01 Aug 08
Abarth 124 Rally
7. Fiat-Abarth 124 Spider
Abarth had started to run into financial difficulties by the end of the 1960s, and was forced to sell out to Fiat in 1971. The racing team was sold off separately, and Abarth was unable to work on circuit-racers. Instead, he was tasked with creating rally cars for Fiat.
Abarth had already produced a car based on the Autobianchi A112 (precursor to the Fiat 127). This tiny 700kg, 965cc three-door hatch became an entry-level drive for numerous aspiring rally stars, with its own one-make series. The Abarth 124 Spider, however, competed at a much higher level.
Developed from the pretty Pininfarina-designed 124 roadster, the Sport Spider had been rallying since 1968; Fiat had supported numerous privateers, and its new works team charted national Italian victories in 1971.
With Abarth on board, the car was further developed, and the 124 Abarth Rally, launched in autumn 1972, was an international-level competitor. It lost out to Renault's Alpine in the world championships in '73, but proved a strong contender in the world rally championships, and the 'Stradale' ('street') road-going versions, built as part of the homologation process, are today very collectable.
