Tag Archives: Fiat

Down Payment Protection – FIAT Dino Coupé 2000

In order to help Ferrari homologate, get competition type approval for, it’s 2 litre / 122 cui 65° V6 Enzo Ferrari concluded a deal with FIAT to manufacture the required number of units in March 1965.

FIAT Dino Coupé, Classic Motor Show, NEC, Birmingham

The engines would then be fitted to the Pininfarina bodied Ferrari 206 Dino and FIAT Dino Spyder 2000 and the Bertone bodied Dino Coupé, such as the one featured in these photographs, which was designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro.

FIAT Dino Coupé, Classic Motor Show, NEC, Birmingham

The 2+2 Dino Coupé body, first seen in March 1967 sits on a slightly longer chassis that the 2+1 Dino Spyder first seen in October 1966, initially the Coupé also had superior internal trim which included a wood rimmed steering wheel unlike the plastic rimmed item in the Spyder.

FIAT Dino Coupé, Classic Motor Show, NEC, Birmingham

This particular 1967 Coupé was purchased in 2014 by it’s present owner in Lisbon, Portugal and is believed to have previously resided in Monaco.

FIAT Dino Coupé, Classic Motor Show, NEC, Birmingham

3,670 2.0-litre coupés, notably used by the Mafioso protecting a $4 million Chinese gold bullion down payment for a FIAT factory in The Italian Job staring Micheal Cane, were built up until 1969 when production of the larger 2.4 litre V6 Dino engines began for the Ferrari 246 Dino, Fiat Dino Spyder and Coupé plus the Lancia Stratos.

Thanks for joining me on this “Down Payment Protection” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I will be looking at another Healey. Don’t forget to come back now !

Racing – FIAT 131 Super Miafiori

FIAT launched it’s 131 model marketed as the 131 Miafiori, after the suburb in Turin where it was built, at the Turin show in 1974.

FIAT 131 Super Miafiori, Auto Italia, Beaulieu,

The 131 Miafiori range that included 2, 4 and 5 door variants, replaced the FIAT 124 range that dated back to 1966.

FIAT 131 Super Miafiori, Auto Italia, Beaulieu,

In 1978 a second series of 131 Miafiori’s was launched that included upgraded exterior and interiors with twin cam engine options for it’s 1.3 and 1.6 litre engines.

FIAT 131 Super Miafiori, Auto Italia, Beaulieu,

Topping the Series 2 range was the performance orientated 131 Racing, also known as the Super Miafiori in the UK, powered by a 2 litre / 122 cui twin cam engine, previously seen in the 124 Spyder, that produced 115 hp.

FIAT 131 Super Miafiori, Auto Italia, Beaulieu,

The Racing featured unique to model either black or orange colour options, quad head lamps, front grill and short ratio 5 speed gearbox and was quoted with a quoted top speed of 110 mph.

FIAT 131 Super Miafiori, Auto Italia, Beaulieu,

Production of the Series 2 131 Miafiori’s continued until 1981.

FIAT 131 Super Miafiori, Auto Italia, Beaulieu,

The example seen in these photograph’s at Auto Italia, Beaulieu several years ago appears to be a RHD Super Miafiori with non UK market Racing badging, according to DVLA Records the car was built in 1979, but not registered in the UK until the 11th of January 2010.

Thanks for joining me on this “Racing” edition of “Getting a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I will be looking at another Healey. Don’t forget to come back now !

Steel Wide Body – FIAT 500L Osella Alfa Romeo Caccaviello

Today featured FIAT 500L appears to be a FIAT in name only.

FIAT 500L Osella Alfa Romeo Caccaviello, BIAMF, Bristol

The car is believed to have been built on a chassis that has it’s origins in the Abarth later Osella 2000SP sports racing car, with double wishbone suspension and disc brakes front and rear.

FIAT 500L Osella Alfa Romeo Caccaviello, BIAMF, Bristol

The extra wide body is believed to be all steel and to have been built by the Italian Carlo Caccaviello coachworks.

FIAT 500L Osella Alfa Romeo Caccaviello, BIAMF, Bristol

Sitting in the back is a fuel injected 1.5 litre / 91.5 cui Alfa Romeo boxer engine of the type originally found in the front of the Alfa Romeo Sud, 33 and more or less forgotten Nissan Arna.

FIAT 500L Osella Alfa Romeo Caccaviello, BIAMF, Bristol

The 5 speed transmission is also sourced from the Alfa Romeo parts bin.

This 1974 car seen in these photograph’s several years ago at the Bristol Italian Auto Moto Festival was first registered in the UK on the 28th July 2000.

Thanks for joining me on this “Steel Wide Body” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I will be looking at a competition Healey, don’t forget to come back now !

Rubber Mouldings – FIAT 128 Special

In 1974 FIAT launched the 128 Special version of the 1970 European Car of The Year that Enzo Ferrari drove.

FIAT 128 Special, Hamburg

The specifications of the 128 Special appear to have varied from market to market, but generally they had four doors, either 1100 or 1300 engines and distinctive rubber mouldings down the waist line of the body and on the front and rear bumpers.

The 1974 128 Special 1100, seen in this photo taken in Hamburg, has non standard fog lamps and FIAT X1/9 pattern alloy wheels.

Thanks for joining me on this “Rubber Mouldings” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I will be looking at the last in the current series of Formula Junior open wheelers. Don’t forget to come back now !

Brazilian Power – FIAT 127 1050/CL

In 1971 FIAT launched it’s 127 model which was to replace the 850 that was being phased out of production.

FIAT 127 1050/CL, Bristol

Initially the 127 was only available as a 2 door a, the hatchback was not introduced until 1972, Spanish built variants with 4 and 5 doors were later marketed under the SEAT and FIAT names.

FIAT 127 1050/CL, Bristol

Unlike the rear engine rear wheel drive 850 model it replaced the 127 had the Dante Giacosa designed 45hp 903 cc FIAT 100 derived engine first seen in the 1955 FIAT 600 mounted in the front with the transmission driving the front wheels.

FIAT 127 1050/CL, Bristol

European journalists voted the 127 European Car of the Year in 1972 two years after it’s larger sibling the FIAT 128 had won the same accolade.

FIAT 127 1050/CL, Bristol

FIAT launched it’s restyled second generation 127 with larger window’s and larger tailgate in May 1977 with the a 50hp 1050cc Brazilian developed and built version of the Aurelio Lampredi designed five bearing OHC FIAT 124 engine offered as an option.

FIAT 127 1050/CL, Bristol

The Brazilian powered 127 seen in these photograph’s was first registered in the UK on the 22nd of January 1979.

Thanks for joining me on this “Brazilian Power” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I will be looking at a Formula Junior car. Don’t forget to come back now !

Alternative Italian 3 Litre – FIAT 130 Berlina Type B

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.

FIAT 130 Berlina Type B, Auto Italia, Brooklands,

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.

FIAT 130 Berlina Type B, Auto Italia, Brooklands,

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.

FIAT 130 Berlina Type B, Auto Italia, Brooklands,

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.

FIAT 130 Berlina Type B, Auto Italia, Brooklands,

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 !

Proving The Car’s Strength – FIAT 124 Abarth Rallye

When FIAT bought out Carlo Abarth in July 1971 it was looking for models to compete in the forth coming World Rally Championship that was inaugurated in 1973 with aim of “proving the car’s strength.”

FIAT 124 Abarth Rallye, Race Retro, Stoneleigh Park

Abarth who’s reputation was primarily built on racing and hill climbing products was introduced to rallying with a Twin Cam FIAT 125 programme in 1970 and in 1972 the company started building and competing with a competition hardtop version 124 Spyder body, a model launched in 1966, for it’s Rally programme.

FIAT 124 Abarth Rallye, Race Retro, Stoneleigh Park

Initially the 124 Abarth Rallye was fitted with 1850cc / 112 cui versions of the FIAT four cylinder twin cam designed originally by former Ferrari man who became Abarth’s first President under FIAT management Aurelio Lampredi, a change in rules in 1974 permitted 16 valve heads to be fitted and engine sizes of 1850cc and 1756 cc / 107 cui were used in competition.

FIAT 124 Abarth Rallye, Race Retro, Stoneleigh Park

Success for the 124 Abarth Rallye included Rafael Pinto’s and Maurizio Verini European Rally Championship wins in 1972 and 1975 respectively, two wins on the Portugese Rally for Rafael in 1974 when he led a Abarth Rallye sweep of the podium positions and for Markku Alen in 1975 who with Ilka Kivimäki in the passenger seat led home 2nd place finishers Hannu Mikkola who was partnered by current president of the FIA Jean Todt.

FIAT 124 Abarth Rallye, Race Retro, Stoneleigh Park

FIAT also finished second to Group stable mate Lancia in the 1974 and 1975 World Rally Championships, in all 1,013 hardtop FIAT 124 Abarth Rallyes were built between 1972 and 1975 when the programme was wound up to make way for the World Rally Championship winning FIAT Abarth 131 programme.

Today’s featured Abarth Rallye, appearing with 1981-’82 UK registration plates at Race Retro a few years ago, was originally supplied to a privateer for use in the Italian National Rally Championship, it is currently fitted with an ultimate works spec fuel injected engine.

Thanks for joining me on this “Proving The Car’s Strength” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I will be looking at a one off Formula Junior Car. Don’t forget to come back now !