Description
1973 Fiat 124 Sport Coupé CC
Guy Croft Stage III 2. 0-Litre — Recorded 205 bhp — Bacci Straight-Cut Five-Speed — Never Raced
After considerable thought, I am offering for sale my extensively developed 1973 Fiat 124 Sport Coupé CC.
This is a genuinely unusual car: a UK-registered, right-hand-drive Fiat 124 that combines its unmistakable period appearance with a documented Guy Croft Stage III twin-cam engine, straight-cut Bacci five-speed gearbox, limited-slip differential and a comprehensively developed competition chassis.
Restoration and build history
The principal restoration and development programme was commissioned by the car’s previous owner. The records contain a detailed account of the components, specialist work and considerable expenditure involved in the project.
The bodyshell was fully stripped and rebuilt using replacement panels where required, including the front wings, front valance and slam panel, both sills, rear-arch repair sections, rear quarters, rear valance, both doors, boot lid and front spoiler. A full weld-in roll cage was incorporated into the rebuilt shell.
The finished car retains its handsome period character, including the chrome bumpers and original dashboard, while its lowered stance, widened arches and staggered competition wheels give a clear indication of what lies underneath.
Guy Croft Stage III engine
At the heart of the car is a fully documented Guy Croft Racing Engines Stage III 2. 0-litre Fiat twin-cam, engine number 13. 292.
The Guy Croft paperwork describes the application as a rear-wheel-drive Fiat 124 CC Coupé in “Ultimate Road” specification. The engine was constructed during 2013–14 and includes:
* Fully gas-flowed Fiat 130TC cylinder head
* 36/ 35 mm ports
* 45 mm inlet and 40 mm exhaust race valves
* Guy Croft race valve guides, seats and springs
* Modified cylinder-head coolant galleries
* Guy Croft 3A camshafts timed at 106/ 108 degrees
* Guy Croft race connecting rods
* A&M 85 mm forged pistons and race rings
* Recorded compression ratio of 10. 2:1
* Race-prepared standard crankshaft
* Balanced steel competition flywheel
* One-inch toothed cambelt conversion
* Guy Croft big-wing sump
* Overhauled oil pump
* Twin Weber 45 DCOE carburettors with 38 mm chokes
* Guy Croft M131 inlet manifold
* High-torque starter
* Helix uprated competition clutch
* Block-mounted electronic distributor and Magnecor leads
The engine was rigged and tested by Guy Croft Racing Engines. A surviving performance-test sheet records an output of 205 bhp at 7, 000 rpm.
The installation is supported by a Canton Accusump oil system, external oil cooler, remote filtration, custom aluminium radiator with electric fan, braided lines, twin Facet fuel pumps and a complete custom exhaust and manifold constructed to Guy Croft specification.
The engine was run in in accordance with Guy Croft’s guidance, using the prescribed running-in oil and appropriate lubricant thereafter.
Transmission and chassis
Power is delivered through a five-speed straight-cut Bacci competition gearbox, combined with the Helix clutch and a limited-slip differential.
The full internal gearbox ratios and differential specification are presently being researched from the surviving build records, but the installed transmission is an exceptionally purposeful unit and forms an important part of the car’s character.
The chassis specification includes:
* Heavily modified front subframe
* AVO coil-over suspension
* Custom double front anti-roll-bar arrangement
* Fully poly-bushed suspension
* Upgraded Wilwood braking system
* Tilton adjustable brake-bias valve
* Staggered lightweight wheels measuring 7 x 13 inches at the front and 8 x 13 inches at the rear
A final professional suspension geometry setup is currently being arranged to complete the car’s present development.
Interior and competition equipment
The original Fiat dashboard has been retained and supplemented with additional Stack instruments housed in custom-made stainless-steel surrounds.
The rear seats have been removed, and the interior is fitted with:
* Full weld-in roll cage
* Historic competition seats
* Competition harnesses
* Concealed electrical kill switch
* Boot-mounted Red Top competition battery
* Custom battery retaining bracket
The battery was relocated to the boot to assist weight distribution. The car retains its original-style fuel tank rather than using a competition fuel cell.
Present ownership and use
I acquired the Fiat in August 2019 as an incomplete project with a number of unresolved issues. These have since been addressed, and the vehicle has been completed and developed into the running and driving car offered today.
Please ask for any further info.
The car performs extremely well in its present form. Its documented power, competition transmission and extensively developed chassis provides an excellent foundation for a future owner wishing to pursue track or competition use. Further weight reduction and event-specific development remain possible without fundamentally altering the car.
