Abarth Fiat 131 Abarth History

The Fiat 131 Abarth was developed to replace the 124 Rally in World Rally Championship competition, with the works team debuting in 1976. Abarth's engineers took the modest Fiat 131 Mirafiori sedan and transplanted a 2.0-litre, Lampredi-derived twin-cam four — derived from the 131's 1.6-litre engine — with a new alloy head, double overhead camshafts, four valves per cylinder, Kugelfischer mechanical injection, and dry-sump lubrication. In full works trim, the engine produced approximately 240 bhp.

The results were remarkable: the 131 Abarth took three consecutive WRC Constructors' Championships in 1977, 1978, and 1980, plus the Drivers' crown with Markku Alén in 1978 and Walter Röhrl in 1980. Between 1976 and 1981 the 131 Abarth won 20 WRC events.

Homologation required a production road car — the 131 Abarth Stradale — which used a detuned version of the 2.0-litre engine and is now a sought-after collector piece. The programme wound down after 1981 as Fiat shifted its rally effort to the Lancia Stratos successor, the Lancia 037.