Fiat 131: Models and Specs

The Fiat 131 was launched in 1974 as the successor to the Fiat 124, using a new platform that moved Fiat’s mid‑size offering into a more modern, boxier design language. It was available as a two‑door or four‑door saloon plus a five‑door estate badged Familiare/Panorama. Engines ranged from a 1.3‑litre petrol to a 2.5‑litre diesel, with the 2.0‑litre twin‑cam petrol the undisputed highlight. For all its size, the diesel was still a modest performer.

The 131’s front‑engine rear‑wheel‑drive layout was mated to independent front suspension with a live rear axle. This combination gave the car a predictable, easy‑to‑drive character (provided you stayed well away from its adhesion limits) that suited both family use and, in the Abarth Rally guise, high‑speed motorsport. The Abarth Rally was homologated with 400 examples, featuring mechanical fuel injection and a 5‑speed manual gearbox, delivering up to 140 bhp in road trim and 237 bhp in competition trim. Although it’s less commonly remembered than the Quattros and Deltas that followed, it won three World Rally Championship manufacturers’ titles and two drivers’ titles.​

Across its life, the 131 received three main series updates rather than a new platform, with changes to bumpers, lights and trim rather than any fundamental architecture changes. As a result, the 131 range is visually consistent, mechanically familiar and practical for everyday use.

The 1.3 and 1.4‑litre OHV engines give the 131 modest performance intended for family use, while the 1.6 and 2.0‑litre twin‑cam units transform the car into something genuinely brisk. The Abarth Rally’s twin‑cam engine is a different beast entirely, from its responsiveness to its soundtrack. All 131s feel planted and predictable due to their RWD configuration, with a willingness to oversteer when pushed, making them engaging for enthusiasts.

The 1970s weren't necessarily Fiat's finest hour stylistically, and the 131 looks rather gawky with rectangular headlamps and some highly unflattering colour schemes. Quad-headlamp models are more pleasing to the eye, and the sporty two-door versions are better still, particularly if they're draped in body kits. The Abarth Rally’s flared arches, wide tyres, and aggressive stance mark it as the performance‑oriented variant, while the standard Mirafiori and Super models are more understated.

Inside, the 131’s cabin centres on a compact dashboard with clear, simple gauges and a focus on usability rather than luxury. The driving position is slightly more sporting than a typical family saloon, and in an age where ergonomics and safety were rarely discussed, the low-mounted air vents meant instrumentation fell easily to hand at the top of the hexagonal dashboard.

The Fiat 131 spanned just one generation before it was replaced by the mid-Eighties Regata:

• Fiat 131 (1974–1984). The original 131 Mirafiori had OHV and twin‑cam engines, rear‑wheel drive and a wide range of trims from Mirafiori through to Super and Racing.

• Fiat 131 Abarth Rally (1976–1980). A homologation special based on the 131 Mirafiori, with a 2.0‑litre twin‑cam engine, mechanical fuel injection and competition‑oriented suspension.

Released at a time when even seatbelts weren’t considered essential safety equipment, the Fiat 131 predates all electronic safety aids. At least disc brakes were fitted at the front, and the 131 reprised the rugged construction of its 124 predecessor to stand up reasonably well in impacts.

Pros:

• Wide range of engines, including - unusually for the time - a diesel

• Rally models have WRC heritage and are much admired among cognoscenti

• Twin-cam engine is a gem

• Good cabin ergonomics for the era

Cons:

• Some paint schemes make the car look particularly dowdy

• Fiat wasn’t exactly a bellwether for robust manufacturing in the 1970s

• Basic specifications and live rear axle

• Lacks the reputational appeal of other Fiat models (127, 500, Tipo, etc)

Despite a huge capacity of 2.5 litres, it was no ball of fire. It took around twenty seconds to reach 60 miles an hour, with a relatively agricultural soundtrack hardly redolent of a Fiat. Still, it was an early example of a mainstream manufacturer fitting a diesel engine in a family car, and it correctly anticipated the huge popularity of diesel motoring in subsequent decades.

Mechanical parts are readily available. The 131 shares components with the 124 and 132, while the Abarth Rally shares components with other Fiat and Abarth rally cars. Specialist suppliers such as Fiat clubs and parts houses stock the majority of mechanical, suspension and electrical requirements.

Of roughly 400 Abarth Rally cars produced, only a fraction remain in roadworthy condition today. The Rally’s status as a World Rally Championship‑winning car means it commands a premium at auction, six‑figure sums have been realised for particularly rare or race‑linked examples. Given subsequent attrition, survivor numbers will be lower today, making good examples genuinely scarce.