131 Abarth in RAC

[sdebez]

Heres my take on it. everyman and his dog will tell you that rallying from the old days is better than now.

historic rally is big business, and now there is a surge and an interest for the other cars that were big in that era, it was only a matter of time before someone who spends 100k on escort and fancies something different. So RSD being widely regarded as one of the best rally car preparation companys in the uk, where you going to go if you want a 131 building if you can not go to a car supermarket to buy one  

So principly he is a business man, who has seen a hole in the market, that is saturated with mk2's.
by the way one of his mk2's won the RAC last year.

So well done i think, he has not built one, but three, in a stupily short time have it at the autosport show endorsed buy some rally driver from the 70's and 80's who name escapes me.

Because its a bussiness, there is the performance issue. he is in it to win it, i hate cliche's.

Perhaps if we wernt so negative, he would be on here. i really like this forum but there is a pattern forming as regards Famous 131's not being on here jrt corse and pialo diana and now RSD.


regards sach.              

[simon131]

Sach, I don't think this forum is being in any way negative towards RSD or it's products. I'd be extremely interested to see their products and share in their success and I personally wish them all the very best of luck in being successful with their 131 'Abarth' this season.

I am fully aware of their success with the Mk 2 Escort - their cars are extremely well prepared, I'm sure it will be mirrored in their 131s.

Alan, I'm sure that the car is a very good copy, but my point is, it is just that, a copy. It is not an Abarth Works car - although I understand that this first car is actually the ex-Jonathan Sage Stradale, which left the factory red.

[barry]

Just to say I admire them for taking the gamble to produce which I am sure to be as good examples that can be made today. Originality in competition cars difficult anyway once they have been re-shelled or re built cease to be original. They look blooming good to me anyhow. IMHO

Good luck to them may now go and watch some classic rallying and see the Escort lose again.  

[kev131]

This could turn out to be one of the most interesting discussions on here for a long time.

Personally I'm delighted to see this development after years of seeing Mk 2s dominate classic rallying. Whether Kevin Theaker is in this for business or passion is largely irrelevant to me. In reality, Fiat's motives in the 70s were largely based on hard nosed business principles ie how to sell more 131s....luckily the execution involved a great deal of passion!

Part of the appeal of 131s and particularly the Sports and Abarth versions (for many of us I suspect) is their exclusivity compared with the Ford equivalents. Having someone now "manufacture" cars being badged as 131 "Abarths" feels a little uncomfortable to me because there were only 400 or so 131 Abarths made and that's it. Any car that is made to look or perform like a factory Abarth now is not an Abarth to me.

If any of these are wrapped around a tree, that's probably a good thing!  

EDIT: In case my last statement is misunderstood, as these cars will be at increased risk of being crashed, through competition use, if they are wrapped around a tree, it's better that we have lost a replica or remanufacuted car than an original.

[alan.acs]

Hi guys I have been rallying a fiat 131 since 1990 and have had to make and develop every piece and I mean every piece of this car ,I have spent a fortune on this car for my pleasure and because I love 131's I have been a member on this site for a long time but because of what I call 131 snobbery I have never posted a picture and this car was built to a standard like Sid's car but for rallying and I would say that's why you will probably never see RSD car's on here, we should be full of praise for this project because the escorts have taken over every form of motor sport and I am sick of being told 131's are crap and how good an escort is.
 I have been talking to him over the last year and can tell you his work is of a standard most on here would struggle to attain.
 So come on give the guy some credit he has already said that the 131 suspension is far superior to an escort.

Ps the car at the show was a rolling car (no engine or diff fitted) and no I wasn't at the NEC show.

PPS Rant over.

[kev131]

Hi Alan.

Are you suggesting that this site is part of 131 snobbery? If yes I think that is a regrettable generalisation. Yes you'll get some "honest" comments from individual members about cars but if one puts one's car in public that's to be expected I think. Most people appreciate that there are few perfect cars out there.

Most members are friendly and avoid offence and that's a climate that most people want to promote. I'm sorry that you feel that you can't share your car with us on here. I have often wondered why that is the case but it's now clear why. Maybe you might reconsider as I personally would love to see it and hear about your flying of the Fiat 131 flag in competition. I'm sure I'm not alone.....

In case you think my comments are part of the "snobbery" Ill restate that I think this is a great development for us 131 fans. ...

[simon131]

Alan,

I can only echo Kevin's comments. I am sorry that you think there is some kind of 131 snobbery on this forum - that is most certainly NOT the aim of Kevin, Theo and I who set it up many years ago.

I too would love you to share your car here, but understand if you feel that someone might comment adversely.

I don't think it very fair of you to say to us 'give the guy some credit' - I think from the research that I have done personally RSD appear to be extremely professional in their approach and car prep - it's a shame that you think they'll take any comments as negative criticism.

I've been flying the 131 flag at classic car shows since 1986 and had my first 131 article published in the classic car press in 1991, so I share your battle weiry view of the Ford marque, especially the Escort.

Owning a genuine Abarth Stradale the question I hear most often is "Is that a real one?". Cars like those being produced by RSD only serve to fuel that opinion. I've had to work bloomin' hard for lots of years to achieve and sustain my 131 ambition - and IMHO, these RSD cars will only serve to further muddy the waters of what is genuine or not. I don't think that's snobbery, I think that's pride of ownership.

[parrish]

This is a 131 forum if it started life as a 131 of any model and has been changed/modified/altered they are no less welcome than a standard car, in fact you don't have to have a 131 to be a member just have an interest.
Their are purist members of this forum and their are those that will chop and change cars
Every car forum I have ever been a member of have similar comments about originality or otherwise etc in some thread somewhere.
RSD for me are doing what they want to do, If not genuine Abarth Chassis maybe they should consider following the escort route and just call them  131's.
An excuse to post my interpretation of a 131



Come on Alan lets have a picture.

[simon131]

Thanks Steve.

[hicky131]

An excuse to post my interpretation of a 131

The old bus is still looking well Steve.  
Do you get out in it much or are you too busy with the rest of the fleet?

[parrish]

Wayne,
don't want to hi jack this thread so I have sent an e mail.

[jasonh131]

Tickets for the Autosport show are ?34 on the door - I guess my curiosity will have to wait

 



 And lets hope they turn up at the Castle coombe rally day next sep on Andys stand with all off us  

[jasonh131]

This could turn out to be one of the most interesting discussions on here for a long time.

Personally I'm delighted to see this development after years of seeing Mk 2s dominate classic rallying. Whether Kevin Theaker is in this for business or passion is largely irrelevant to me. In reality, Fiat's motives in the 70s were largely based on hard nosed business principles ie how to sell more 131s....luckily the execution involved a great deal of passion!

Part of the appeal of 131s and particularly the Sports and Abarth versions (for many of us I suspect) is their exclusivity compared with the Ford equivalents. Having someone now "manufacture" cars being badged as 131 "Abarths" feels a little uncomfortable to me because there were only 400 or so 131 Abarths made and that's it. Any car that is made to look or perform like a factory Abarth now is not an Abarth to me.

If any of these are wrapped around a tree, that's probably a good thing!  

how many orginal rs bda escorts are still ralling and how many are 100k replicas with zetec engined ?

[mirafioriman]

Ok in my opinion they are most probably replicas. They're not works cars. They could be ex works cars if they were originally genuine fiat or Abarth cars that were originally rallied by the works team.

At the end of the day who cares? There could be 131s for people to see in historic rallying events which is great for us 131 fans to watch and will ensure younger people know all about the 131.

[cypriot]

At the end of the day who cares? There could be 131s for people to see in historic rallying events which is great for us 131 fans to watch and will ensure younger people know all about the 131.

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