My Father's car....

[kev131]

Although I knew and liked 131s before 23rd November 1979, an event on 19th November in that year was destined to light a flame of passion for the model, and in particular the 131 Sport for all of the years to follow.

I was 15 at the time and arrived home from school at lunch to find Dad sitting by the fire with a bandaged head. Normally as a sales manager he would be either in his office or on the road - Never in the house at this time of day.

It turned out that he had had a serious car accident in his orange Fiat 132 2000. He had gone to overtake a car on straight road, had hit a patch of black ice, lost the back end and headed for the ditch. Only he was on an overpass at the time and the 132 smashed the railings and came to rest with 1 third of the car suspended over a 40 foot drop. A safety steel cable running through the top rail had snagged the car on the A post about 3 inches below the roof line. It was such a dramatic escape that the local newspaper ran the story and picture on the front page the next day.

Anyway the wound was not serious, the 132 was written off and we needed a new car. This was dad's second 132, and being a Fiat fan just assumed that he would get another...perhaps not orange this time! 

A phone call to Elm Motors (the local Fiat dealer) established that there were no 132s in stock at present.....BUT wait...they did have a 131 Sport, available immediately! A test drive was arranged for the 21st and junior was summoned home from school via the headmaster to attend an important family event! 

The sales man arrived at the door in what was a vision of a car. I had seen orange, silver, and grey versions,,,but never a black one...and with real alloy wheels! And what a lavish interior - All velour with rear headrests - I can still smell that new car smell as Mum and I settled into the back while Dad adjusted the seat , etc before setting off.

The test drive was nothing special - A quick blast up to 80 on a dual carriageway and back to the garage to stand back and survey the car from every angle. At this stage I felt that all my Christmas's were coming together as I could see that Dad was seriously considering the car despite having a family of 6! After 10 minutes or so I spotted a moment of weakness and waded in with a "please buy this car Dad" look which he couldn't resist as he decided there and then to commit. Into the office and the list price of around IR?6400 was trimmed to around IR?5600 for a cash deal. Throw in a pair of mudflaps and delivery agreed for 23rd November.

That began a 3 year love affair for the car in which I learnt how to drive, took my driving test, spent my Saturdays valeting, went on business trips all around the country just to be in the car. Whenever we met another Sport (which was not often) both cars always flashed as there was a special camaraderie amongst drivers of this special car.

On these business trips the appeal was to burm off any other road users who had the temerity to challenge this road warrior - It was particularly satisfying to be able to take on almost anything on the Irish roads in those days of austerity. I can only remember being beaten once (and quite comprehensively) by a Triumph Dolomote Sprint, but I'll tell that story another day.

The downside of this experience during my formative years, was that my early solo driving in my own car were influenced by this street racing ethos and I took a few chances that I would not dream of nowadays. Luckily I am still here to reminisce!





Here are photos of Dad's car. It started to rust at the bottom of the doors and the leading edge of the bonnet in less than 2 years. It was traded in at 70000 miles against another new Fiat in 1982. Trade in value was IR ?5000 against a IR?10k Argenta 2.0.

The last time that I saw the car was as it sat on the forecourt next to a silver Sport with blue bumpers, both with degrading dealer roof mounted For Sale signs on them. If only I could have scraped together IR?3.5/4k at the time I could have bought the car and stored it for the future.

Subsequent investigations late last year have revealed that the car was last taxed in Ireland in 1988. Judging by the early rate of body decline I would not be surprised if it had been scrapped then. 

Does anyone have any other early 131 experiences to share? - It dosnt matter how short they are - Any type of 131 related anecdote is welcome here. 

[mirafioriman]

My parents had a Ford Anglia, a Cortina, an Escort Mk1, then our first Fiat a 127. Bought privately, it was found to be rotten underneath and my Father vowed never to buy another Fiat. He also stopped buying privately. We then had a VW Polo followed by a VW Derby (Polo with a boot). Both these cars were basic, slow and very ordinary (although in much better condition and much more reliable than our previous cars!) Then one day I was told we were buying another car.......

My Father arrived home in it one day and we took it out for a quick test drive. I was about 11 at the time and it was about 1983. The car was so different to the others, it had metallic paint, wheels that looked like alloys (but were actually steel), velour seats with headrests and a sunroof! It was also so much faster than the others at it had a 1600cc twin cam engine! It was...... another Fiat!

The car was GSD 925V a metallic green 131 Supermirafiori 1600 twin cam and I loved every detail. The round rear reading lights in the back, those little 1600T/C badges on the rear wings. I just loved it!

It had had one previous owner (a bank manager) and being only about 3 years old was the newest car my family had ever had. Unfortunately a year or so later my Father got another job with a company car and it was sold, with great difficulty I hasten to add! If only I could have kept it! Being only about 12 at the time though it was not really a posibility.

My next door neighbour had 131's too! He had at least one series 3 2000 T/C and a Supermirafiori Panorama estate car (one of the last). His son had no luck with second hand cars so bought a Fiat 127 sport, an orange 70HP version.

Unfortunately I can not find the one picture we had of GSD 925V, but if it ever turns up I will scan it into the computer! Perhaps this story explains some of my passion for 131 four doors!

[Thotos]

I can only remember being beaten once (and quite comprehensively) by a Triumph Dolomote Sprint...

Don't worry too much Kev, I have taken revenge for you. 

As you may know, Classic Cars magazine run a feature in January 2006 comparing a number of Seventies Sports Saloons. They had a Hillman Avenger Tiger, a Vauxhall Firenza Droop-Snoot, Ford Escort RS 2000 MkII, Triumph Dolomite Sprint and my Fiat 131 Sport   .



As well as the fact that during the day's photo-shoot in the Peak District nobody could keep up with me in conclusion the writer said:

Which leaves the Fiat. This mildly-tuned example feels quickest and makes the most noise, but it lacks the head-turning period appeal of the Tiger or Firenza. But to the owners, these cars are meant for driving. And there, the Fiat has got them all beat. 

[mick131]

Hi all,

Cant really remember when my love affair with my current 131 started although I have just looked at the V5 and I bought it on 01 June 1987...almost 20 years ago!!. I had owned a 4 door 131 before and had seen pictures of the 131 Abarth and decided I wanted a 2 door.

It was bought in Bradford for approx ?150 and was hand painted in blue with a black vinyl roof and light blue velour int trim, had no radio and a gearstick which seemed to be a mile long !.

My Dad used to repair his own cars in the street and I used to help him here and there and thats where it all started. I removed the old 1300 engine as soon as I could and fitted an 1800 I got from a friend which is still in there now I think. I fitted some horrible "pretend" Abarth arches as well and wheels from a Sport. Approx 2/3 years later I managed to persuade some mates to rent a lockup where we could fiddle with our cherished chariots. I had noticed that there where some areas of the car that needed welding ie scuttle panel, floor etc.

I never intended it to be of the road for so long but one thing lead to another and before I knew it I had replaced/repaired the following :-
New scuttle panels fitted
'A' posts repaired
New outriggers and chassis rails fabricated and fitted
Floor sections from sill to chassis rail fabricated and fitted
Inner/outer sills replaced

At this point a voice in my head said to me " well you've gone this far why not go the whole hog and build a 131 rally car ? ". So I did the following

New drivers doorskin fitted
Rollcage installed
All interior trim removed
Custom dash installed
Seam welded entire shell
Remove all bodyseal
Fitted strengthening from chassis rail to bulkhead
Removed spare wheel well

Then disaster....I met a girl !!!. We dated, then dated some more. Got engaged, fell out big time, got back together and got engaged again ( someone should have shot me at this point ! ). Then we bought a house together and then 3 months later split for good .

This all happened over a 10 year period and such was the lack of time and money I have still not finished the bloody thing !!. I have recently just about managed to secure enough funding to purchase some land, erect a garage and finish the reason that God put me on this planet.

I'm 40 this year and you know what people say about that......