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ExMIW24897, Racing Team Jolly Club Roberto Angiolini, Milano.
1995ccm, 5-Gang Schaltgetriebe Abarth, 16V, 235PS, 980kg, heute dunkelblau/gelb, «OLIO-FIAT», im Besitz der Collection kunoschaer. seit 1988.
THE WORLD OF HERITAGE – FIAT 131 ABARTH RALLY GR. 4
Shaped like a sedan, but with the grit and competitive performance of a top racing car.
The customer is always right… in racing too. And Fiat’s official entrance to the world of rally racing proved exactly this.
At the turn of the 1960s and 70s, numerous private customers were requesting Fiat to support them in competing in rallies with its 124 Sport Spider. In that period, rally competitions were the most popular form of motor racing. The degree of public interest in rally racing helped to convince Fiat management to gradually invest in this field, starting by semi-officially registering certain 124 models in various competitions valid for the Italian Championship and the World Championship. In 1971 Fiat took over Abarth and transformed it into the company’s official racing department. This was to prepare the terrain for the launch of the Fiat Racing Team, which duly made its debut in the 1972 racing season with the 124 Abarth Rally Group 4. This car obtained excellent results – conquering two European championships, in 1972 and 1975 – and so convincing Fiat managers to increase their racing investments. In 1976 it was decided to replace the ageing 124 line, and a special set up was prepared on the new Fiat 131 sedan: the idea being to take advantage of the image return generated by racing successes to increase the model’s sales. And so a quiet three-volume family sedan was transformed into a phenomenal racing car.
