Description
A very distinctive car, especially because of its origin and history, this 1973 Fiat 128 Rally was modified in their spare time by some mechanics from the Abarth racing department on Corso Marche in Turin around 1985. Starting from a standard, unregistered Series 128 Rally (chassis 128 AR * 0943312) kept at the factory and destined for scrapping (the car indicated by the arrows in the two photos with the Lancia S4 prototype), a small group of technicians conceived a rally-cross car by mounting, after a series of refinements, the Ritmo 130 TC Abarth engine and gearbox into the small Fiat – an engine and gearbox that were then used, in Group N and Group A, by many private rally drivers. The bodywork was stripped of accessories and coverings, then lightened and stiffened, also with the fitting of a roll cage, and adapted to house the new mechanical components: this phase of the work was handled by an expert metalworker in the Experimental Constructions department (prototype building) at Mirafiori, while the 2-litre twin-cam engine was slightly upgraded through head work and the use of sportier camshafts (power around 145 HP). The gearbox remained the standard Abarth–ZF, with reinforced half-shafts, specific springs and dampers, front brakes with ventilated discs and Fiat Uno Turbo calipers, rear suspension with a Fiat Regata leaf spring, a purpose-built exhaust system, aluminium spacers on the wheel hubs, and the battery moved into the cabin (behind the front seats) to improve weight distribution, with plexiglass side and rear windows. This car was later raced for a few years in rally-cross events and in gimkana-type events by a couple of amateur drivers, then I bought it in 2008, running occasionally until 2010 on ice circuits in Piedmont and Northern Italy. Today the car needs a restoration after years of “nonchalant” use in competitions (as shown by the numerous dents), but its structure has never suffered major impacts and the rust is mainly superficial (except in some limited areas on the floor where corrosion is penetrative); when stationary and in working order the car has a free-spinning engine (verified a few days ago) and can be made roadworthy again with little effort. The 128 is complete with all its parts (some components, as seen in the photos, were dismantled a few years ago to start the restoration, but now a lack of time and space to store the car unfortunately forces me to part with this special and genuinely exciting car to drive). This special 128 Rally Abarth is located in Giaveno (30 km from Turin, postal code 10094), where it can be viewed by appointment. The documentation for sale and export is available (bill of sale, technical data sheet, etc.) but the vehicle does not have registration documents.
