At the 39th Geneva Motor Show in March 1969 FIAT launched it’s 130 saloon to replace the previous top of the range FIAT 2300 Saloon and Coupé.

The straight six engine powering the 2300 series FIAT’s was replaced initially by a new 140hp 60° V6 with rubber belt driven twin overhead cam shafts designed by Aurelio Lampredi.

The 2,866 cc / 174.8 cui engine was quickly modified to produce 160hp, by increasing the compression ratio and the size of the carburetor choke and reducing back pressure by extending the portion of the exhaust manifold that used individual pipes, after criticism the saloon was under powered.

In 1971 when the Pininfaria designed and built FIAT 130 Coupé was launched the engine power was increased to 165 hp for both 130 models by increasing it’s size to 3,235 cc / 197.4 cui, curiously FIAT resisted ever offering more fuel efficient fuel injection as even an option.

Production of the 130 saloon ended in 1976 with just 15,093 units produced, production of the Coupé at Pininfarina lasted until the following year, production of higher end vehicles was strategically left to Lancia within the FIAT group.

Today’s featured 1975 130 Saloon seen at Auto Italia, Brooklands was registered in the UK on the 1st of September 1975.

Thanks for joining me on this “Alternative Italian 3 Litre” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I will be looking at another front engined Formula Junior open wheeler. Don’t forget to come back now !