a bit like the "Big Jim" model. ;)

Cibie with

Fiat Spain (SEAT)
1979 Rallye Costa Brava - #1 Zanini, Antonio/Petisco, Juan Jose - 1st. overall

and

Fiat Belgium (Belgian Importer "Didi")
1979 Rallye d'Ypres - #5 Cols, Jean-Marie "Didi"/Pauly, Andre - 5th, overall

Romano,

But these are no prototypes and really don't belong in this topic as such. ;)

Mike,

I am very sorry !

Romano

:)No problem. Thanks for the pictures. :) Didn't have those yet.

Hi Mike,

Thanks.
I am collecting articles and photos of 131 Gr.4 for investigation of rallye history.
Because, my friend has four 131 Abarth Rally
(including three ex. works corse, one is N.O.S. stradale).
So I have some photos of 131s.

Romano

Wow, you have a fortunate friend. May i ask which cars he owns? Are they really ex-works? Do you have pictures to share?
I send you a pm for another question.
Thanks,

Mike

Mike,

I send a mail to your personal address.
Data of Gr.4 131s and some picture.

Romano.

Thanks Romano,

Great and...i got the message. ;)

Here is another picture from the second prototype car. Slightly damaged...

Found a picture from the engine that was in the Spanish 4 door rally car

Back to the first item of this topic. Found a picture from a scale model. I have this myself, however still not build together.